How Dr. Swank's Work Saved My Life.
April 17, 1989 was one of the darkest, life altering days of my 32 years on the planet. Two years after achieving my goal of stopping a 17- year smoking habit and adopting a rigorous physical fitness regimen, I truly felt on top of the world. Nothing could stop me. I'd just begun life as a student again at a local community college with my new found level of confidence in tow. Those successes empowered me to continue striving and believing in myself (something that had never come easily for me). This was a new era for Donna. Little did I know, at that time, that the confidence that had grown within me was about to be sorely tested.
As the number one aid to curbing the withdrawal cravings, I began working out in a "real gym" with seriously strong, fit people around me. One of them, a Marine drill instructor and "Mr. World" contender, became my personal coach. He took a personal interest in my goals. Each day, he would encourage, as well as educate, me in this, his arena just a bit further. It made the experience fun and I began to feel guilty if I didn't go to the gym that day. A new addiction had been spawned.
Fast forward three years of daily trips to the gym. Pushing beyond previous levels routinely, I spent almost three hours per day in that environment. I also received many new ideas as to making dietary changes and did so gladly. I'd never felt better in my entire life. What a revelation! The dietary changes came easily to me. Living in California at the time, fresh produce was not only abundant, but available year round. This prepared me for the changes to come after my diagnosis.
One morning upon waking, I was shocked to find that my left leg collapsed under me. It felt heavy and would not support my weight. I erroneously passed it off as something like a pinched nerve. My doctor couldn't find any reason for it, so it was "watch and wait." I dragged that leg around for more than 6 weeks. Continuing to work out as I had been, never missing a day the entire time, I was unknowingly worsening my condition daily. Almost as soon as that symptom began to wane, a new symptom of tingling on the right side of my body began. More doctor visits and tests were ordered, but nothing was determined.
Again, I had roughly 6 weeks of very odd sensations on one side of my body that couldn't be explained. Additional tests followed. I continued to believe it was harmless. How could anything bad be happening to me now? I was certainly on a high of optimism. So much so that I ignored all the signs that my body was giving me and continued on in the gym. Nothing was going to stop me!
When the fourth symptom, very fuzzy eyesight in one eye, occurred, I was sent to an eye doctor. He diagnosed "optic neuritis" and suggested that I see a neurologist ASAP.
My family doctor scheduled an appointment with a neurologist in Phoenix, Arizona at a well-known neurological institute. He warned me ahead of time that the physician that he was referring me to did not have a "good bedside manner." He'd been told this by many, but this doctor was very proficient in his field. Hmmm... I soon learned what he meant, and he wasn't overstating it at all.
How can one hour, one day, change a person's life so dramatically? The MRI was performed and the follow-up went something like this. "This shows that you have multiple sclerosis. You have in the top third of the worst cases we've ever seen here. You have a few good years left." Talk about devastating! The fact that I had four exacerbations (new word for my dictionary) within a 5- month time frame further impacted a dismal prognosis. He delivered this news with much the same compassion and sensitivity as one would state the weather report for the day. Is this the way of one, whom we entrust with our care?
My mother had died of systemic Lupus at the age of 33. Here I was, at 32 years, thinking, "I guess . . . this is it. "When asked if there were any possible dietary modality's, an emphatic, "No" was given. I was told that they'd just treat exacerbations with high-doses of steroids, given in the hospital. I wanted nothing to do with hospitals, or doctors, ever again, having watched my mother go through her agonizing decline.
Fortunately, within a short amount of time, information came to me of a Dr. Roy Swank, Md., Ph.D., head professor of neurology at Oregon Health Sciences University. I learned that he'd studied M.S. since 1946 and, based on his scientific findings, treated M.S. in an entirely different way through diet (According to the "expert," this couldn't be done). His track record and credentials were impeccable. I was truly fortunate that he was, indeed, still practicing in his 70's. I saw him for the remaining ten years of his practice. Yes, I traveled to see him, but at the point of desperation I was, I'd have gone to Indonesia if need be.
His success at controlling the progress of the disease through dietary measures was remarkable. I had to do this. I studied the program intensely, because my very life depended on it. I eliminated almost all saturated fats and trans-fats and added lots of clean, whole, unaltered foods. It's never been something I looked at as a diet. It's a lifestyle, one that I enthusiastically embraced. My lifeline had been found!
As broken spirited and emotionally shattered as I was when first I met him, Dr. Swank's words to me were the most healing balm for the soul there could have been. "f you do as I say, Donna, you can live a normal life." With those words, he gave me back my life.
We spent a great deal of time together in that first appointment. I also spent time with Barbara Dugan, his nurse and dietary guide, to answer all of my questions. Part of her job was to monitor the patients' diets and to steer them through the learning curve. As time passed in that first year, I not only regained all the functions that I'd lost, but felt increasingly better. I had become much more proficient at the diet.
It's been 18 years now. I need no aids or devices of any kind. I do take the daily rest breaks that Doctor Swank strongly advocated, and am grateful for each day of health that I enjoy. I volunteer at a local hospital and manage a home, cooking healthful and tasty meals for my very supportive husband and myself. I consider that a success story. As my way of giving back, I volunteer for the Swank Foundation in being a mentor, via e-mail, to the people who find their way to the Swank program, or those who simply need a friendly ear, comfort or consolation.
To Dr. McDougall, a heartfelt "Thank you!" for your dedicated efforts to continue the work of Dr. Roy Laver Swank. The legend lives on because of you. I've since adopted the McDougall plan, as another layer to health restoration/preservation. To quote Hippocrates, the father of medicine, "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." Isn't that appropriate? That is certainly the message in your work.
Without leaders like Dr. Swank and Dr. McDougall, who are reminding the establishment of their duty, we would all be in dire circumstances. Wouldn't we?
Donna is one of our most enthusiastic long-time Swankers, and is one of our wonderful volunteer mentors.
