Thank you, Anne.

Dear Anne,

I love and admire you.  I hope you knew that.  I think I told you, but now I'm not sure.  I love your boundless energy, your keen sense of justice, your brilliant mind, your ability to translate difficult concepts into language we can all understand.  I admire how much you care about other human beings, and advocate for the sick, the poor, the marginalized, those without a voice.  I relish reading anything you write.  I will continue to read and re-read your book and articles and e-mails.  I so wish there would be more.
Link to Macleans articles
Link to "The Meaning of Wife"

I simply can't imagine the world without your clarion voice, your wit, your tenacity.  I can't imagine how your closest friends and family will cope with the loss of your presence in their lives.  How they will deal with your much too soon, unbearable passing.   I just heard from your friend, in a grief stricken voice mail (oh, I've had to make those phone calls when my brother died, and it's simply unbearable.) I do remember meeting him in Rochester with you, when you came from Toronto to see us and talk to us about Jeff's CCSVI treatment.  It was such a joyous time for us all--it felt like rebirth.  Springtime budding in Rochester, music, good food, laughter, hope.

And there have been the conferences together, e-mails, and phone calls.  Difficult times full of controversy and medicalese and renewed and then dashed hopes.  The last two years, I was so frustrated, and I know you knew that.  I lashed out at you, angry that you were simply writing the truth.  I felt betrayed, and we talked, and you forgave me.  I'm so glad we made amends.  Just as I'm glad that I did the same with my brother, before I lost him.  You inspired me to keep writing, to not give up. But you also knew that, for my own sanity, I had to step back.

You dug in and included the history of the vascular connection to MS in your writing about CCSVI.  Everything you wrote was always sourced with links to publications, quotes from doctors, a balanced approach to telling the story.  link  link  link

Thank you for interviewing Dr. Michal Schwartz and for getting her research out into the larger public.  link   You knew it was her research that first inspired me to look at immune cells as protective for the brain, and we bonded over the fact that a brilliant woman had, no surprise, been dismissed by so many powerful men for questioning dogma.  link 
And over time, her theory is being proven, again and again. Someday, boosting specific immune cells and combining lifestyle and vascular intervention may well end neurodegenerative disease.  
link to Professor Schwartz's research

You called us the "impatient patients"....which was simply a perfect description of the frustration that grew out of CCSVI clinical trials halted or mangled, and the influence of pharma.  But many of us  knew it wasn't over.   link

Which is why it's hard for me to grasp your passing.  There's still more to the story, many more truths for you to write.  So much more.  Dammit.

Thank you for everything.  I learned so much from you, Anne.
Love to all those who loved you.
May we advocate for others, in your memory.

May we heed "the urgent call for compassion as the last-gasp remedy for systems on the brink—politics, health care, civil society, the planet itself." (written, as only you could say it, Anne.)

The World is broken-and human kindness is the only solution, by Anne Kingston

Joan

Endothelial Health goes mainstream...

.... and you can stream a new documentary to learn more.

Thanks to my son and daughter in law for the head's up on the documentary, THE GAME CHANGERS    https://gamechangersmovie.com

Presented by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jackie Chan  — a revolutionary new film about optimum health and strength.  You can view it now on Netflix.

My family told me I needed to watch it, because it was documenting what I have been harping on for years.  My son saw me change his Dad's diet and lifestyle, and has heard me discussing this topic for over twelve years.   Mainly, the importance of endothelial health, and how eating plants full of anti-oxidants and phytonutrients increases nitric oxide availability, helps endothelial cells, and increases blood flow to all of our body, most importantly our brains.   

Nutrition is a very large componant of my program, which also includes physical activity, good sleep, sunshine, meditation, probiotics, minerals, smoking cessation, and laughter.   Each and every one of these measures is known to increase nitric oxide, which relaxes our blood vessels and increases blood flow.  This is how we can combat the hypoperfusion, or slowed and restricted cerebral bloodflow, seen in MS, Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's.  These are things we can do for ourselves.  

link to the program

This new movie is focused on elite athletes who utilize plant-based diets to achieve optimum strength and endurance.  And while I do not specifically advocate a vegan lifestyle in The Endothelial Health Program,   I suggest that people with MS favor whole foods and plants, to increase nitric oxide. (There are conflicting views on animal protein within the field of experts, and I DO NOT go into the weeds on this topic.)  My approach has always been to look at positive environmental measures people with MS can take to feel better.   And eating more plants will help accomplish that goal.

In the film, Dr. James Vogel, co-chair of the NFL subcommittee on Cardiovascular Health, discusses the importance of eating plants to increase available nitric oxide and increase blood flow.  He even speaks of the endothelium, and uses the image shown below. (YES!)

Truly, The Endothelial Program works.  Jeff remains on it.   He's still jogging, biking, writing music, traveling, living life, with no MS progression, no new lesions, and a reversal of his gray matter atrophy.  His most recent MRI shows continued healing of his brain, now 13 years since his diagnosis.

With the help of our vegan son and daughter in law, we have learned how to incorporate even more plants into our diet, boosting nitric oxide and reducing inflammatory foods.   Like jackfruit (google it!), legumes, tempeh, and lots more greens.

My hope for all of us, as we begin a new decade, is that we can take care of ourselves, our families, our communities, and discover that there are many things we can do to improve our own health and the health of our planet.

Be well,

Joan