Article written by Jodi Carlson.
Just over a year ago, I became friends with Hannah Thederahn. I had known her for a few months before hand, but that was the moment we became great friends. She helped me re-pot a few of my houseplants, unpacked some photos from my recent move, and we discussed friends, life, and family. One of those topics included my aunt, who had recently made the decision to just die peacefully.
While I am blessed to have watch somebody go through that difficult decision with such Grace, I was upset with that decision at the time and shared my thoughts with Hannah. With deep understanding, Hannah listened to my guilt in not having inspired my aunt, not having given her the information on alternative treatments sooner or even been there to prepare those healing foods with her. After our heart-felt discussion, Hannah asked me to have one last conversation with my aunt. She told me to ask my aunt, “What is there left to live for?” That is the Hannah I know and love. That is what she is doing right now.
At seven, Hannah was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Her life, doctors told her, would be shortened immensely by this disease. She would have to take insulin every day for the rest of her life. She learned quickly how to monitor her blood su
gar levels and balance it out with giving herself needles in public, and then later wearing a constant injection pack. Her moods would be so dependent on anything she put into her mouth, and she’d feel sick most days of her life. That is the Hannah that medical doctors know.
Luckily, my Hannah is stubborn, and doesn’t listen to medical doctors! Instead, Hannah has taken control of her health and made the decision to reverse her Diabetes. This journey began four years ago whe
n she became vegan. It progressed much more just over a year ago when she adopted a raw vegan lifestyle. In that short period of time, she has reduced her insulin dependence to 25% of what it was when she was listening to those doctors that told her she was going to die from this disease.
Those “medical experts” who said that Type I Diabetes is a life sentence – they live in a “Culture of Death,” as Gabrielle Cousens would say, not the “Culture of Life” that Hannah has embraced. That “Culture of Death” says we don’t have the “cure” so we won’t even give you the hope that you will live a normal life. Luckily, Hannah doesn’t believe in “HOPE.” Instead, she trusts in faith and love and knows her body will heal itself long before it will respond to a “cure.”
The first step she took was acknowledging that she couldn’t do it alone, that she needed people to help her. It took her so much courage to ask for all this help to get to the Tree of Life, but she knows it’s worth it. She’s already seen the results of following his program from afar. And, she’s well aware of the costs of listening to the other doctors. Twelve thousand dollars is nothing compared to what Diabetes costs the average Type 1. Every two and a half days is $35; every month is $420; one year it costs her $5110; every five years costs $32,250. And that’s with Medicare – something we Canadians consider blessed to have! And the alternative – $12,000 to reverse the affects of this disease on her body – that’s hardly a scratch in the bucket compared to a whole life with Diabetes.
Hannah dreams of a 3-day trek away from the city, without a thought about needing more insulin; without this Diabetes holding her back. But, she can’t get to that place on her own
. She is currently fund-raising to send herself to Gabrielle Cousens’ Tree of Life Rejuvenation and Retreat Centre. The full price of the program is approximately $12,000. Hannah also needs to cover the costs of her flights there and the cost of living without working
for that month. Her total goal is $15,000. After a month of fund-raising, she’s over halfway there with $8,000.
When she is at the program, she will gain more than just good food and advice on the nutrition that has got her so far already. The Tree of Life Program also includes: counseling, meditation, yoga, support – both during and after her return home. She will become a part of a community larger than this generous one out tonight. Her Reversing Diabetes community will be global!
Now, you can make a personal donation yourself, that would be great! Next, you could tell your friends and family about what she’s doing. That would be even better! Encourage them to donate! The best action, though, would be to be inspired to take control of your health. For me, that is the biggest gift Hannah has given the world, and it’s priceless!
IF YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART TO HELP HANNAH OUT…. EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT, PLEASE CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO DONATE USING PAYPAL.
MUCH LOVE,
THE NOORISH FAMILY
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