I woke up at 4 am this morning to write this love letter to you.

I have had the honor and grief of being a witness to great love in the lives and death of too many loved ones due to early death from cancer.

Starting with my 19-year-old boyfriend, at the tender age of 16, followed by my mother-in-law at the age of 27, while 8 months pregnant with my third child. I watched my 5 year old son and 3 1/2 year old daughter sleeping next to her frail body before her body let go. As she got closer to the veil between life and death, I witnessed her talking to relatives who passed before her. One day she exclaimed with child-like wonder,

“Isn’t that beautiful?” When I asked her what?, she giggled. “Don’t you see it? That beautiful light?”

When I said no, she giggled some more.  This was my first glimpse of proof that the spirit lives on.

Lois, my children’s Nana, died on a Sunday, the day after saying goodbye to her last remaining sister.  It was fitting to die on the day of rest. I don’t think she ever rested a day in her short precious life. It also taught me that we have some influence on when and how we pass on.

I was the one who discovered the cancerous lumps on her neck. I was a fairly new Registered Nurse, full of hope and vigor. I said to fear not, this is the most treatable cancer. I drove her to chemo and radiation. I fed her Ensure and chocolate milkshakes and puddings and cakes to fatten her up. I thought I knew everything about health and nutrition.

I knew nothing!

Truth is, the minute she heard the C word, fear took over. I never witnessed anyone go downhill so quickly. The day after chemo and radiation was over, when her oncologist told me to prepare for hospice, I was shocked. How could this be? We had done everything right! We did what we were told.

*I knew nothing about the power to heal from within.

*I knew nothing about the power of food and nutrition.

*I didn’t know that owning a beauty parlor and breathing in toxic chemicals could contribute to cancer.

*I didn’t know how living with an alcoholic and stuffing emotions could affect physical health.

*I didn’t know that the body follows the mind. And the mind follows the breath.

*I didn’t understand how all things within the body are interconnected.

*I didn’t understand the importance of taking control and responsibility for your health.

We weren’t taught any of this in nursing or medical school. We weren’t taught about the interconnectedness of all body parts, of thoughts, feelings, emotions, or spirituality. We weren’t taught that love heals and fear is incapacitating.

We were never taught about how to be well. 

I want to change this.

36 years after Doug’s passing and 25 years after Nana’s passing, I witnessed a brush with the possible early death of my daughter with the same cancer diagnosis. The chemotherapy regimen had not changed. When Dana’s oncologist said she had a 10% chance of survival if she chose radiation over a complete bone marrow transplant, she declared,

“Well, I think I have something to say about that.” Indeed she does and did.

I’ve witnessed great love and grief and have lost too many family, friends, and clients.

Today, Memorial Day, is a day to remember and honor the soldiers that have died for our freedoms. Especially today, it’s essential to honor these brave men and women.

In no way do I take our freedoms for granted. Freedom over what we put on and in our bodies is the utmost passion of mine. Freedom of choice about how we care and treat the most important VIP, our own bodies.

If you’ve known great love, then you understand the sacrifice one is willing to make for others. Mothers and fathers are willing to give their lives for their children. We know the feeling.

But we must not be willing to give up our freedom of choice about how we care and treat our bodies. We must also wake up to how our daily choices, our addictions to crap food, toxins and stress are killing ourselves and our soldiers. Our servicemen’s health has also been declining as chronic illness continues to rise in the USA. An area where we have control, should we choose to take it.

We must learn how to maximize what our bodies need, minimize toxicity, and prioritize self-care. Not only for ourselves but for our loved ones.

Today, I mourn and grieve for Doug, Lois, my father, my grandparents, Dan, Brad, Harvey, the father of three of my children, my Uncle Gene, Glenn, Annamaria, Robert, Earle, and all of my lost patients from the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders which would fill a wall.  I love and honor them for their courage, strength and for the extreme privilege of being an intimate witness to a window of their lives.

I also want to thank and honor our servicemen for their strength, courage and love.

Love will save the day.

So how DO we maximize, minimize and prioritize optimal health and honor and support our servicemen and loved ones?

1. Appreciate the sacrifices. Feel Gratitude, Give THANKS.

2. Feel Joy…Celebrate!

3. Include organic green leafy vegetables with your summer barbecue. Have a Mocktail! Here’s the Rainbow Kale Salad from my garden, a recipe in my KickStart to Wellness program and a healthy Mocktail made by Curious Elixirs.

Are you courageous enough to be a healthy deviant this summer? Sadly, according to research, only 1% of the population have the habits to sustain health and happiness. Will you stand up for your rights and become the change you wish to see in the world?

Happy Memorial Day.

To your health,

Lisa Jackson