The Homeopathic Support at Home

It is no secret to those who know me that I am naturally minded. Some of you may think I am "earthy", "crunchy" or a "hippie" to use essential oils on Emma but I know these oils work. They already stop tantrums, heal rashes, help us sleep and sooth teething pain. Brad and I walk a fine line between putting our faith in medical science and treating naturally. With our children we run tests, get second opinions, weigh the risks and treat naturally when possible. Our pediatrician always supported us using natural treatments when it makes sense. We truly believe in this case we need modern

Emma's tumor is circled

medicine but we will be supporting Emma at home and in the hospital with what ever we find that is safe. We are so blessed to have a medical team at Children's who agree with our choice to use oils and they have been allowing me to use them in the hospital. I will keep everyone posted on which oils we use and if we see an improvement.

 If anyone is curious about which oils we are using to support her here is list,

Frankincense: studies show it shrinks tumors and can aid in cancer treatments. There are even studies that show frankincense shrink cancer that was not responding to chemotherapy. Just google Frankincense and cancer and tons of medical articles will come up.

Sandlewood: anti-tumor and encourages healthy cell growth. It is used topically to aid with cancer treatments. It soothes and provides emotional balance.

Emma's tumor from behind

Myrrh: Historically Myrrh was used as a treatment for cancer along with leprosy and syphillis. It also helps to increase appetite which is good for chemo patients.

Lavender: lowers anxiety, helps with a low appetite, aids in cancer treatments, calms, soothes, helps with pain, and a whole list too long for here of other great things to help!

Wild Orange: lifts the spirits / antidepressant, anti cancer, and antiseptic.

DDR Prime: studies have proven its effectiveness on reducing cancer cells.

Here is our routine: twice daily I apply diluted Frankincense, Sandlewood, Myrrh and  Lavender to Emma's spine, feet and forehead where her largest tumor is located. I also apply them to Gracie's feet since she very likely has neurofibromatosis as well.

I diffuse Frankincense, Wild Orange and Sandlewood in our home nonstop.

I am going to start applying DDR Prime to Emma once my shipment arrives from doTERRA.

The Journey Begins - The Diagnosis

It all started in October, Brad mentioned that Emma's right eye might be lazy. I never saw her eye do anything abnormal so we brushed it off. A week later we were looking at pictures from the pumpkin patch and Brad pointed to one of Emma where her eye was clearly off in a different direction. Concerned we added extra eye care coverage to our insurance plan and waited for our new health insurance to send us cards. A couple weeks later we were at the pediatric ophthalmologist.

The doctor was very concerned about Emma's eye and referred us to UC Davis for more specialized tests on her eye. Since we were right before the holidays they said it would be three to four weeks before she could be seen. Not willing to wait that long we transferred to The Children's Hospital of Madera and grabbed an appointment on Christmas Eve for an MRI and consult with a pediatric neurologist.

What they don't tell you about a ten AM MRI is you check in two hours before at 8:00 and adding in an hour and a half for driving and the extra time to drop off Gracie at our dear friends house we were up long before the sun.

Emma had an X-ray and then had to be put under for the MRI. Everyone at Children's was amazing. The nurses brought her toys and were very accommodating to my wishes to calm her down with essential oils. After the MRI we traveled to the pediatric neurologist.

The neurologist knew right away that Emma has neurofibromatosis. He showed us MRI pictures of a large tumor wrapped around her optic nerve. It sits above and behind her eye pushing it out of the socket then travels through the center of her brain and down.

He said they would never operate because it would make her blind but it would also be much too

dangerous and invasive. It does need to be shrieked down in size because it is growing at an alarming rate. He referred us to an oncologist for chemotherapy and a genetic specialist to find out which type  of neurofibromatosis she has since there are two kinds.

The future will be hard, we will have many appointments and poor little Emma will undergo one of the hardest treatments you can do on a person. Many people have offered to help us and we are so thankful for their love and support. For now we need help with,
- distraction: over thinking this will not be good, please help distract us and keep us the fun kind of busy. Unless we ask for a quiet day at home assume we would love to play. If Brad or I seem "strong" or "doing okay" it's all a front, we are heartbroken.
- prayer: we need all the help we can get. Please add Emma and our family to your daily prayers or prayer chains.
- help: if you have the ability to watch Gracie while we take a Emma to the hospital for an appointment please contact us with times you are free.
- be careful about scary questions: we are barely holding it together, we know you have questions and

we do as well. We ask that you please be careful about asking the questions that already haunt us like  if she will loose her hair, will it work and what her future looks like. One of the reasons we started  this blog is so everyone cat get the information with out us repeating it over and over.

A huge thank you to all our lovely friends who have already brought us food, watched Gracie, prayed with us and sent Emma toys for the hospital. We feel so blessed to be surrounded by so much love.

And so the journey begins...