What happened to my ruby slippers?

After my December 2011 mastectomy, the medical community reassured me they would be able to restore my body to total wellness. Here I am April 2013, sixteen months post surgery, and I continue to experience issues with nerve and muscle damage, scar tissue, vomiting, dizziness, decreased stamina, pinched nerves and severe cramping in the upper stomach. 

I sought help from my medical team of "experts" ... oncologists, surgeons, internists.  Their solution: pain medication to alleviate the discomfort.  On April 16, 2013 my primary care physician claimed there was nothing else she could do for me, and she suggested I seek alternative methods to alleviate the symptoms.  I felt for years that, just like Dorothy, the Great and Powerful Oz, does not exist. 

Most of my adult life I have sought alternative treatments versus traditional medicine.  What I have come to realize is there is no Glenda, or "good witch", to come to my rescue.  Glenda exists within me. It took a giant leap of Faith and a strong connection to God to come to this realization.  Now I am empowered to find the appropriate treatment that will result in my total wellness (physical / mental / emotional / psychological).  There is no magic wand, although at times, I wish I had one.

Like Dorothy I traveled a "yellow brick road" that has led me to a unique path.  Fortunately, I have not encountered a cowardly lion, tin man or scarecrow. I have met (and continue to meet) uplifting people who cheer me to the Emerald City of Complete Wellness.

What works for me are: (1) proper nutrition, which includes organic and gluten-free foods, (2) daily prayer / meditation (3) daily exercise, which includes walking, yoga and breathing techniques (4) reflexology (eliminate toxins from the feet), (5) pain management specialist / chiropractor (I found one in 2007 who works with scar tissue and radiation burns.),  (6) laughter therapy: I watch lots of comedy, especially at night,  and most recently (7) acupuncture. 

Why acupuncture?  This treatment realigns the body; it reverses the damage caused by excessive medication and radiation. My body has been traumatized from the shock of 75 radiation sessions. That is comparable to being in a microwave oven for 225 minutes. This traditional "cancer cure" has caused damage to my stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys. What I wasn't anticipating were the psychological repercussions.  My acupuncturist explained this to me in terms of energetic impulses.  The body cannot differentiate the difference between sexual abuse and radiation. It only is aware of abuse.  Therefore, a female may feel victimized following radiation treatment.  To complicate the issue, if she has been a victim of any type of abuse ... mental / emotional / physical / sexual ... those feelings will resurface. In spite of the 30 plus years practicing meditation and yoga, I would still feel uneasy at times. THE SOLUTION:  Acupuncture helps dissipate those feelings by eliminating the "abuse vibration" from the body.  It can be compared to Dorothy disintegrating the evil witch with water. 

Remember at the end of "The Wizard of Oz" how Dorothy found out the power of her ruby red slippers?  Guess what I did with mine?  I threw mine away, and replaced them with ruby red stiletto heels. After all, I don't want to go back to Kansas to Aunty Em and Uncle Henry.  I want to find my Knight in Shining Armor!

What's more important I found "there's no place like home" within me.  I created a sense of peace, tranquility, love and compassion within my heart. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!