Beating the Odds
Today’s Meatless Monday inspiration comes from Keri and Paul Haken’s personal journey. Read on to learn how they are beating the odds and savoring each day of their lives together. An essential part of their wellness plan includes an organic vegan (mostly) raw diet!
Keri & Paul Haken
By Keri Haken
“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” -Albert Einstein
In late December 2007, my 39-year-old husband was diagnosed with stage IV, metastic, inoperable Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas; pancreatic cancer. We were devastated. The diagnosis was like having a bomb dropped on our lives, and we were totally clueless as to what would happen next.
In February 2007, I battled a serious illness that almost killed me, and I was still in rehabilitation. I had a brain abscess that was remedied with surgery but left me with stroke-like symptoms on the left side of my body, along with blood clots to my lung and thigh. We were still dealing with my illness when Paul’s 40-pound weight loss and back pain proved to be cancer. It was difficult in the beginning, and it required so much just to get out of bed and face each day.
Pancreatic cancer typically means a life expectancy of three to six months and a zero percent success rate with conventional treatments. Facing this daunting diagnosis, we knew we wanted to really live our lives as positively and fully as possible. I have always remembered the time that one of my doctors told me that I was a “miracle woman.” I told Paul he could be a “miracle man,” and we have kept the attitude ever since. Eventually, Paul’s oncologist even told him that he was a miracle. Such positive reinforcement meant everything to us!
One day, I came home from work to find a new book on the coffee table. It was Louis Hay’s “You Can Heal Your Life,” and Paul seemed to soak it up. We also had a copy of “Crazy, Sexy Cancer Tips” by Kris Carr, and we devoured her book, too. Between Kris & Louise, we gained the first real measure of confidence and insight Our new focus was to heal cancer both physically and mentally, but we had to retrain our brains.
Paul began attending a place in our home town of Kansas City called Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing. There, he began to take T’ai Chi and Qi Gong, and he met a woman named Dee, a cancer survivor in her 70’s. At her suggestion, we read “The Secret,” which—in conjunction with T’ai Chi & QiGong teachings—led us to meditation. Meditation is a beautiful thing, and now a big part of our lives.
Paul has wanted a motorcycle for years, but he never knew how to ride. Finally, on his 40th birthday, he got that motorcycle. We have had a lot of fun on our bike, and we no longer use excuses about money or think of reasons to put off living in the moment. Now, we do the complete opposite. We no longer allow obstacles to stand in our way. Some concrete limitations are difficult to ignore—like having a balance of $20 in your bank account! Still, it is about being conscious and having the right attitude. In T’ai Chi meditation, one of my favorite flows is to acknowledge the past, honor the present, and be open to new possibilities. It is a beautiful thought.
A big part of our lives now is food: focusing on what to eat and what to omit. We, like most, were uneducated about what we were putting into our bodies before the cancer diagnosis, and diet and nutrition have admittedly become healthy obsessions as important components of Paul’s healing. Instead of viewing the changes as too overwhelming to conquer, we chose to look at them as natural ways to heal our bodies. In fact, one of my nieces battled her way to remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma using diet and juicing as part of her protocol, and she influenced our decision to do the same. I have been a vegetarian for over 15 years, so the changes were not actually so drastic. Paul jumped in wholeheartedly, and we are now organic vegan, almost 100% raw. I retrained my brain to think of cooking and food preparation as another creative outlet. Every meal I make is a healing meal, and I spend more time in my kitchen than any other room in our home.
I can honestly say that we have never been happier in our lives or our relationship than we are today. We are stronger, and our love is stronger, because we are part of each others’ lives and were confronted with the real possibility of loss. We no longer take each other for granted, and it is our goal to make the other happy each day. Life is truly wonderful, and it is bittersweet that it takes something like cancer and serious illness to make us fully realize that. Maybe this realization is why illness came into our lives. It awakened us both. Are we blessed? Yes. Do we bless ourselves? Definitely!
Keri is 36 years old and works at a family-owned furniture store; Paul is a 41-year-old musician and cancer thriver, beating the odds! They have been married for 7 years and together for 17 years.
37 Comments
More power to you! What a great story. Very uplifting and inspiring! Thank you for sharing.
This is such a beautiful love story!
So happy for you! Wishing you health and success always!!
What a wonderfully inspirational story. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes for health and joy!
Beautiful story. Wishing you continued blessings.
Many blessings to you and Paul, thank you for sharing your story!! XO!
Your story is amazing and inspires me to appreciate everything I have and really live life. I wish you both much health and happiness.
Thank you for sharing your story. You are both incredible people.
You guys have an amazing story! Thanks for sharing, and being such an inspiration
Keri! you and your hubby are shining lights of CSL!
Keep up the amazing work!!
deb
Great share! Keep up the great work! You are both doing awesome!
xoxo Michalene
What an inspiring story! Thank you. I tweeted.
Keri,
What a beautiful story – you two are such amazing spirits – just so incredible!
Hugs,
Jeanné
Keri and Paul, I am so proud to be your sister. I am so lucky to have both of you in my life! LOVe Jodie
You two have such an amazing story, thanks for sharing!
Inspiring
what a story! sent shivers up my spine. thank you for sharing.
WOW..unbelievable how you both conquered your terminal diagnosis…and regained your health…only came out even better by changing your lifesyle and diet.
I have been a vegetarian for almost twenty years and aside from menopause,, have never had any health problems. But it seems ever since entering my 50′s…I’ve been battling the loss of twenty pounds. I have cravings for sweets and refined carbs [ startch]. I wish I could “reprogram” my mind too…and learn how to become a vegan and eat [ mostly] raw.
I’m not fond of cooking or spending lots of time in the kitchen…so the thought of having to learn how to prepare vegan/ raw food is daunting. Any recommendations you can give me?
Kerri and Paul,
What an inspirational story!
love to both of you, xoxo
@Rebecca, I’m not a raw vegan–yet–and don’t know if I ever will be. But I eat a heckuva lot better now than 2 yrs ago, 1 yr ago, even 6 months ago! The key to it all is baby steps, as Kris always says. Make ONE change, and live with it awhile. Then another. And so on. Who knows where your journey will end, but you’ll be increasing your healthfulness each day! Happy eating!
Thank you for this great story. You inspire me to live more in the moment and to appreciate what I have right now.
So proud of you guys . . . You are amazing beacons of light. God bless! BTW, what is your favorite meal?
You inspire me everyday, Keri. I am proud to be your niece. Thank you for your unending inspiration!
thank- you for the honest, and beautiful story of what is happening in your lives- I am 100% certain that so much of what we have to gain in health, and spiritual wellness involve our compassion towards animals as well as our fellow human beings. We are at a crossroads of understanding the vital importance of our own food chain. So many mistakes for all of us- so many at the hands of those who honestly believed that modern production/ag/ related business was based solely on the premise of higher yields. Being fully aware and conscience of the decisions about what you eat, lovingly preparing them, and giving thanks for the gifts from the earth are all relative to health- I wish you the very best.
Thanks for spreading the word!! After my 2nd cancer diagnosis (melanoma, which killed my mother) I became adamant! Every day is your last…so LIVE it!! Congrats on your journey…you two are truly an inspiration!!
A wonderful an a blessing for you to share your story of a strong will to survive if only others can achieve this inner strengh and strive forward cancer will be defeated what a life
You guys are Awesome! Thank you for sharing.
xo
Eco Mama
Thank you for this powerful and inspirational story.. blessings & love to both of you, Marina :)
Truly inspiring to read this story of healing and overcoming all odds. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank for sharing and inspiring me and others!
Thank you for sharing a story of inspiration and hope!
xoxo
What an inspiration you both are!
There is a typo in the article. The book “You can Heal Your Life” was written by Louise Hay :)
Thank you for sharing your journey!
What an absolutely inspiring story. I need to go home and give my husband a hug. We have been going through what I thought was a really long rough patch. This puts everything back into perspective. I wish Paul & Keri continued peace and happiness. Namaste
Amazing story! It truly made my morning!
Really encouraging for cancer patients that they can also prolonged their life if can take extra efforts to change their diet and nutritional content along with meditation, yoga. I have been dealing with throat cancer from last two years and at times it really get unbearable for me. I will look for more tips for cancer here and start using raw food in my diet. I have been doing meditation and some yoga which is helping me.
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thank you for sharing your beautiful story of love and healing. very inspiring.
February 22, 2010