“Hi, is this John Paul Catanzaro?”

“Yes, it is. Who’s calling?”

“I’m a lab technician at the Princess Margaret Hospital. We’ve analyzed your blood, and you’re a suitable match for your mother’s bone marrow transplant. Do you give us permission to pass the results on to her physician?”

“Yes, of course. Can I ask what the procedure involves?”

“If you’re chosen, you’ll be given a drug four days in advance to increase your stem cell production. Your mother will undergo chemotherapy, essentially wiping out her immune cells to replace them with yours. It will be a full-day procedure. They’ll take as much blood as necessary. Are you comfortable with that?”

“I guess, if that’s what it takes.”

“Okay, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be chosen. The doctor will make that decision, but we’ll pass the information on to him. If you have any questions, feel free to call us. Have a good day.”

I received that call just over a year ago. After seeing the title of this article, you’re probably thinking that I was chosen, we went through with the procedure, and it was a success. Right?

Not quite! Things unfolded in a very different manner. Let’s go back in time…

Don’t Make a Rash Decision

It all started about three years ago when my mother noticed a rash on her legs and her feet were swollen and painful, so she went to see a doctor. Of course, the doc gave her the typical advice—“Don’t walk… keep your feet up… use ice… blah, blah, blah”—and prescribed cortisone cream for the swelling.

But the condition didn’t go away. She was referred to a dermatologist, who took a skin sample and diagnosed vasculitis—later confirmed as leukocytoclastic vasculitis. That meant a visit to a rheumatologist. Actually, two. The first thought it was a tick bite. The second put her on prednisone and a cancer drug.

Then came two more doctors: a vasculitis specialist and a hematologist. They found low hemoglobin and abnormal blood markers. The diagnosis? Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Eventually, my mother was referred to an oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital. After extensive testing, she was prescribed two medications—one to address an enlarged spleen and another to counter potential kidney issues from the first drug.

On August 16, 2017, the oncologist told her she had a form of blood cancer known as primary myelofibrosis. The survival rate, he said, ranged from 1½ to 5 years. A possible cure would be a bone marrow stem cell transplant, but it’s only 25% successful.

Still, 25% is better than nothing, so I was contacted along with my sister and aunt (my mother’s younger sister) to see if we were suitable donors for the transplant. My sister and I tested compatible, but the team doctor decided I was a better match.

I may have been a better match, but I didn’t like the odds. I felt there was a better way to conquer this beast and I had a secret weapon up my sleeve to do just that…

Enter the Dragon

For over a decade, I’ve been sending people to Dr. Fred Hui, an integrative physician who offers a unique blend of Eastern and Western medicine. Unlike most conventional doctors, Dr. Hui takes time with his patients to address the root causes of disease, not just the symptoms.

I took my mother to see him.

Dr. Hui ran a battery of tests and found several issues, but the key finding was that my mom was riddled with yeast and had a parasite infection. I’ll never forget what he said:

What they call cancer, I call an infection. If I can wipe out the infection, I may be able to wipe out the cancer.

So, we went on the attack!

I won’t go into detail about the treatment protocol, but let’s just say it took serious time, effort, and a significant financial investment to get the job done, but the job got done! Sure, it could have been a “free ride” if my mom took the conventional route the whole way, but as you’re about to discover, you often get what you pay for.

A Moment of Silence

Fast forward to Sunday, September 9, 2018.

It had been a hot, humid summer—until that day. The temperature dropped dramatically. The car thermometer read 15°C, but it felt closer to 15°F. It was freezing!

Just as the clock struck noon, my phone rang. It was my mother.

“Hey mom, how are you doing?”

“Not bad. How about you?”

“Pretty good. We’re at the baseball diamond—it’s John’s last playoff game. They’re just about to start. What’s up?”

“Remember those two women I told you about—the ones who had the same cancer as me? The lady I used to work with, and Lily’s friend?”

“Yeah, I remember. How are they doing?”

“Well… they had the bone marrow transplant earlier this year.”

“Oh really! How did it go?”

After a long moment of silence, my mother responded: “John Paul, you saved my life.”

A Lesson Learned

My father was diagnosed with colon cancer many years ago. He went the conventional route. He died.

I didn’t want my mother to meet the same fate.

So far, it looks like we made the right choice.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and the odds are poor with conventional medicine, know that there are alternative and complementary approaches available. To get started, read The Thinking Person’s Guide to Perfect Health and visit acam.org to find an integrative medicine practitioner near you.