June, 2007
Wellness Achiever, Pat and Jerry Pinkowski
From Pat: Jerry's story
In December 1999, my husband Jerry (age 54) was diagnosed with a rare heart/birth defect in which there is no known cure. It is called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM.
At the time, he was hospitalized for a heart flutter. Further tests showed high levels of cholesterol and hypertension. At age 20, when being drafted into the service he was classified as being a "4F" for asthma (a now known misdiagnosis for HCM). While in the hospital with this diagnosis, the doctors wanted to put him on seven different drugs over the next several months.
Our Own Holistic Initiatives and Working with Doctor's Supervision
I am a registered nurse and have seen the limits of conventional western medicine and the potential danger of mixing too many medications.
I knew that we had to minimize the extent of his drug intake to the best of our ability. According to an article published in the Journal of American Medicine, iatrogenic disease is the 4th leading cause of death in America. Iatrogenic means a disease or unintentional death that is related to medical treatments or the use of prescription drugs. So with dietary changes (which I'll explain more below) in the first year, we managed to lower his elevated cholesterol from 238 to 220.
His doctors still wanted to give him drugs, but we said NO. After some time, we got it down to 198. At that time, he was also diagnosed with high potassium levels. They wanted to give drugs to lower those levels, and we said no.
From my own personal research, I had discovered that a side effect of one of his drugs did not allow the potassium to be absorbed into the cells.
My thinking was, why add more, when his heart isn't even receiving it due to the drugs that he was currently on? The contraindications of adding more medications could create serious complications. I felt the best solution was to address this problem holistically, so we did a lot of research on how to use foods to heal the body and reduce inflammatory markers in his blood. He began juicing whole fruits and vegetables known to decrease free radical damage (such as cranberries), taking specific supplements best suited for his condition, and significantly reduced his "bad-fats" which meant cutting down on dairy and meat.
In 2003, his cholesterol went down to 198. For the next couple of years, Jerry was able to maintain on three different drugs instead of the seven that were suggested.
A Victim of His Own Birth Defect?
While we were rebuilding his body slowly, poor kidney function became the next challenge which is common for heart patients. In 2004, Jerry was directed to see a urologist because his kidneys went into near renal failure with a creatinine level of 2.3.
They wanted to do a kidney biopsy to see what wasn't functioning. That wasn't acceptable to us. With much begging to postpone the biopsy the doctor granted us three months reprieve— we persisted on diet and supplements. Jerry came down to 2.0.
Three months later, the doctor still said "We need to do the biopsy." But because Jerry's creatinine levels continued to slowly but surely improve, in September 2004, we were able to get the doctor to agree to another nine months of diet and supplements. I thought "Great Guy" I gave him a peck on the cheek and I got a hug! Hurray!
A Petrifying Point
In June 2005, Jerry went into a complete heart flutter his heart rate soared to 160 and his cholesterol was down to 178. Jerry's body had hit the ceiling with the drugs he was on — they had reached their maximum "helpfulness" for him. The cardiologist actually threw up his arms and said, "I don't know what to do." What do you recommend?" He was frustrated, because he wanted to try more intense medications in attempt to stabilize him, but we kept refusing. I said, "Doctor, with all due respect, can we go back to a more natural healing protocol?" I said. At that time, Jerry began to lose muscle mass — he was actually starting to look older and was losing his luster.
I was petrified.
I just didn't know how to help stop him from being the victim of his own birth defect! By then, I was constantly praying for an answer, hoping to find the missing link that would be his salvation.
September 2005: My Prayers Were Answered
By the end of the year, I was introduced to the Ziquin Educational Group through Marcia Keilee, a Ziquin Wellness Coach and friend. The timing couldn't have been better. This seemed to be the answer to my prayers. Actually, I myself had my own heart conditions to deal with. When I was 53 years old, I had a heart attack — and a type which 99% of the time is fatal. Previous to Ziquin for about six years, I was doing very intensive vitamin and nutritional research for natural ways to heal my own heart condition. I was definitely vitamin supplementing! The entire time, I was working 40-60 hours a week as a nurse. I continued to have low energy, shortness of breath, palpitations, heart flutters, and angina. I wanted to test Ziquin rejuvenation strategies on myself before introducing it to Jerry. I immediately went right on the entire thing — the Ziquin Fusion Collection. I must say for my body, it was too strong and I could barely tolerate it.
I was having diarrhea constantly. I called Marcia and said, "I have diarrhea like you can't believe, and I'm vomiting."
She said, "Follow the directions, cut back and start slowly. If the problems persist, you may have to call your doctor. Nonetheless, I want you to learn about cleansing." I agreed, and by listening to the Ziquin weekly educational calls, I realized that my body had accumulated a lot of toxic matter that needed to find a way out of my system. I came to see loose bowel movements as symptomatic of a natural cleansing phase. Plus, I realized that my digestion was weak and my liver was stressed. Thinking back, this organ had become a back-up system for years of undigested fats and medications. Simply put, my body was expelling toxins. By and by, I felt considerably better.
The Doctor was Amazed! Jerry on Ziquin!
A month after I began Ziquin, Jerry started on a lesser scale of product usage. Interestingly enough, Jerry did not have as much of a cleansing experience. By December 2005, it was time to see the urologist again. He was happy. Yahoo! Jerry's creatinine inflammation levels were down to 1.6!!
The doctor was totally amazed he couldn't believe it. I said our goal was 1.4. The doctor said, "He'll never do it, he'll never be normal." I said, "You'll see."
Applying Ziquin's lifestyle strategies, Jerry was able to decrease the blood pressure medications. By three months on Ziquin, he was completely off of them! And because his kidneys were working better, he no longer needed two of his other drugs.
The doctors still wanted him to take thyroid meds because he was hypothyroid. I said "No, no- you do a re-draw." By the time he went for another test, his indicators were normal. Another successful averting of more medications! There were still four other drugs they were recommending, but he was able to maintain on three.
Then, Jerry began complaining of knee pains. Could this be an aspect of cleansing? We put two and two together, realizing that these pains were exactly the same ones he experienced when he was in high school, from his football days. He was retracing through old injuries!
I told my husband, "Just get through this phase and your knee pains may be gone forever!" And that is what happened.
Last Challenges — Doctors Amazed Again!
There was one last challenge to be faced: In January 2006, a cat scan showed that Jerry had a tumor in his lung 3.1 cm. It was recommended he see a lung surgeon. By March, he had surgery and part of his right lung was removed.
When he went to the hospital, we continued the use of Ziquin products.
When he came out of surgery, the doctors couldn't believe he had no pain and how he was out of bed within eighteen hours after surgery, using absolutely NO pain medication and eating breakfast! As a result of complications from the surgery, Jerry went into renal failure and his heart rate went back up to 160.
You might think this would be close to the end, but that was not the case at all. Jerry was able to recover from the complication in record time. We believe it was because of the Ziquin nutrients in his body that built up his reserve system, as well as the stress relaxation exercises, and some plain old Tender Loving Care. His kidneys began functioning normally without any need for long term meds! He bounced back quickly. One week later, Jerry was released from the hospital, and the following week he went back to his full Ziquin protocol. Three weeks after that, Jerry was back to work as usual — 10 hour days, 6 days a week. Today, Jerry is on only one medication for fibrillation!
He has a pulse rate within 70s-90s, and beautiful blood pressure 105-110/68-74.
He's walking up to a mile a day since surgery and we are delighted! There is a saying that God gives you only what you can handle. The doctors were amazed again!
Other Significant Changes in our Health
By 2004, I became an independent nurse and was working for myself. In December 2005, I was shoveling snow and fell, fracturing my ankle and a long-bone. Three weeks after my casting, I had follow-up x-rays taken and the doctor said, "Wow, your ankle seems to be mended completely." The cast was removed.
Talk about results!
At this point my fracture had healed 100% in three weeks and I had been on the Ziquin products for 4 months! I was certain that Ziquin played a key role in this rapid recovery. As time went on, I saw big improvements with my heart condition. I realized that my level of strength had increased two-fold. Once, there was an emergency with a neighbor, and I was urgently called to help. I responded immediately, jogging a block and half, jumping a three-foot fence, and running up a flight of stairs in record time. I was "wowed" by my physical health and sense of well-being. I felt over a decade younger! There was no shortness of breath, no palpitations or chest pains and plus, my recovery time and mental clarity was undeniably strong and vital!
As we have followed the Ziquin rejuvenation strategies, we have seen other signs of healthy aging too. A last specific miracle Jerry experienced was the disappearance of a re-occurring cyst on his shoulder.
Most of the time, it was as big as a silver dollar — it seemed like an old infection, re-emerging.
After it first appeared, it would fester and burst, opening and closing at different times.
The doctor said it was "just a cyst." But it wouldn't heal. Well, just about three months ago, this six-year-old cyst is finally gone!
Our Ziquin Rejuvenation Journey
How can we share with you, our Ziquin experience? There will be times when you feel like a Million Bucks and yet other times you'll feel drained, possibly questioning yourself during a retracing: "Why am I doing this?" After having gone through this now for some time, however, we recognize the different phases of rejuvenation. We know that we are replenishing, retracing and revitalizing.
Embrace the entire process of rejuvenation, know that your body is cleansing and freeing the debris out of it. Listen to your body it knows what it is doing! It will balance out. Your whole body will work in perfect harmony when replenished. It is well worth being patient. Jerry and I have followed the Ziquin Rejuvenation Strategies, cherishing the results we have received from our endeavors. We didn't give up! And we encourage you to do the same. Rest, drink lots of water, follow Ziquin's low stress, low glycemic and alkalizing diet for more rapid renewal. Remember to exercise or take walks daily to increase your circulation. The lymph system, which helps to eliminate toxins, doesn't have a pump. You need to pump it up and clean out the toxins through movement. And finally, know that you are NOT alone. There are support systems. You can enlist the help of a personal physician who is supportive of a holistic approach.
Plus become a part of the Ziquin Educational Group. There is a wonderful wellness coach program in which you are in contact with caring people who share the best self-help methods to accelerate improvement in mind and body. I also invite you to listen to the brilliant knowledgeable doctors at Ziquin who provide inspiring information and education. Be on those conference calls. In closing, our sincere thanks to Dr. Louie Yu and Chris Morris, ND and Jayme Hirashiki, Ziquin's National Wellness Director! Know that you are appreciated and respected for your hard work and dedication in educating us all. And last but not least, I thank my Ziquin Wellness Coach, Marcia, for her excellent support and heartfelt dedication. Thank you all! |
