About Us
"Participate"

In January, 1994 my life quickly changed because a pallet fell on my foot and I developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It took over 6 months to get diagnosed and I went from a healthy athletic 32 year old to a very thin, frantic, 32 year old walking with a cane and renting wheel chairs.  One day, I changed, I mean I really changed and realized that I was the one responsible for my health and I was the one who controlled my attitude.  I will never forget the day it happened.  It was the day the pain management doctor looked at me and said my chance of ever walking again unassisted or living without pain was less than 50%.  I got upset and looked at him and remember saying to him "You are not God and You don't know me."

I fully understand why the doctor told me that.  He didn't want me to get my hopes up too high and he was speaking from his experience in dealing with patients like me.  In a way I am grateful he said it.  The doctor saying that gave me the determination I needed to make sure that wasn't going to happen to me.  Life is full of choices, that day I clearly made one.  I made the choice to push myself until I was walking without a cane .  I also made the choice that if I was going to be in pain for the rest of my life I certainly wasn't going to do it zoned out on pain pills laying on the couch.  I had  a long life left! 

I am not saying that my journey was easy, it wasn't.  It began with lumbar sacral blocks leading to a sympathectomy.  Physical therapy, chiropractors, massage therapy, forcing myself to exercise, quitting smoking, limiting my caffeine, eating better, taking supplements, making sure I slept better, and setting different priorities for myself (I wasn't the same person physically or mentally because of the RSD and the chronic pain and I couldn't do the same things in a day I used to).   It took me five years to walk without a visible limp and eleven years to find the chi machine, far infrared hothouse dome, and electro reflex energizer which has led me to sharing my story with you.   

To sum my journey up, I developed a strong personal belief that "You are responsible for your own health". Doctors are individuals who perform a service based on their experiences and education, just like an accountant or lawyer.  They do not have god like powers, they do not control your destiny, and they do not have the magic pill to fix you.  Doctors have options and treatments that can help you.  You must participate in getting yourself well!  The doctors can't do it by themselves.  The therapists  the herbalist, the naturopath, they can not do it by themselves either.  You MUST PARTICIPATE.  You have to go to these individuals, you have to listen to what they say, and you have to do the activities they recommend - YOU MUST PARTICIPATE!  

My friend Connie said to me one day and I will never forget it - "Every day when you get up, you have to choose to be enthusiastic".  Each of us controls what we eat, what we think, how we feel.  If you receive no other message from me, please receive this one.   "Life is interactive -  "Participate in your own health, in your relationships, in your community, and participate from your heart"!

© Written by Mara Gerke 01/17/2010