ALS ei pruugi üldse surmaga lõppeda, aga tähtis on elus muudatusi teha

Hakkasin enesetappu plaaniva pereema Jane loost innustatuna ALSi kohta lähemalt uurima ja sattusin sellisele veebilehele. Siin räägitakse mitmest inimesest, kes on ALSist tervenenud ning pärast tervenemist täisväärtuslikku elu elanud, mõni on isegi ülikooli õppima läinud.

ALS ei pruugi, nagu siit välja tuleb, üldse surma tähendada. Aga kindlasti tuleb oma elus mingeid muudatusi teha. Kõigepealt tuleb kindlasti lõpetada surma peale mõtlemine, surma plaanimine ja surma ootamine, sest juba see teeb enesetunde kehvemaks. Nagu lugudest välja tuleb, on parimaks ALSi raviks positiivne mõtlemine ja õige toitumine (madala glükeemilise indeksiga toidud, vesi, antioksüdandid). Nagu ühel puhul välja tuleb, oli ALSist terveks saamisel abi marihuaanast ehk kanepist. 

Enne Dignitasse minekut võiks end ka tervenemise lugudega kurssi viia. Lehel on ka ALSi blogi ning soovitused, mida ise oma paranemise heaks teha saab. 

Kopin siia mõned tervenemislood (kui vajutad nimele, siis tuleb välja pikem lugu sellest, kuidas inimene terveks sai): 

1. Rev Dr Evy McDonald, MSN, MDiv, DMin, diagnosed 1980. At only 29, in a busy career in hospital administration, Evy was diagnosed with ALS and given one year to live. Within a matter of months she was in a wheelchair unable to move, and was planning music for her funeral. Through a combination of deep introspection, increased self-awareness, and serious emotional changes she slowly began to heal. She and her neurologist later presented together at medical conferences. Today Rev. Evy is a Methodist minister.

4. Cathy Jordan, diagnosed 1985 at age 36. Her ALS symptoms were worsening. A recreational marijuana smoker, she tried a different cannabis strain and her walking significantly improved. Since then she has used cannabis regularly in various forms as a therapy for ALS. Over 30 years later, she is still married and has raised her children. Although still in a wheelchair, she breathes without aid, eats on her own, can transfer and fights for legalization of marijuana. In short Cathy lives a full productive life despite ALS.

5. Joyce Brown, PhD, ND. diagnosed 1988 at age 54. She was having trouble swallowing, frequently choked, could barely speak, and her walking was deteriorating daily. Her neurologist gave her 6 months to live. She found a Chinese medical doctor, a very skilled homeopath. To heal, Joyce used prayer, homeopathy, sleep-teaching with positive affirmations, and dietary changes. After her healing she went on to earn her PhD and become qualified as a naturopathic physician and has written a book. Joyce is now in her 80’s.

8. Steven Shackel, diagnosed 1994. After he was diagnosed at age 42, Steve took a scientific approach to his disease. He figured out early on that lots of water, antioxidants and a low glycemic index diet were key to minimize nerve damage and that good liver function was essential for detoxification. He was in contact with ALS scientists and researchers around the world and was the first person we know of to create an ALS website specifically to share and communicate ALS info. He has helped thousands of PALS. He is now in his 60’s.

9. Dr. Craig Oster, PhD, diagnosed 1994. Despite an ALS diagnosis at 30, Craig finished his PhD in Psychology in 1996 and worked as a psychotherapist until shortly before entering hospice in late 2008. Dr. Craig used an intensive holistic approach to be discharged from hospice in June 2009. In 2012 he co-founded The Healers Campaign, which promotes ALS scientific research within a holistic framework. Now in his 50’s, Craig uses food, supplements, detoxification, exercise and mental-emotional-spiritual work to stay healthy.

Need on vaid mõned näited. Ehk siis jaa - meditsiinitööstus on võib-olla tõesti ALSi vastu võimetu, aga see ei tähenda seda, et see haigus kindlasti kabelimats peaks olema. Proovida ju vähemasti võiks. Ei maksa inimest nii ruttu maha kanda. Kui lähedased vähegi viitsivad, siis nad saaks kõvasti kaasa aidata - tuju tõstmisel, menüü muutmisel jne jne. Ma väga tahaks loota, et Janel sellised lähedased on. Et nad lihtsalt ei teadnud terveks saamise võimalusest ja olid seepärast vabatahtliku surmaminemisega nõus.

Lõpetuseks Evy McDonald'i (ülal pildil) sõnad, mis mu kõrvus eriti kajama jäid: I went from expecting and preparing for death to celebrating life and living every moment. I had been given one year to live by the top neurologists in the country. For me, it was a verdict. I became preoccupied with my death and how to have it be the best death possible. One day I asked myself, „What is my life for? To sit here dying each moment or to celebrate the life I still have?”