Katherine Scott, Hodgkin's Lymphoma
survivor & owner of 40 Blades of Grass

MY TICKET TO FREEDOM
By Guest Blogger, Katherine Scott


One of the most freeing pieces of knowledge I have learned is that the human body has the ability to heal itself. It has the power to heal any ailment or disease. 


Changing the diet is the ticket. If we continue to feed our bodies the same foods that made us sick in the first place (the typical American diet), then the body will not have the vitality it needs to heal. Changing to a Living Food diet provides the vitality for each cell in the body to detox and heal. 

Living Food are raw foods that contain enzymes. Cooking food at high temperatures changes the molecular structure of the food and the natural healing enzymes start to degrade. Living and raw foods have enormously higher nutrient values compared to foods that have been cooked.


This information is a hidden treasure that has been buried and most of us never find it, but, “when the student is ready the teacher appears.” I WAS READY!


Nine months of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma made me the perfect student. I was ready to soak up everything I needed to know to get out from under the grip of fear. The fear of a recurrence was with me every moment of every day. I held a negative vision of a dire prognosis during my first check- up scan. After the final treatment, I thought to myself” I can’t live like this fearing the worst”.


I wanted a day without fear. Ann Wigmore was an American holistic health practitioner and nutritionist whose writings and lifestyle impressed me greatly. She opened the door for me to the knowledge of green juices, living foods, and a way of eating that restores the body’s ability to heal itself.


I believed it. It rang so true to me. The information that is contained in her book, “The Wheat grass Book” inspired me so much that I immediately followed the instructions about how to grow wheat grass. I don’t recall it being difficult. I obtained trays, organic soil, organic seeds and a set of shelves, and set them up in my kitchen. I was living in London at the time and had no problem growing it. I took delight in seeing how quickly the grass grew.


Although the juice didn't taste great to me at first I knew it was good so I religiously consumed 2 oz’s of juice every morning. That wasn’t too hard to do for my health and peace of mind. That was way back in 1996 and I am thankful to say I have not needed the service of a physician since that time.

Because of my experiences, I decided to educate myself in the Ann Wigmore method and have now opened a beautiful raw foods retreat center in the Utah Valley called 40 Blades of Grass. People at my retreat follow the Ann Wigmore Diet along with wheat grass juice and allow their bodies detox, to heal and at the same time become educated about the super foods…..i.e. those foods that will return the body to its pristine health. Knowledge about how to grow and prepare the foods is also taught.


I Thank God every day for the knowledge of how to restore and regenerate my body and that gratitude has blossomed into a strong desire to educate others and share the peace of mind I have found by eating Raw and Living Foods. Feel free to ask me about raw foods or our retreats.


Have you found peace of mind through better eating habits? Did your eating habits changed after you were diagnosed with cancer? What foods do you now eat to be more healthy?

Please PUSH Me Around!!!

Ginger Johnson, Happy Chemo! Founder

I've never been much of a push over. I tend to get things done when push comes to shove and have also been known to push my way through crowds. But when I was given the opportunity to experience Push muscle therapy, I was not prepared to like being Pushed around. Let me explain...

Judy Smith of Footloose Reflexology and Muscle Therapies recently joined the Happy Chemo! Network and as a new partner asked that I come experience her services first hand so I'd know exactly what other people could expect. When she said to come for a Push therapy session, I was very interested. Not only because I had heard from friends that she was amazing - but that she can also work wonders on your body. Oh yes, it gets better...


I've had headaches and upper back/neck pain since high school when I was a cheerleader. It's never gone away and I was told by one physician after an x-ray of my spine that my hips were off by 5 cm which was causing all the problems. I had learned to deal with the pain although my body pain intensified with chemo and since chemo I've continued to feel tight all over - especially when I wake up in the morning. I feel like I'm 90!


On Friday I went in for a two hour session of Push muscle therapy and well, let me tell you, my body hasn't felt this good in years!!! Years people. Do you hear me...years!


So what did she do to make me feel so great? She pushed me around. 


Judy is trained in Push Muscle Therapy which is a specialized muscle treatment that primarily addresses chronic or acute pain originating from muscle, tendon or soft ligaments. Push Therapy is not massage and you are completely clothed during your session. Using simple motions Push lengthens the muscle at its resting state and increases blood flow basically telling your muscles to let go of the tension.


You should know that this isn't a 'lay on the table and relax' experience. There was some discomfort involved. As Judy would work my muscles, they'd scream at me and resist the change. But Judy was receptive to that and told me to always let her know what I was feeling.


That's another thing about this experience...I was educated. Before she began, Judy showed me in a mirror how my muscle tension was affecting my posture. My right shoulder was about 2 inches higher than my left - I was seriously crooked! And when I looked at myself from the side view, even though I was trying to stand completely straight, my body was leaning forward so much that with a little touch Judy was able to push me forward. I was completely out of alignment and I didn't know it!


Judy worked my muscles and educated me throughout the entire session. When she was finished I couldn't believe how much better I felt. I left the session feeling 2 inches taller, no neck, back or hip pain and I slept like a baby Friday night. (Did I mention I've been dealing with insomnia too?) Then Saturday morning when I woke up, I couldn't believe it. My body felt incredible. I sat straight up - which usually I have to roll over. I almost jumped out of bed and went to tell my family how great my body felt and still feels. 


I'm officially a lover of being pushed around! I can't wait to get pushed around some more and try the other services Judy offers: Reflexology, Reiki, lymphatic massage, foot detox and more. 


Just so you know...Push muscle therapy may be able to eliminate the causes of pain from the following conditions: carpal tunnel, headaches, TMJ, leg or knee pain, plantar fasciitis, shoulder issues, low back ache, or hip discomfort.


I feel it would be 100% worth it to schedule an appointment and see what Footloose Reflexology and Muscle Therapies can do for you!!! I've never felt so good. 


Call Judy Smith (801) 529-8777 and tell her Happy Chemo! sent you. You'll get a 10% discount and an experience that may change your life. 

Gain Happiness by Expressing Gratitude

Ginger Johnson, Happy Chemo! Founder

Thank you. Two simple words that mean so much. But how often do we use them? 

As a mother of three young children I am often bombarded with 'Now', 'I want', 'Why can't I' amidst the other bickering like 'He touched me' and 'She's breathing my air!' which happens to be a personal favorite. But all the chaos of the day seems to vanish when my little 3 year old son (who is also my personal cancer marker) says 'Thank you Mommy'. Simple words with power and the ability to change the atmosphere in any situation when spoken with sincerity.

Expressing gratitude to those around us is vital to increasing our own personal happiness. How? Think of gratitude as a physical object. When we open our arms and extend gratitude to those around us, our arms are open to receive the love and support that they have for us in return. It can be a continuous cycle of love as we give and receive the gratitude that is in our hearts.

Everyone wants to feel appreciated and loved. I don't know anyone who says 'I am too appreciated'. We all love to be loved and one way to show love is by expressing gratitude and sharing our thankfulness for the blessings we receive.

And so to everyone reading this, Thank you. Thank you for letting us serve you. Thank you for supporting Happy Chemo! and our mission to make the cancer experience easier to endure. Thank you for fighting each day to survive and Thank you for the kind words and service you render others - even when your energy is low and your day seems grim. Thank you for sharing your life with those around you and thank you for being grateful for what you still have. 

"Oh my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts - it's what you do with what you have left."

May we live each day with thankfulness in our hearts for what we have and strive to express gratitude for it. Our lives will be happier as we do.