A Whole New Me: Getting to the Bottom of Bowel Cancer

By Debra Walz and Loise White

Come with me on a journey to self-love, self-esteem, and self-healing. I share my experiences with you as a survivor of bowel cancer. I will lead you along my journey from crappy to happy, allow you to feel the multitude of emotions associated with recovery, and share insights into my holistic approach to the wonderful and fulfilling life I now live. Let me also share my successful approach to living life to the fullest, accepting myself and allowing only positive people and experiences to enter my universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Mar 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514446713

Debra Walz

I am a survivor of bowel cancer, diagnosed on 27 October 2014 and undergoing six operations in the space of ten months. I am now not only a stronger and more resilient person but a person with a strong purpose in life. That purpose is to share my story, successes and failures, what worked and what didn’t work. My background includes business, early childhood education, and massage therapy. My diverse set of life skills has helped me navigate research material, and along with personal experience, I have produced a resource for people from all walks of life and states of health, who may be seeking inspiration and knowledge.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Debra Walz.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

‘These suggestions about holistic healing are in no way intended to replace medical, psychological, or psychiatric assessment and/or treatment. It is recommended to consult a registered medical professional to obtain a full diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan before attempting alternative, holistic healing or similar. The suggestions are mentioned as a guide only. Enlisting the suggestions is at your own risk and the author(s) of the Foreword to A Whole New Me do not accept any responsibility for any negative outcomes. Recoveries or guarantees (by so-called alternative or holistic means, etc.) are not implied.’

Rev. date: 03/21/2016

Xlibris

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

732746

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Childhood Background

My Journey

Sharing My News

The Waiting Game

Parkrun

Emotional Overload

Getting Ready For My Hospital Stay

Trying To Remain Positive

Making Decisions

Looking Forward To Christmas

Hospital

Extended Hospital Stay

Senbazuru

Moving Is Difficult

Hospital Staff

Visitors

Christmas Day

Preparing To Go Home

Home

Happy New Year?

Leaving The House

Lorraine

Manny

Acupuncture

Diet

Gratitude

Back To See My Specialist

Unexpected Phone Call

My Mum

Ace

Text Message

Getting Involved

Experimenting With A Supplement Program

Another Text Message

The Big 30

Another Birthday

Anzac Day

Doctor’s Advice

More Sadness

Increased Energy

Food Restrictions

Mt Ninderry Retreat: 22–28 May 2015

Feeling Healed

We Have Beautiful Bodies

Being Positive

Friendship

Keep Moving

More On Manny

Live In The Present

Chocolate

Making Progress

Onwards And Upwards

Holistic Healing

Personal Bests

The Joy Of Yoga

Calmness Re-Enters My Life

Becoming More Determined

Setting Challenges

Make Each Day Count

What I Now Know

Raw Food Recipes

My Last Operation

Appendix 1

Postscript

I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me through my recovery journey. These are the two people I dedicate this book to:

Trevor – my husband of more than thirty years who has been my stabilising force, my friend, and confidante who has made my life really worth living.

Lorraine – my firstborn, my daughter. She has taught me that it takes many things including distance to be the person you want to be.

With trust, love, and faith all things are possible.

FOREWORD

for ‘A Whole New Me’ by Debra Walz

People who know the caring and vibrant Debra Walz might well wonder why bad things happen to good people? Despite investing in a healthy diet and lifestyle, Debra received an unexpected bowel cancer diagnosis on 27th October, 2014. Life would never be the same for the athletic 55-year old! Surgery is one of western society’s modern miracles. However, a murky kaleidoscope of six surgical operations, manifold colonoscopies, ultrasounds, CT scans, X-rays, and blood tests hightail the diagnosis. Despite successfully removing a malignant golf ball-sized tumour, the roller coaster ride of well meaning surgical procedures inadvertently result in a bowel perforation, a stoma site infection, a twisted, clogged bowel, and an abdominal hernia.

From diagnosis to recovery, grief and loss lurk in crannied cracks. Unexpected side effects of the first five surgeries include significantly reduced energy, constant pain, and diarrhoea. The former long distance runner becomes largely housebound for several months as a result of the intense discomfort, loose bowels, and being tied-at-the-hip to a cumbersome wound pump. Eyesight deteriorates and spectacles become a constant, unwelcome accessory. The cancer treatments immediately signal the demise of a beloved, home-based remedial massage practice with the resultant reduced income. Meanwhile, the medical specialist delivers another sentence - Debra’s running shoes are to be shelved…permanently. The ensuing helpless-hopelessness combined with difficulties negotiating even simple household routines result in a brief but dangerous flirtation with suicidal ideation!

Feeling disillusioned with the mainstream medical model, Debra looks towards the holistic healing horizon for answers. Seven months after the cancer diagnosis, the mother of three enrols in a residential cancer retreat. However, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland event unmasks fears about the irreverent diarrhoea and recalcitrant digestion. Debra fears that she lacks the emotional strength to verbally package her traumatic experiences for potentially critical, public eyes. In a nervous leap of faith, a fragile Debra hurtles courageously down the Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole to eyeball fellow sufferers and sample the retreat’s alternative therapies. The seven-day smorgasbord of healing modalities includes Brandon Bays Journey work, voice dialogue counselling, massage, reiki, yoga, meditation, and laughter therapy. Two Brandon Bays’ counselling sessions facilitate the release of deep resentment pertaining to some familial rejection.

Like magic, pain vanishes instantly with the emotional release. The retreat’s delicious raw food menu is the catalyst for an immediate diet change. Debra discovers that for her, a raw food diet assists in the amelioration of stubborn digestion and elimination issues. Once home, meat, dairy, alcohol, sugar, and wheat are off the menu! A nutritious 100 per cent raw food diet becomes the order of the day.

Like synchronised suburban train tracks, our paths align in July 2012 when I enquire about remedial sports massage treatments. Over the ensuing two years, I look forward to the regular therapeutic massages and inspirational walking-her-talk health tips.

As a committed student of holistic healing, I frequently utilise a body-centred awareness and Gestalt therapy approach to facilitate emotional healing in my role as a counselling psychologist. However, my arrhythmic heart skips another beat when I learn of the shock bowel cancer diagnosis. I scan my personal library and gently deposit two holistic healing books into the Walz’s letter box.

Cancer is the key, which paradoxically unlocks the door to our friendship. We subsequently enjoy many nutritious raw food treats while chatting about interests, health, and healing on our ambient, rural balconies.

Prior to diagnosis, Debra wears many professional hats during her working life—manager of an Education Queensland Child Care Centre Compliance Team/Advisor to the Regional Director of Education, kindergarten teacher, and remedial sports massage therapist. The varied job descriptions facilitate the New Zealander-come-Queenslander’s keen communication, writing, organisational, and public speaking skills.

A year after diagnosis with the flash-in-the pan why me? file deleted, Debra’s inner phoenix now embraces life with renewed gratitude, self-assurance, peace, and proactive determination! Towards the end of 2015, Debra considers that publicly sharing her transformative journey at my Hinterland book launch is an important step in her healing process. And despite some incontinence issues, the former long distance runner dauntlessly dons her musty sneakers, and is jogging along the road again.

Ironically, six months after Debra’s about-face with cancer, I am forced to look into the lion’s mouth of a pre-cancer breast tumour diagnosis. The tables turn and my beloved friend becomes a welcome supporter. The healed invariably becomes the healer!

Healing cancer holistically (via treating the whole person including mental, emotional, and social factors) may well be dismissed by the western medical model as good luck, but the fickle Lady Luck sometimes belies the courage and intense inner/outer work that often facilitates lasting physical and emotional healing. True holistic healing necessitates taking personal responsibility and undergoing an intense life review. Allopathic and surgical, quick-fix remedies sometimes save lives, but may precipitate a domino effect of fuelling other physiological concerns. Modern medicine often undermines the importance of resolving one’s unfinished business and safely releasing repressed emotions. Nonetheless, the mainstream medical model and holistic healing may benefit from a mutually supportive tandem ride.

The human body is designed to heal itself particularly in the earlier stages of disease. When we summon the courage to process and release dysfunctional emotions and live in love and truth 24 x 7, we just need to step out of the way and witness the every day miracle of healing!

An intense, therapeutic journaling process underpins Debra Walz’s inspirational account of her journey towards wholeness. ‘A Whole New Me’ is a welcome lifeline for cancer sufferers, families, friends, carers, and professionals. The transformative book’s subtext is hope, faith, courage, and personal growth!

Loise White (BA, TSTC, Dip Ed Psych, Masters of Counselling, MAPS)

Registered Psychologist /Teacher and Author (Miracles in the Backyard-the Divine Love Path & Tools for Soul-Healing)

Sunshine Coast, Australia

January 2016

PREFACE

27th October 2014 was a real game changer for both of us. Debra had a tumour removed from her bowel, and I could only think of the worst outcome—losing my wife. We did not yet know the results of the tests whether the tumour was malignant or benign.

My theory of life is to expect the worst and plan for it. The chances are it will not happen, but in the off chance it does happen, at least you are prepared. The following day, unbeknownst to Debra, I started planning for Debra’s funeral while mowing the yard. I do a lot of thinking while mowing. We have quite a large yard to mow by the way.

The following twelve months were quite an experience. I learned a lot about cancer through Debra’s relentless research, and I also learned a lot about Debra. This may seem strange since we have been married for thirty years. I felt helpless, as I did not understand what cancer was and how it can be dealt with. Nevertheless, I was determined to be there for Debra every step of the way.

After Debra came out of hospital, the prognosis did not look good. She was told by the experts she would not be able to do the things she used to do before cancer. Expect a major lifestyle change. In true, Debra adopted the