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Diana Rains

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Friends and family –

As you know, I have embarked upon a healing journey after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia in August of this year. I have shared this news with very few people—of which you are one—and trust that the information and this site will be kept completely confidential. I am hoping this platform will give me an opportunity to share information and updates with those I love and to whom I am the closest. You likely know that I am a relatively private person but I am working to be more open about what I am experiencing and to accepting support from others.

For those who may not know, I am now eight weeks into the Bredesen Protocol (or ReCODE protocol) which is a comprehensive personalized program designed and proven to improve cognition and reverse the cognitive decline of SCI, MCI, and early Alzheimer’s disease. The program, though revolutionary, has 30 years of scientific research behind it and a very high success rate. Because it is so complex and personalized, I will not try to convey all the information here. I do encourage you to read the book or at least to visit Bredesen’s website—information at end of narrative—as I know we all know others in some stage of cognitive decline and I desperately hope to be able to inform, give faith to, and help others while on this journey. Below is a bit on my road thus far.

Through testing done in early phase of the ReCODE Protocol, I was found to have extremely high levels of lead (and also cadmium, but to a lesser extent)--levels which were literally off the chart. The source is unknown though it is likely not a recent exposure. I lived in several very old houses as a child and one or more most likely was equipped with lead pipes and, as it turns out, my body does not detoxify effectively. People store toxic heavy metals in their bones and their tissues, though when women go through menopause and their bodies pull calcium out of the bones, the lead goes with it. Once mobilized, the lead resettles elsewhere, generally the brain, and this is one of several reasons that women are far more likely than men to develop dementia. I was also found to have one copy of the ApoE4 gene, and various trophic deficiencies and imbalances, all exacerbated by the heavy metal toxicity and contributing to the overall situation.

Luckily, I have discovered a large piece of the puzzle and am working diligently to remove the toxicity—via chelation therapy—and simultaneously heal the brain. Since late September, I have been doing bi-weekly chelation sessions. For those who are unfamiliar with chelation, it is a treatment which consists of a chelating agent (EDTA) which is intravenously administered, and moves through the body pulling the toxic metals out of the tissues, bone, and (most importantly) the brain. The metals then leave your body as you pee over the next six to eight hours. The chelating substance is supplemented by vitamins C, B, E, Zinc, Magnesium, etc. to further strengthen my immune system, help me adapt to the chelation, detox the body, and heal the brain. The treatments are administered at a facility here in Sacramento, where I am also working very closely with a specialist, Kirk Hamilton. Kwiker Medical (or Health Associates) is an impressive, integrative, holistic medical facility—they have been in business since 1989 and the people there are just lovely, extremely knowledgeable, and are beginning to feel like family. Chealtion is a fascinating process and although it is time consuming and expensive (and can make me quite tired the day of treatment) I am incredibly confident and hopeful about the effectiveness and the progress being made. After 20 treatments, my levels will be retested and I look forward to seeing quantifiable results. Assuming we are seeing marked improvements through both testing and also through the observations of friends and family (and self), the treatments will continue, but not indefinitely.

As we work to remove the lead and cadmium from my body, we are also fully immersed the protocol, a healing and brain-building lifestyle, which was rather aggressive and complex at the beginning but is becoming easier to grasp and carry out with each passing week. The components of the program include a strict, plant-based (not to be confused with vegetarian) ketogenic diet (devoid of all sugar, grains, dairy, processed foods, and high-glycemic foods); an array of supplements (which I don’t particularly enjoy taking) to balance out deficiencies, detox the body, and feed the brain (and the gut microbiome); daily aerobic exercise combined with stretching/yoga and strength training; new systems and strategies to manage stress and enhance sleep; etc. Although I do greatly miss cookies and brownies (!!!), am at times frustrated, and struggle a bit to balance my work and my new (often time-consuming) lifestyle, I am settling into the new structure and way of life, am FULLY committed to carrying it out, and am feeling good.

I know that this is going to be a journey and I am eternally grateful to have been blessed with the most wonderful friends that anyone could ever dream of having. I am also endlessly grateful to Jessica, who has been here in Sacramento for the eight weeks I have been on the protocol and is trying to remain for another three, at which point she will return to New York and I will be carrying things out on my own. I know that I do and will continue to need the support of loved ones and am working on getting more comfortable opening-up to those who care and on asking for what I need. For anyone who would like to learn more about the program on which I have embarked, I encourage you to read the book, The End of Alzheimer’s by Dale Bredesen, which can be ordered on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. For a more brief overview, you can visit Bredesen’s website at https://www.drbredesen.com/thebredesenprotocol.

Again, I have only shared this information with VERY few people ask that the link to this site PLEASE not be shared with anyone. I have chosen to share my story with you and am putting my complete trust in you to keep this confidential.

All my love,

Diana
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  • Kelly Lynch
    • $200 
    • 6 yrs
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Diana Rains
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Sacramento, CA

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