Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts

Friday, March 16, 2012

Lessons From the Hospital

First, GRATITUDE!!! THANK YOU for all the phone calls, postcards, letters, prayer circles, care packages, home aid, flowers and love. I am incredibly overwhelmed by this beautiful community of bloggers, Spirit Junkies, raw foodists, high school friends, etc. My heart is filled with so much love and your support makes such a difference in my life. 


I'm entering my 10th day at the hospital, and at this point I don't know whether or not it will be my last, but I'm keeping my spirits up and going with the flow. The support helps a lot, because it is definitely a frustrating situation and I've have my moments, but I'm pulling through. I've learned several things during my stay I'd like to share.






Lessons From the Hospital

  1. Humility. So far I've peed myself at least six times, had three different strangers bathe me, including thoroughly washing my privates, pooped and wiped my ass in front of complete strangers, been naked, etc. And you know what, who cares? In the past that would have really bothered me, and some of those moments were very demoralizing, but I've learned that sometimes you just have to let someone else care for you and the nurses deal with this everyday. 
  2. Patience. This is still a work in progress, but I've had to learn to go with the flow more. Day to day changes in my program, never knowing if I'm going home or staying for weeks, vague answers to my questions from doctors, slow nursing staff sometimes. I realize I have no control over any of this and I'm just going to have to be patient and learn to roll with the changes. It's a trial, but I'm definitely improving. 
  3. Ask for Help. This one I've been learning over a period of time, and it's very difficult for me. I'm the leader, the one that solves issues. I'm the person that will get you safely out of a burning building, get you motivated to take your green smoothies, I'm the one that listens and will help you solve your issues. But who guides me? Sometimes I have to accept that I can't do it all alone, and that some people need to stop using me as a crutch and figure things out for themselves. 
  4. Let it Out. I have a tendency to "deal with" my feelings myself. I also have noticed more and more  that I WANT to talk about things, I want to release, but I've realized that unloading on my parents/friends/etc. while helpful, I still feel a certain restraint because they are going through all this too, and some of my feelings may be difficult to hear. So while I've been here I've been talking to the Chaplin and it's incredibly helpful. Sometimes you just need a uninterested third party to listen and spill your guts to. 
  5. I Am All Powerful. I've believed this for awhile, but everytime I nearly die (what's i been 4-5 times now?) I am reminded that I have the ability to heal myself, and by taking care of myself, doing my emotional/spiritual work, eating properly, taking my supplement, and it pains me to say it, listen to my Mom, pulls me through everytime. And I KNOW that in a few weeks, I'll be strolling into Eden's Alley for my birthday dinner, hanging out with friends, and having a great time. And by the time my summer trips come around I'll be incredibly healthy, happy and whole. Because at the end of the day, it's all up to me. And this time I have an amazing support group to help kick me into perfect health. 
Love to you all

Shanna





Monday, January 16, 2012

The Daily Love on Forgiveness and Grace




If you've never read The Daily Love, you are missing out. It's a blog, a newsletter and a movement. The newsletter comes daily with links to blog posts from inspirational bloggers, quotes, and a beautifully written post from Mastin Kipp himself. Most of the same content can be found on the blog. I am constantly inspired by his journey and the way he connects with his readers. He's created a special email address for readers to send in stories and questions and sometimes he will post them. Often his posts are inspired by them. The more outlets to spread love, the law of attraction, gratitude, forgiveness, etc., the better. The Daily Love is one of the best I've seen, and I'm looking forward to it's continued growth. 



Recently Mastin discussed Forgiveness. Here's his take: 

Forgiveness A - means that we are willing to forgive whoever hurt us. This includes forgiving ourselves. This doesn't make it right what they did, but it does begin to free us from the pain and sadness cycle. We forgive them, not for them and not to let them off the hook, but to free ourselves. After a while, if we do not do this, we are actually letting them win by holding on to the pain. The best way to get back at someone who hurt you is to forgive him or her, because then you get to take your power back and they no longer hold dominion over your life.

As we step into Forgiveness A - life gets better. We are beginning to move on. It's not as bad as it used to be - the charge is less. And most people stay in Forgiveness A - which is totally fine and perfect. And if you can get here, you've made a MAJOR win.

But Forgiveness B - that is the place that is the hardest to get to, yet to the most rewarding - and the most confronting. Forgiveness B takes forgiveness to a whole new level - when you forgive from a place of Forgiveness B - this is the level of forgiveness that Jesus, Buddha and the like would do. And it's hard. Level B Forgiveness asks us not only to forgive those who hurt us, but also Love them. And see that from their point of view, they are in tremendous pain and their act against us was just a very messed up request for Love. So, we step into Loving those that hurt us. This doesn't mean they have to become out best friends; we can Love them from a distance, but if we get here - we are totally free. And we can express our forgiveness to those who have hurt us most - which will help to set them free as well. Because they are still suffering from the event, just as you are.

And when we step into Forgiveness B - we also see that what we once thought was a horrible event, we now see as Grace - and an event that shaped our lives in a way that - even though it was extremely difficult - was a part of our lives that happened to help us grow. When we see past events that hurt us as Grace - then we are totally free and nothing will ever be able to touch us again.

Wherever you are on the Forgiveness Arc - it's ok and perfect for this moment. One of the worst things we can do is try to rush this process. Forgiveness is an acceptance process and it is very personal.

Grace by definition is "Favor or goodwill". Favor by whom? Well, I'm going to say The Uni-verse. We were created by The Uni-verse to express our gifts and to collaborate with each other to help each other reach our highest expression of creative freedom. Each person has been created for a specific purpose and reason - and NO other person can fulfill this purpose other than YOU. In this way, we are all children of The Uni-verse and favored.

This is not something we have to earn. This is something that is given to us freely from a place of Love. And the cool thing about Grace is that Grace can cancel Karma. Karma is the law of cause and effect - every action creates and equal and opposite reaction. But that isn't how Grace works. There is no action that requires Grace to come forth and there is no negative effect that Grace can't stop.

The other thing that it's important to remember is that from our limited point of view, we can't always see in the moment what is best for us. So - what seems to be a total disaster can actually be Grace in action.

Sometimes our biggest problem is the greatest act of Grace. What seems like horror, terror or really bad luck is the event that we needed in order to heal our wounds, step out into our power and then use our experience, strength and hope to help other people come out of their darkness. Grace can feel like a soft feather and sometimes Grace can be a kick in the teeth (or worse). But over time and with enough practice, we can begin to see the dual nature of life playing itself out on the human plane and know that even in the worst of it, we are a Light in the world, and perhaps the purpose of all this darkness is the opportunity for us to discover our own Light.



Powerful isn't it? Here are a few tips on Forgiveness:
  • Start with yourself. If you can't forgive yourself you will never properly forgive others
  • Write a letter to yourself, write every horrible, shameful, thing you've ever done that you've yet to let go of. Then sit with it, and find the gratitude. Every experience is a lesson and no matter how horrible, we grow from it. Then write down your gratitudes. Finally, forgive. Write it, believe it. Once you are truly forgiven, burn the letter and send the ashes out to the Universe.
  • Use the above exercise to deal with the people you need to forgive.
  • Download Gabby Bernstein's "forgiveness" meditation and "cord cutting" meditation to help move forward
  • Check in with yourself and make sure you are still clear. If you still need to clear out some emotions, try EFT. 
  • Write your gratitudes daily. The more grateful you are, the less negative energy will come your way and the less you will have to forgive. 
  • Ask the Universe to take away your anger, send out a prayer, and get a good nights sleep
  • When you are ready, visualize the situation and everyone involved with LOVE. Send out white light, wrap them in it, and believe in the power of Love to heal.


Are you ready to Forgive?

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

10 Day Lifestyle Cleanse: Day 1



Last night I cried tears of Gratitude all evening. Tuesday has been the most blessed day. I work up at 5am, which at first I thought was crazy, until I remember I went to bed at 9pm, so still 8 hours. I spent time working on some blog kinks, and in checking my email saw Danielle LaPorte's fire sale. She's retiring her Spark Kit, with the new release of her book the Firestarter sessions coming out this Spring. The Spark Kit is a life/finance/branding/inspiration that is over 200+ pages, with hours of video and audio and much more. It's normally $150. Her fire sale meant that if you pre-ordered the new book, you could do a love donation for the Spark kit. Well, you could only pay through Paypal, and when I checked my balance I had $6.88 in it. I took a pause and said, what the heck? I paid $5 for this amazing program.

Shortly thereafter I received requests, RECEIVED, as in they contacted me(!) from two publishers asking me to review something. One I emailed with a quick response of YES! We then emailed back and forth for the next hour. She emailed me wanting to know if I wanted to review more books. Um, yes. So she sent me the review list of upcoming titles, and she's from fucking TOR books! For those not familiar, TOR is one of the top publishing companies, known for their sci-fi/fantasy books. Obviously they publish other things because the book she contacted me about is historical fiction. Anyway, looked at the titles picked six and she said "great!". Yes, I'm basically getting 7 free books, plus I'm now on a list so whenever they update, I'll get to pick more. The other email I haven't responded to yet, but yet another free book, plus the opportunity to review more. So blessed!



All through the day I kept getting emails for these free programs, 30 Day Reinvention, some relationship program, and a few free workbooks. I signed up for all of it and now have tons of inspiration for 2012. The 30 day program suggested getting a buddy, so through the Facebook page I met a wonderful gal whose I spend quite a bit of time chatting with on Facebook. We will be keeping in touch daily to meet our goals.

So then I check my email and Gabrielle Bernstein had emailed me and comped her All Access Club, which I think was over $100 for a year. So you get free lectures, including this Friday's New Years lecture, videos, goodies, etc. I am so moved. So I sent her an email back about how much she has inspired me and contributed to my healing and next thing I know, she sends me an email and comps me for her summer Kripalu Loveatarian weekend workshop. I cried happy tears. I called both my parents, crying.



I just feel like everything is happening in such a beautiful way. I had my 24 hour creative push a few days ago, got some good sleep, and then the Universe sends me all this love. Tomorrow I plan on starting on some of those workbooks, creating my 2012 vision board, and really getting down with my cleanse.

So I may not have been perfect on Day 1. I ate well, in fact, this morning I made more almond milk, made pecan milk, walnut milk, chocolate walnut milk and....strawberry macadamia nut milk. I am loving my nut milk bag!

I finished my third book for 2012. My goal is 52; so far so good. I'll start another one tomorrow.



I will end my evening with prayer and visualization. Tomorrow I plan to start fresh with a new book at breakfast, MSM/lemon water, raw cereal, then brushing/flossing, coffee enema, skin brushing and shower. Then I'm going to get some stuff from Trader Joes and Whole Foods. I plan on getting Spiritual in the afternoon, might even break out the yoga mat. I'll be sure to meditate/pray/visualize again. So most of my list will get done, if not all.

Feeling so much love and gratitude



Friday, September 16, 2011

Love and Gratitude: September Edition








  • I am loving my freedom! Getting out, doing some driving, going to coffee shops, bookstores, even appointments. I am also grateful that I now can park in the handicap spot; just makes it easier. 
  • I am grateful to Caroline, my gorgeous colonics practitioner , mentor and spirit guide for gifting me with four colonic sessions. This is a powerful gift and I couldn't be happier. 
  • I am loving all the Spirit Junkie excitement this week and can't wait to post about Gabby's wonderful new book.
  • Loving listening to Tori Amos, especially her early work. New album on Tuesday!
  • I am grateful and loving my amazing ladies nights! We had a fantastic time at Accurso's last weekend. 
  • Enjoyed the new show "Ringer" with Sarah Michelle Gellar. It's going to be suspenseful!
  • While the cooler weather seems to have sprung up very quickly, I love the idea of hot chocolate, baked potato soup (already made one batch!) chili, scarves, the changing leaves, and all the beauty of fall. 
  • She & Him are releasing a Christmas Album. Here's the track list: The Christmas Waltz, Christmas Day, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Christmas Wish, Sleigh Ride, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Silver Bells, Baby It's Cold Outside, Blue Christmas, Little Saint Nick, and The Christmas Song. Love it!!
  • My new Squidoo Lens "For the Love of Triton"
  • Dog 'O' Lanterns
  • I'm grateful to have a girls outing at Coffee Girls with my new friend Andrea. Green Juice, breakfast burrito, great conversation, great times. 
  • I am grateful for my body healing; loving that my tumors are shrinking and I've lost nearly half of my water weight. It won't be long before I'll have my body back, and hello new shoes and fall clothes!
  • I LOVE these shoes and can't wait to add to my collection. They will be awesome for Universal Studios!
  • I love that Ryan Adams has a new CD coming out next month! Gold and Love is Hell are still great listens. Such an incredible artist. 
  • I'm loving reading "Laugh Your Way to Grace" by Susan Sparks
  • I love my new journal! I'm excited about journaling again. 


What's on your Love and Gratitude List?


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Health Update




I cannot express how grateful I am to be home from the hospital. It's a beautiful thing to be in your own space. I've had some amazing helpers bring me food, play with Triton, and just send the most loving notes. My Mom has been incredible, even when I get cranky with her, keeping things clean, taking me places, etc. So how am I doing? Here are a few little tidbits:
  • I did gain 7lbs in this last week since leaving the hospital, so we up'd my meds and I've started to lose that again. I can definitely tell it's working. Don't fret if we go out and I disappear for awhile; I didn't get lost in the bathroom, I'm just peeing like the Energizer Bunny....it just keeps going and going and going....
  • The tumors in my armpits appear to be smaller, so yipee for that!
  • I went to Trader Joes on my own today; drove myself, parked, walked the entire store on my own, carries the bags to my car, into the house, and unloaded all on my own. This is HUGE. I NEVER would have been able to do that a week ago. I'm getting stronger, walking better and have more energy
  • I'm still sleeping bizarrely.  I sleep in the late afternoon/evening, then get up, and sometimes am up for hours in the night, and then sleep some more. I think I'm still screwed up from being in the hospital.
  • I've been going visualization exercises to get my body to function properly. I already know this helped dissipate the tumor in m lung pressing on my trachea because I haven't felt it in months. I have no doubt I can use this to heal the rest of my body.
  • I am going three times a week to do the MOPA machine, which sends electronic pulses through your body, killing microbes, which then kills cancer cells. I'm going to say this is contributing to my improved health. 
  • My Cancer Protocols have changed some. I dropped the Budwig Diet, am focusing on the Cellect and working on creative ways to eat it. We just started doing some juicing, I'm doing the B17 (cancer killing vitamin) and several supplements for the heart including Niacin. 
  • I haven't been doing the Vibe machine because stairs are still an issue, but we are looking to move it and that should help. I heard a few stories recently of people who shrank tumors within weeks by doing this, so I'm getting on it!
  • Overall I am improving and looking forward to going to the Harry Potter theme park at the end of October! I KNOW I will be healed to the point that I will be able to fully appreciate the experience. 

I want to take a moment to address something. I received an email (which I will respond to soon!) that suggested I had made a mistake going holistic and that I needed to give it up and go for the chemo to save myself. While I appreciate that this person is concerned for my welfare, I still believe that using chemicals to "heal" is a poor idea. I choose to address this because I think that she is not alone in wondering why I don't just do chemo. A few things a) At this particular moment my heart is not strong enough for treatment, we'd need to wait to build it up b) I have never been told that I could be "cured" by chemo, that is it a life extension, and likely cancer would return and I would have to go through this process, maybe several times c) I've seen what it does to people, and I'm not a fan d) My main issue with western medicine is that the doctors don't encourage you to make any life changes when diagnosed with cancer, in fact, they spend a lot of time making sure nothing has to change. Cancer came for a reason, and by not changing any aspect of my life, even if the chemo eliminate the tumors, there is a reason people always get them back. By doing things holistically I'm not only protecting my body long term from chemicals and not experiencing the harsh side effects of the drugs, but if forces me to change my lifestyle. I've had to improve my diet, face my fears, get in touch with my emotions, and I've learned how to be happy and am on the way to becoming truly joyful. I do not believe this would have happened if I had chosen the other path. For those concerned about stats, just because you don't hear about people healing themselves naturally, doesn't mean they aren't doing it. Big Pharma spends a lot of time shutting people up, many doctors who heal patients with natural medicines have to move to Europe or Mexico. I personally know people who have healed themselves, and follow blogs of several who have either a) completely healed or b) are healing from natural remedies. People are often talked into treatments out of fear, and I've always stuck to my beliefs. I appreciate any concern that certain community members may have, but know this, I WILL heal my body, and when I do I will truly be healed. No damaged nerves from chemo, no fretting over when things will return and if I'll survive the next round of treatment. I will be healthy and happy and well balanced and better off than I started. And this, is why I've chosen to go holistic. Feel free to email me if you wish to discuss this further. 



I'll wrap this with a little Love and Gratitude:
  • I've been loving listening to holiday music this week, especially the fun songs like Rocking Around the Christmas Tree and Jingle Bells and also loving some of the rarer songs such as Carol of the Bells
  • Conveniently Natural has delicious vegan food, home delivered, and I've enjoyed it thoroughly this week. Gratitude to Andrea for bringing me some and to the owners for dropping off some free samples. What a beautiful community we belong to!
  • Trader Joes quiche is delicous!
  • I am grateful for the comfort of my water bed, love it, always
  • Gabby Bernstein's new book Spirit Junkie comes out in two weeks! Plus, Tori Amos has a new album out the next week AND I have a gift certificate for Best Buy from my Birthday, so freebie for me!
  • I am grateful for the nicer weather and opportunity to chill on my back porch, watching Triton play in his pool, and chase squirrels in the yard
  • She & Him are releasing a Christmas Album this year; I think I'm in geek heaven
  • On Thursday's blog you'll see my pics for Fall TV; there is a TV show based on fairytales. So excited for that one. 
  • I love sleeping with stuffed animals. I'll be sleeping with them when I'm married. They make me feel good. 
  • Did I mention HARRY POTTER THEME PARK IN OCTOBER!!! Yeah, just a tad bit excited
  • The symphony is doing Pops in the Park this weekend. Anyone want to go crazy early and get a close parking spot, have a picnic, chit chat and listen to some kickass music from Star Wars and Pirates of the Carribean? So much fun!
  • Love naps, so refreshing.
  • I am grateful for my parents and everything they do to support me. Love you Mom and Dad
Love and Gratitude,

Shanna

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

What I Need Help With: A Guide for Those Who Have Requested Info on Aiding Me on My Healing Journey


Asking for help. Doesn't it just make your skin crawl? I'm a superhero dammit! I was even given a Wonder Woman award at work for being such a power house and leader. The past seven years, until recently, I have taken myself to every cancer related appointment. I picked out my protocols, I told my parents the cliff notes version of what was going on to protect them from the doctors often harsh words, and I worked full time, sometimes more than 40 hours a week running my father's company. Then a few years ago I had serious fatigue issues. I couldn't make it to my appointment on my own so my parents took me. My organs were failing, and I had days, maybe weeks to live. Oops. Guess I should have slowed down a bit eh? I had a choice to make; let the cancer take me, or live, and allow others to aid me. I chose to live.  I became part-time at work, I slowed down a bit, I allowed my folks to attend some of my appointments and I healed. Over time as I felt better my do-it-yourself gene kicked in (really, it never went away) and what do you know, I got deathly ill again. This time, I don't think I have the option to fiddle around. It's heal or die  To my surprise, the community stepped up, without me saying a word. Suddenly, I had a Chip-In account, which as of today has over $800 in it. I had someone loan me a juicer, a Vibe machine; people I've never met have brought me food and volunteered to walk Triton and so much more. I've had to acknowledge that I simply cannot do it all on my own. Even with my parents help, it's been taking a toll on them as well. My Mom is clearly getting overwhelmed, and my Dad is on vacation right now to help him get it back together. We all need help. One of the community members suggested that I post a list, updating it frequently, of what I need. It seems many people would like to help, they just don't know how. So I'm adding a module to my blog, just under the Shanna Sandmoen's Healing Fund Chip-In link on the right hand side, that will be updated regularly with my needs. And friends, I am humbling myself to ask for help. I am incredibly grateful and moved by everything that has been done so far, and I KNOW that this time, I'm going all the way and I'm not stopping until I'm completely healed. And when that happens (which is a goal on my 31 Things Before I Turn 31), I am going to throw a huge bash, and you are all invited. Thank you for your support, and located below is my initial list and some links to previous posts regarding my cancer journey for those of you that are new to my situation.






What I Need Help With/Things I Need

  1. Pre-made Meals. I can always used pre-made meals. Whether it's your own delightful home cooking, something from Whole Foods, Nature's Pantry, Conveniently Natural, etc. it helps a lot to know I always have something on hand and most things can be frozen if I get an overload. Note: I am allergic to fennel, tumeric and simply detest mushrooms. Otherwise, as long as it's vegetarian, I'll probably like it. 
  2. Dog Walking. I have a 140lbs great dane/newfound named Triton who loves to go for walks, run around the backyard, and have his belly rubbed. If you are a strong brave soul, he would love to hang with you. 
  3. Laundry: I have a laundry room in the basement. Sadly, I no longer have the strength to carry the basket up and down the stairs. I usually always have things to wash, as I have to wear my giant clothes right now because of the fluid issue. 
  4. Light Housework: My Mom does what she can, as does my Dad, but Triton sheds a lot, so dog hair piles up quickly, dishes need to be loaded/unloaded frequently, and of course there is the bathroom. 
  5. Juicing and Smoothies: I'm just learning to juice, and I do green smoothies. Some days I don't have the strength to make them. I'm always open to help juicing and creating delicious smoothies. 
  6. Rides to Appointments: I have healing appointments in Lee's Summit 3-4 times a week. My Mom has been driving back and forth to take me to appointments and it's taking a toll emotionally and on her gas mileage. Any help, even just one direction or the other would be greatly appreciated.
  7. Mow Lawn: My lawn hasn't been mowed....well I'm not sure when, early summer. I don't own a lawnmower, but if anyone is up for it, Triton probably would appreciate it. 
  8. Afternoon Social Outings: Ok, so this is not really help, but it can get incredibly boring being stuck at home all the time, and as I'm limited to my driving/walking right now, I would LOVE to occasionally get out in the afternoons and go to a local coffee shop for an hour or so and just have some good conversation. One More Cup, Mud Pie and Coffee Girls are all great places that offer local, organic and vegetarian/vegan options. Entertain me please :) 
  9. Dog Food:  Triton needs a 50lb of organic dog food, they sell brands at Petsmart, Petco, and even some grocery stores. I can reimburse or provide money upfront, I simply don't have the strength to get and carry the bag in and out of the store and pour it into his bin.
  10. Raw Cacao Powder: I'm almost out, and I use it to flavor my rather disgusting daily mineral lifesaving powder I drink. This is one item that I can't get at any place near me, so I'm afraid I might run out before I get a chance to get to Whole Foods. If anyone is going to the store this week, I'll reimburse you the cost if you pick me up a bag and drop it off.
And of course, any donations to Shanna Sandmoen's Healing Fund are very welcome.

Those are immediate needs, as I said I will put up a sidebar and update. Other things that come up would be going to the grocery store, I can sometimes walk the store, but I can't carry bags. Triton needs food every 4 weeks or so, I almost always need Kleenex, obviously certain toiletries, and whatever random things that might come up. Again, GRATEFUL. You are all beautiful, thank you.



Love and Gratitude,

Shanna

P.S. Here are some links to my cancer journey


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Love and Gratitude: August Edition






I am grateful for all the people who came and visited me in the hospital last week, for all the gorgeous flowers, the balloons, the donations to my Chip-In account, to my friends who came to visit this past weekend, my Mom for bringing me food so I didn't have to endure to many hospital meals, the support of my Dad, the phone calls from my Spirit Junkie ladies and all the community members that have volunteered their services, including the artist who is donating a sculpture to my cause, the gorgeous raw chef that is making me meals, dog walking volunteers, etc. I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful and caring community.

The Little Things I Love:
Zucchini Cake from Eden's Alley, the movie Stardust, watching Triton circle around three or four times to find the perfect spot to chew his favorite bone, taking a shower and being able to use both hands (no IV!) and being able to wash my entire body, being home from the hospital, raw cacao smoothies, listening to my Spirit Junkie Meditations, catching up on Eureka, , sleeping in my own bed, cucumber from the farmers market




What's on Your Love and Gratitude List?


Friday, August 19, 2011

50 Ways to Lift Your Spirits



  1. Make a gratitude list
  2. Bake cookies; share them with a friend
  3. Take a detox bath: 1 cup epsom salts, 1/4 cup baking soda, your favorite essential oil, soak up the happy
  4. Play with a dog, if you don't have one, borrow one from a friend
  5. Dance it out to your favorite song
  6. Go to the mall and get a free makeover at one of the department store makeover counters
  7. Read the blog Hyperbole and a Half
  8. Watch Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase in "Foul Play". 
  9. Read "Good Omens" by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman
  10. Get out your markers and create your vacation vision board. Post pictures of your fantasy destination, write mini-paragraphs of what you did, and post it where you can look at it daily
  11. Buy yourself some flowers
  12. Take a walk in the park
  13. Drink a green smoothie
  14. Download Gabby Bernstein's "Dialed Up" lecture and get inspired
  15. Write yourself a love letter
  16. Watch the "New Adventures of Old Christine" in reruns on Lifetime
  17. Enroll in Gala Darlings "Radical Self Love" Bootcamp
  18. Sing in the shower
  19. Get out your list of things you've always wanted to try, but never get around to, pick one, and DO IT!
  20. Paint your toenails
  21. Call a friend you haven't spoken to in months and catch up
  22. Order some Indian carryout, curl up with a stuffed animal, and watch your favorite Julia Roberts movie
  23. Go to your local art museum and explore; make up stories about the characters in paintings and laugh out loud
  24. Meditate
  25. Go to a yoga class or do a DVD at home
  26. Go to your favorite shoe store, try on the most outrageous shoes, take pictures, and post them on your Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc.
  27. Check out Brad Yates EFT videos on You Tube and get happy
  28. Go to your favorite restaurant and go crazy; get the fizzy drink, appetizer, your favorite dish and dessert.
  29. Write affirmations in lipstick on your bathroom mirror
  30. Have a media black out day
  31. Write a forgiveness letter to someone, meditate on releasing yourself from that issue, burn the letter and send the ashes out into the Universe
  32. Create an inspirational playlist and put it on your MP3 player
  33. Have some friends over for a potluck
  34. Watch a favorite movie from your childhood
  35. Get a book of Mad Libs and go crazy with your BFF
  36. Take yourself out on a date; go to dinner, a movie, buy some new shoes, pamper yourself
  37. Donate to a good cause, even if it's only $5 bucks
  38. Bounce on a rebounder
  39. Buy a puzzle book and challenge yourself
  40. Schedule a Reiki session
  41. Write a letter to the Universe
  42. Try out a new recipe
  43. Go to your favorite coffee shop, order your favorite drink, and write in your journal
  44. Give yourself a hug
  45. Go to the farmers market and get some fresh veggies, bread, eggs, etc Thank your farmers for all they do. 
  46. Smile at yourself everytime you look in the mirror
  47. Buy a pair of sexy underwear for your eyes only
  48. Read poetry by e e cummings
  49. Get a massage
  50. Look in a mirror, tell yourself "I love you" and believe it
 What other ideas do you have to lift your spirits?

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Fluid Monster Returns to the Hospital

In my last post My Trip to the Hospital or Adventures of the Fluid Monster I discussed spending a few days in the hospital. Well, Friday night my Dad took me back to the Emergency Room, where it seemed I had gained 12 more lbs since my discharge on Tuesday! Yikes! I was admitted into the hospital for a longer care period this time. They hooked me up to an IV drip of the diuretics, started some heart medication, and basically monitored my progress. Thankfully, I seemed to have lost quite a bit of the fluid. Unfortunately, I don't have an exact amount as each scale seems to be wildly different. However, I can walk fairly normally now, though I still have a bit of swelling in my feet and legs, and my abdomen and butt are considerably smaller. There is still probably an extra 20lbs, but I am hoping it continues to drain off. I was released on Wednesday, with a list of prescriptions for getting me to pee like crazy and strengthen my heart. I am so glad to be home! Now I can finally get my program in gear, in conjunction with what the hospital gave me. I am weighing myself daily to make sure I am shrinking and not blowing up again, plus I'm restricting some of my liquids.



I want to take a moment to say how GRATEFUL I am to all the beautiful people who stopped by my hospital room or called. Being in the hospital is about as boring as it gets, and your visits/calls really lifted my spirits. I am also grateful for the package from Gabby, Zoe, and Elisa, you ladies are so lovely!  Thank you. I am also blown away by the continued donations to Shanna Sandmoen's Healing Fund. I feel so blessed. This is such an aid to my family and I appreciate every cent.

This weekend I have a lovely group of ladies from St.Louis and Columbia coming to visit. It will be a beautiful weekend of Eden Alley carryout, chick flicks, girl talk, etc.


Monday, July 25, 2011

My Cancer Protocols Explained

This past weekend I posted a Cancer Update and listed some of the protocols I've implemented or am in the process of implementing. I realize that most of that is gibberish to the general populace, and quite frankly up until last week was for me as well. So I thought I'd break it down a bit. Feel free to ask any questions and I will link to sites with more info, for those of you also going through health issues.

  
MSM/Colloidal Silver
MSM is an extremely vital mineral, that in combination with the silver, kills the microbes in cancer cells. Alone, these two would not have this affect, but by taking the MSM, than waiting 15 minutes and following up with the silver, the MSM opens up a "doorway" to allow the silver to come in and kill the microbes inside the cancer cells, allowing the cell to restore to a natural healthy state. 

Limu Juice
This product is a seaweed juice, with a tiny bit of fruit juice to improve the taste. The seaweed has cancer killing abilities and is a good addition to any protocol, but not necessarily a stand alone product. It's also crazy expensive. However, one of the main benefits is that it gives cancer patients more time, allowing other protocols to kick in. The taste leaves a little to be desire, but I've been throwing it back like a shot, so it's not so bad. Right now I'm taking about half the recommended dose of 16 ounces a day, but I am already feeling the affects. 

The Cellect/Budwig Protocol
This protocol has six parts 1) Vegetable Juice 2) The Budwig Diet 3) Cellect 4) Coffee Enemas and other detox methods 5) Vitamin B17 6) Real Sunlight. I have been doing green smoothies, and will now do a quart of smoothie and a quart of juice daily. A member of our local community was kind enough to loan us a juicer, so we'll be starting that portion this week.  


The Budwig Diet consists of a blended portion of cottage cheese and flax oil, at I 2:1 ratio, with the larger portion being the cottage cheese. While it sounds odd, this protocol was discovered by a German scientist in the 50's named Johanna Budwig and has been used successfully to heal cancer patients for many decades. The combination of the flax oil and cottage cheese causes a chemical bond that allows the cells to easily absorb this combo. It creates an electrical charge in the cells, causing cancer cells to die and strengthening healthy cells. This protocol is done twice a day, on an empty stomach, and the goal is to work up to a 6:3 ratio. Some people really love it, personally I think it has a bit of an after taste, but I'm used to chucking down pretty much anything by now.


B17, also referred to Laetrile, is found primarily in apricot pits. Back in the 70's you could purchase B17 supplements at your local health food store, but sadly people were being cured of cancer, and so the FDA, guns ablazing, came in and removed the product. Until recently people were still getting arrested for selling the seeds, but apparently that is no longer the case. However we did purchase this in pill form, and I'm attempting to determine the dosage as the bottle is in Spanish. Thank you international orders. Laetrile contains cyanide, which in this format does not harm healthy cells, but is deadly to cancer cells. This products main focus is to kill cancer cells. There are entire villages in South America where the people have never had cancer, because they eat the pits of the fruits. This is a highly effective treatment, but works best in conjunction with the Cellect, which provides the nutrients needed for the Laetrile to be absorbed by the body. The Cellect, which is a major portion of this protocol, is a powder that you take 6-8 scoops a day, and contains tons of minerals, which essentially support the immune system and aid the B17 in killing cancer cells.
Detoxing is another important portion of this protocol. Once these methods start to work, your body works like heck to release toxins. Any toxins that get stuck recycle back into your blood stream, which can open the door to viruses and cause fatigue. Currently I am doing weekly colonics, and will start doing coffee enemas twice a day. The reason for the coffee is that it not only removes debris from the rectum, but also releases toxins from the liver, making it more beneficial than a typical enema. The more toxins you can move out of your body, the better you will feel and the less work your body has to do and the faster it will heal.



The Vibe Machine
Here's some info from the website "The VIBE Machine works on five different levels by using a medium electromagnetic field. In this field, a high voltage pulse is added along with ozone. The charge is placed at a negative voltage which is being transmitted to an antenna designed to twist the magnetic field. It is then routed through noble and inert gases. These gases are in a plasma state, varying in frequencies which relate to human cellular frequencies. Plasma is found between the protons and electrons of all cells in the human body. By oscillating this plasma state, the cells are energized by the Vibe Machine. Disease is a state found in non-vibrating, non-charged, or non-energized cells. The VIBE Machine brings the vibrational level of your body back to its natural state of being. It is a technological breakthrough in enhancing the human body by helping it reach optimum vibration and energy." Interesting eh? This is $10K machine, that a wonderful community member is lending to me during my treatment. You do two five minute sessions daily.

Resonance Repatterning
This is an energy psychology technique, designed to release blockages to emotional health. I used this several years ago to clear a pattern of attracting rapists wannabe (I'm not joking, I had DAILY issues from kindergarten through my early 20's). Anyway, after ONE SESSION, I received a compliment and date offer from a NORMAL man, and shortly there after met someone who I dated for three years. I also, after 20 years of being assaulted, sexually harrassed, etc., have never had another incident. This is powerful stuff people. Here's some info from my gal Bobbie Martin's website. "Resonance Repatterning is a process designed to clear beliefs, behaviors and negative emotions that create limitations in your life.  Much of what holds you back originates from subconscious patterns (or programming) which took place early in your life.  These subconscious patterns interfere with your ability to create the happiness, abundance, fulfillment, love and health that you desire. Repatterning works by bringing these subconscious patterns into your consciousness so they can be addressed and cleared, allowing you to move easily and naturally towards a state of what we call coherence. Coherence, as defined in Resonance Repatterning, is a greater balance, aliveness, harmony, and alignment with your goals." I am using this method to keep my positive mojo going and release any feelings of wanting to die. I've had one session in the last week, and my spirits are improved tremendously. I highly recommend this for anyone with emotional blockages.



In addition to the items listed above, I will also start using a rebounder, which is a mini-trampoline, designed to move the lymphatic system. You can be as gentle or as enthused as you want. Even just standing on it and moving your feel just a little bounces you enough to move the lymph system. This is so important as the lymphatic system does not have it's own pump, so without movement it can get sluggish and cause illness. I am also taking an assortment of supplements, including Hydrocloric Acid and Digestive Enzymes (for processing my food) and Milk Thistle to support the liver, D-Ribose to support immune fuction, and B12, Vitamin D and Iron. Obviously I'm also eating a healthy diet, mostly vegan, lots of veggies and good grains, and drinking tea as often as possible. 


Whew! Healing is a full time job, but I am fully dedicated. I am so much Gratitude and Love for my Supporters. Thank you for being there, and you are all invited over for Christmas Dinner, because, I WILL be here, and will be stronger than ever. 

Love,

Shanna

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Gratitude and Love for My Supporters

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am so grateful for all you have done for me. I know going to doctors appointments and listening to the melodrama can be draining. I appreciate all the times you've cooked me meals, prepared smoothies (especially you Dad, since the kitchen is so foreign to you, ha!), done the laundry, dishes, cleaned the house. Dad, thanks for braving the 100 degrees and taking Triton out on walks. He also loves his kiddie pool. Thank you for taking out the trash, buying me groceries, helping me run errands, and just being there. I appreciate all that you do and know that we will get through this together. 

Love, 

Shanna



Dear Friends, Facebook Friends, and Community,

I am grateful for all the support I have received. Thank you for each positive comment, email, and prayer offering. I am grateful to the community for bringing me a juicer, a Vibe machine, and the talks of a benefit. I am grateful to my dearest Jocelyn for all the veggies, juice, girl talk, sleepover, and everything else. Laura and Trina, love you gals and thanks for driving up to see me. I am grateful to the ladies of the Reiki circle for the healing they are planning, and my dear Jess and Laura for the upcoming trip to visit. Thank you Gisele for checking in on me at the hospital and to all who have sent emails, love you. Thank you BFF ladies for the beautiful flowers, the cards, and all the prayers. To anyone else that I may have missed, I am grateful for your contribution, and know that all this positive action will help me heal. 

Love, 

Shanna

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Love and Gratitude: There's No Place Like Home

I've been in such a funk these last few weeks. My trip went all to hell, my finances are looking very unhealthy, my dog Triton has a severe Staph infection, the list goes on. I though some Love and Gratitude would help bring me back to focus. Remember, what we sent out, we get back, it's the Law of Attraction.



Little Things That Made Me Smile
My wonderful new showerhead that has actual water pressure, flowers in the front flower bed, new cozy sofa, new ceiling fan for the bedroom, seeing deer daily at my retreat, chocolate banana cake squares, visiting Sweet Pea vegan bakery and walking away with quite a haul, seeing the ocean, going on a Dune Buggy ride through the Sand Dunes, meeting a cool chic from Kansas in Portland at the Herbivore store and updating her on the new vegan scene in Kansas City, getting a discount on my beach side hotel, finding a cute organic cafe in Florence, making green smoothies again, the fact that Trader Joe's opens tomorrow just five minutes from my house, coming home to a clean home courtesy of my parents, new backyard light for the evenings, the fact that my suitcase has been found and should be returned to me tonight, free music mixes from Miss Moss, finding a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at the airport in Minneapolis, new episodes of Covert Affairs and White Collar, the killer summer finale of Doctor Who regarding the identity of River and Amy Pond's daughter, the fact that I have seven more OZ books to re-read, and a book of 9 new ones from written by Frank Baum daughter-in-law that I've never read, Kansas City library is buying all of the books I requested, the fact that I have the entire rest of the afternoon and evening to do whatever the heck I want, my cheese shredder, air-conditioning, a plumber for a Dad that can fix my running toilet and install a new garbage disposal for free, my flexible work schedule, healing sessions from my Mom, supportive emails from my friends, sleeping in my own bed


What's on your Love and Gratitude List? 

Monday, March 21, 2011

100 Tips to Heal the Body, Mind and Spirit

In honor of my 100th post (woohoo!!!) I have put together a list of healing tips for body, mind and soul: 

1. Drink Green Smoothies Daily
2. Laugh for at least a minute each day
3. Bounce on a rebounder
4. Spend time with animals; experience puppy love
5. Soak up the sun; Vitamin D gives us pep and healthy skin!
6. Keep your mind active by doing puzzles
7. Practice Yoga
8. Say affirmations in the mirror daily
9. Tell yourself "I love you" every time you look in a mirror
10. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
11. Get a series of colonics annually
12. Do enemas weekly
13. The Violet Flame
14. Ressonance Repatterning
15. Journal Daily
16. Meditate at least 15 minutes each day
17. Experience Vipssana
18. Get a massage
19. Eat lots of Superfoods
20.Practice Gratitude daily


21. Create your own Quantum Shift statement and focus on it
22. Practice Reiki or schedule a session
23. Go on a 7 day Sugar Cleanse
24. Send Love Letters to your family and friends
25. Wear a sleep mask at night
26. Go Vegan for 30 Days
27. Cultivate your friendships
28. Use a Skin Brush daily before showering
29. Use a Neti Pot to clear your nostrils
30. Go Barefoot as often as possible
31. Practice the Healing Codes
32. Take a detox bath
33. Experience tuning fork sound therapy
34. Write a letter to the Universe
35. Climb your way to more positive thoughts daily
36. Buy Crazy Sexy Diet and do the 21 Day Adventure Cleanse
37. Practice Forgiveness daily
38. Take time to cry it out
39. Practice deep breathing techniques
40. Do Donna Eden's 5-Minute Daily Energy Routine
















41. Practice the Script, a spiritual healing prayer
42. Check your PH daily
43. Mentally bless people who annoy you
44. Release your romantic illusions
45. Add Cinnamon to your meals
46. Create a Vision Board
47. Do these healing workbook exercises
48. Eliminate coffee from your diet
49. Do a parasite cleanse
50. Do a gall bladder cleanse
51. Detox with an infra-red sauna
52. Pray
53. Go to YouTube and listen to channelings from Bashar
54. Practice the Law of Attraction
55. Read these books
56. Stop gossiping
57. Make only positive posts online
58. Take your vitamins
59. Drink green, red and yerba mate teas
60. Write your New Moon Abundance Checks


61. Get Reconnected
62. Practice Ho'oponopono
63. Raise your vibrations with Vibes Up
64. Declutter your space
65. Use the mirroring exercise when people ruffle your feathers
66. Use Oracle Cards as guides
67. Put in your favorite CD and shake your booty!
68. Serve Others
69. Get in balance
70. Read Eat, Pray, Love
71. Erase the word "should" from your vocabulary
72. Subscribe to "The Daily Love" a beautiful daily e-newsletter
73. Eat lots of carrots
74. Get a Zapper
75. Get a tongue scrapper
76. Take off your bra as often as possible, they constrict your lymph nodes
77. Use Tooth Soap to heal your cavities and create healthy teeth
78. Write yourself a love letter
79. Use flower essences
80. Read Marianna Williamson's "A Reflection on a Course of Miracles"















81. Take yourself on a date
82. Use coconut oil on your skin after showering
83. Stand naked in the mirror and tell each and every body part, organ, cell "I Love You"
84. Cut out carbs for a week
85. Cut out processed foods permanently
86. Eliminate soda pop from your diet
87. Take the "No TV for 30 Days" challenge
88. Take time to feel your feelings
89. Go to the Farmer's Market
90. Go on a Media Diet
91. Learn how to say "NO" with grace
92. Do some Spiritual House Cleaning
93. Drink lots of water
94. Take Probiotics
95. Chew your meals mindfully
96. Give yourself hugs
97. Practice visualization techniques
98. Stretch every morning when you get up
99. Learn the Tibetan Rejuvenation Rites
100. Love Yourself

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