Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 124, November 2019 | Page 21

I began eating a vegan diet, and I also tried to eat organically as much as possible.
I started making better choices, for my life and my healing, such as giving up
refined sugar, caffeine and alcohol. I needed to do an extreme detox, and I used
all the knowledge I had gained on superfoods, taking every one that I knew had
cancer fighting properties: Wheat grass, barley grass, moringa, hemp seeds,
astragalus, chaga mushrooms, turmeric, wild mushroom turkey tail tinctures and
camu camu, which is very high in Vitamin C.
I also did sessions of Body Talk, which releases negative suppressed subconscious
emotions and traumas from cell memory. I began visualising the cancer dispersing
from my bone marrow. I also healed myself with Reiki and meditation every day. I
researched causes of cancer, and I was surprised to learn that my dental issues,
especially root canal, could be linked to cancer.
Bowing to Pressure
spirulina, as I am a true believer in eating healing, nutrient-dense foods. I was feeling
stronger and healthier, had more energy, and never had a cold or flu, so used my
Instagram account, Superfoodstronger, as a platform to promote eating superfoods.
I was also incredibly fortunate to be offered a sponsorship by Mizuno, which was
the clothing sponsor for Comrades in 2018. This was such a privilege and a dream
come true – I was, after all, not a professional runner – and I received my first
pair of sponsored Wave Rider 21s in February. I don’t think that any Comrades
compares to your first, but I did take an hour off my time in my second, coming
in at 9:15. I was also so happy to be acknowledged and chosen to be on the
provincial team for the 2018 SA 21km Champs.
Something’s Not Quite Right
However, around August I started to feel concerned, as my energy levels were
suddenly very low. I was also consistently losing weight, even though I was eating
well, but I put it down to over-training, and took some time off. In November I
battled through the Kaapsehoop Marathon, but I still managed to do a sub-3:30.
Then came one of my favourite races of the year, the 32km Tough One, but I did
not enjoy it, I really struggled through it, as my energy levels were so low.
In January, after a 32km training run, an ankle injury flared up and I had it treated.
I woke up the next morning with a very bruised leg and pain in my leg bone. I also
found two lumps under my armpit. I thought it might possibly be time to go to the
doctor, and my doctor did blood tests. She phoned me the next morning and told
me that my blood tests showed chronic lymphatic leukaemia, or CLL, and I should
see a haematologist as soon as possible.
I was shell-shocked to say the least! I was a healthy ultra-distance runner, so how
was it possible? I was upset, but still positive that I would be in stage one and I
wouldn’t have to go through chemotherapy. However, after a bone marrow biopsy,
CT scan and numerous blood tests, the haematologist confirmed that I had stage
two CLL. In fact, I had cancer in 60% of my bone marrow, and blood tests that I had
undergone in 2016 clearly showed CLL, but my GP at the time unfortunately put it
down to an undiagnosed infection and chose to ignore the results. They wanted me
to start chemotherapy within two weeks, and I was told that I would need five days of
chemotherapy every 28 days for 6 months. They also said I would lose my hair.
Pushing Back
Within one month I had improved my white blood cell count from 52 to 42. (The
normal white blood cell count range is 4 to 12.) Over the next month, my count only
improved marginally, but at least I was still improving. However, my decision to not
do chemotherapy had caused a lot of anxiety and upset with my family and friends.
The cancer was in my bone marrow, blood and lymphatic system, and I was at
huge risk of the cancer metastasising elsewhere, and with my daughters both
being in medical fields, they begged me to reconsider.
I relented and started chemotherapy in April, but I continued to do the holistic
healing. I had two chemotherapy drugs and an immunotherapy drug, for three days
every 28 days. My hair started to fall out and thin, but I was so determined that I
would not lose it, that it started to grow again. I also took folic acid, which I believe
helped with regrowth.
However, after four months of chemotherapy, my immune system was so depleted
that I was more at risk from infection than the leukaemia. Fortunately, they did a
bone marrow biopsy again, and I received the best news: I was completely clear of
leukaemia. I had absolutely no cancer cells in my bone marrow.
Back to Running
My immune system is now improving, and I’ve had to start my running from the
beginning again, with walking, then building up my mileage slowly, one kilometre at a
time. I was beyond excited to reach 8km, and I wore my running vest for the first time
again at my first race of the year, the Irene Spring Race 10km in September. It was so
wonderful to be at a race again. A 21km still seems so far off, but I am a determined
person, so I plan on doing an overseas marathon next year, and then Comrades in 2021.
I know without a doubt that running and being so fit were instrumental in my
recovery, as my haemoglobin and red blood cell count never dropped below the
normal range, even though the cancer was 60% in my bone marrow. I absolutely
believe that running has taught me to stay mentally strong and to face my fears –
after all, standing at the start of Comrades can be exhilarating and terrifying! I did
not allow negative thoughts to enter my mind, always fighting to stay positive, not
giving up and always focusing on winning. I truly believe that I have won my race!
I am so grateful for the love, support and prayers I received during this time from
angel friends and family, I have never felt so loved. My husband and daughters
were incredibly supportive. My motto is, you’re a fighter, you’re stronger than you
know! That’s how I took responsibility for my own healing. I don’t say that I am in
remission, I say that I am healed. I am so grateful for that.
As you can imagine, I was beyond devastated! I went down to Cape Town, to spend
a week with my parents and sister. I literally felt as though I had been given a death
sentence, not from the leukaemia, but from the chemotherapy, because I felt there
was no possibility I could survive that amount of chemotherapy, which would also
destroy my immune system. I felt so disempowered by the diagnosis, and the fact
that I would lose my hair really upset me. I felt as though I would lose my identity.
I also felt I was being pushed into doing chemotherapy, and I felt as if I had no
control or choice. However, I decided to take my power back, and I decided to be
true to myself. I wanted to try the natural way first, because poisoning my body to
heal it made no sense to me! I wanted three months to heal myself, and felt I had to
at least try, so I started on a holistic healing journey.
I am a spiritual person and had studied Reiki in 2018, which taught me that disease
is from emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical response to negativity
such as bitterness, anger, loss of power, stress, trauma and environmental factors.
I knew that my body could heal, I just had to it give the opportunity and thus I
needed to do a holistic detox!
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