Tumors in Children: How One Family Thrives

I write this as I sit in an MRI room while my 8-year-old son Sami is scanned for the umpteenth time. Here we go – this is a big one. It is a follow-up scan from one just over a week ago. Enhancement. A possible brain tumor. All the other tumors are stable and I am told not to worry yet. This is not possible. But this is not where our story begins. It actually began in a doctor’s office three and a half years ago.

“Neurofibromatosis.” “Neurofibromatosis.” “Neurofibromatosis.” I make the doctor repeat this word numerous times when he informs me my son Sami will need to see a specialist to confirm the diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis (NF). In my mom panic, I blurt out, “It’s not serious, right?” The doctor replies, “It can be not serious.” Yet, just like all of you who spend time reading doctor’s faces – I know this is not good. On to the world wide web – ahhhh, confirmed – not good. Maybe, just maybe, Sami doesn’t have it? But the specialist later confirms NF at his diagnostic appointment. Our conversation basically plays out like this:

Me: What does this mean for my Sami?
Doctor: He will get tumors.
Me: Maybe he won’t.
Doctor: He will.
Me: Maybe he won’t.
Doctor: Yes, he will.
Me: Okay how many?
Doctor: Ten to thousands.

So there it is: no cure, no real treatment, no denying it, no possibility he will escape tumors. We leave the office a different family. What happens next? I imagine our story is similar to many people or families who receive a life-changing diagnosis. We fall down, get up, fall down, get up and live life. We change course.

Neurofibromatosis, in a nutshell, means your tumor suppressor does not properly function and every nerve cell in your body has the potential to become a tumor. It also presents a whole lot of other health issues. In our case, Neurofibromatosis also becomes our family’s catalyst for change. One personal change, for us, is nutrition. I jumped in all the way after reading everything I can on tumor prevention and we go raw. I will not lie: There is actual crying at the dinner table. I see three sad little faces (and a dad) all of who are trying to embrace a new raw lifestyle. So we scale back a bit and now eat primarily a plant-based diet and are conscious about our food choices.

My youngest son loves green juice, and drinks it and asks for it on a daily basis. After this MRI, though, we will take the big plunge and go to a completely plant-based diet and see if it has any impact on his tumor growth. We make the decision to eat real food, primarily plants. We start with small changes.

We also go to a summer family retreat. We spend time in the hills with monks, nuns and discover practicing meditation and compassion with other families is transformative to the soul. It helps us to be a bit more mindful in our lives. Moreover, our children shine so bright with all this compassionate attention focused on them. We become part of the NF community, which is also a change in our lives. We meet other families, doctors, researchers, organizers in the field and connect on boards. Knowledge and these types of connections are essential.

I end up becoming a fundraising mom – this is a really big change for me. Again, I jump right in head-first hoping, praying for a treatment before even one tumor shows up in our Sami. I enlist everyone; family, friends, neighbors, community. Even people at cocktail parties are recruited for big jobs. This leads to the creation of our group the Littlest Tumor Foundation and a new career for me with a lot of adventures and hard work. Sami and I even get to meet President Obama to speak about healthcare and NF.

Living MRI to MRI has lit a fire in our family and lent to our message which we share with the Littlest Tumor Foundation. Today there are few successful pediatric tumor treatments. This is unnecessary and we can do better. Simple. Just like our foundation, our goals are simple: We raise research dollars for innovative research, we promote and embrace wellness with our annual family retreat and we want the world to know about our cause.

As for our Sami, he becomes a brave soul. Tumors do indeed show up. He braves up for PET scans, MRIs, first opinions, second opinions, surgery, more MRIs and too many specialists to count. He does this all while continuing to be a truly joyful, happy child. (He does much better than his mom, in case you’re wondering).

So when the tumors do indeed show up it all becomes very real – or surreal – to this mother to be speaking to specialists and surgeons about the fast-growing mass in our child. Time to make the big grown-up decisions in life. It is not simple, as all the specialists and surgeons have differing opinions. So we arm ourselves with all possible information and make the decision to jump. We decide to operate and feel we have found truly the best surgeon on the planet to remove this tumor. Off we head to Chicago to operate, and for all of you who have been in these shoes, you know it feels so incredibly wrong. You put on a brave face and move forward. You slip in and out of the stages of grief: mad at everyone, sad, making deals with God. I finally settle on consciously focusing on envisioning him awaking from surgery. He does and asks if they got the tumor, then adding he’d like to see it so he can bring it to his science class, as he just knows his science teacher Miss Becky will want to see it.

So we survive this tumor and now watch others and continue on with our journey like so many others. Our Sami continues to keep us focused. He is essentially the heart and soul of our foundation. He is the spark that causes all these changes and many more. He is the reason we understand as we sit for hours at Children’s Hospitals: “Why not us?” One look around at the many children facing chronic and catastrophic health issues and its clear – why not us. But most importantly, he is the inspiration that makes us believe why not us be part of the NF solution.

Back to the MRI room, here I sit again, watching my sedated child in an MRI tube again, hoping he does not have a brain tumor. It all feels so crazy. So when I am asked if I have any ideas for other parents in this situation, I simply say: Fall down get up, fall down, get up, fall down, but get up. Small changes in nutrition and wellness could – and will be – huge in the long run. Lastly, join us: We are all in this together and we can channel this crazy life of tumors in our children into a solution.

Tracy Wirtanen runs the Littlest Tumor Foundation. Neurofibromatosis affects 1 in 3,000 and causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body including the brain and spine and can cause a series of other significant health issues. They range from serious skeletal abnormalities to learning issues to difficult to treat cancers. She invites everyone to come together around this extremely important issue to create change.

Get More Greens in Your Kids: 5 S’s for Success

As a mother of four, one of my biggest pleasures in life is feeding my kids nutritious meals. Unfortunately, it’s not always as easy as I hope it will be! I tend to romanticize while making my evening meals, thinking to myself, “My family will all love dinner tonight! They will wipe their mouths, clear their dishes and give me a hug to say thanks for your efforts, Mom!

And then I’m reeled back into reality when I hear, “No way I am eating that! It’s green!”

So for all you masterful mommies out there trying to feed your children nutritious meals, here are some helpful hints to get these nutrient-packed foods into your weewellness-warriors:

Smoothies. This is one of the easiest ways to get some greens into your kids’ diets. A handful of spinach is hardly detectable, and the flavor can easily be masked by fruit (use darker fruit like mixed berries to mask the color, too). A children’s cup with a lid is also an easy solution for those stubborn eyes! Try starting with a 3-to-1 ratio (3 fruits to 1 green) Be creative; who said you can’t put a little zucchini in a smoothie?

Start small. Younger children might be a little pickier, and you may need to do a little “sneaking” for these ones. Chopped kale can be thrown into just about any dinner meal without so much as a second glance from the youngsters. An entire bunch can be finely chopped and put into soups, fajitas, pot pies, pizzas or pasta dishes like lasagna and spaghetti. The key is to chop it small enough so that it cannot be easily picked out. If you’re not already, get familiar with kale. Even a little of this dark leafy green packs a powerful punch for our kiddos.

Set the stage. “Children have never been great at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” If you want your kids to eat their greens, then you need to do the same. We can’t fall into the old adage, “Do what I say, not what I do”. Want to make an impression? Walk around the house munching on a whole cucumber – if they don’t notice, their friends definitely will!

Solicit support. Get your kids involved. Children’s minds are like sponges that are anxiously waiting to be filled. Teach them why we want to eat broccoli, spinach, celery and lettuce. Excite them by teaching them about the powerful pac-man qualities of veggies. Let them choose the vegetable in their lunch or dinner. Have them help with a garden or the grocery shopping. It’s often easier to do things ourselves, but our children will benefit from being involved (especially when they sense approval from Mom). And of course, don’t forget to invite Dad to jump on board. Healthy kids are a team effort,

Stock for success. Let’s be honest. If you want your kids to eat their greens, then you need to actually stock your kitchen with them! Find the ones that you know your kids will eat, and make sure to have them on hand as well as a few others for them to keep on trying. Their little tastebuds will eventually “hatch”, and someday they’ll thank you for it. You mommies are busy women, so take some time each week to clean and chop veggies that can be kept in the crisping drawer in the fridge. When snack time comes around, your kids can reach for the fridge instead of the pantry. (Keep some tissue on hand for that day when you shed a little tear for your success!)

Following these 5 simple hints you can jumpstart your family’s health today! Your meal times will have less resistance, you will feel like ya done good. And … you never know … green might become your children’s favorite color!

Charity Lighten is a wife, mother, business owner, Food for Life Instructor, and a lover of food! She has a passion for nutrition and the power of food – especially as it pertains to disease prevention. She has a love for life and finds great joy in inspiring others to recommit to great health!

Photo credit: Maigh

Slow Birth

Slow Birth is ecologically attuned midwifery/doula care with respect to the balance of nature.

Over the years, the Slow Food movement has benefitted from a lot of traction in the sustainable food community. Everyone speaks about slow food, the ecology of mother Earth, where our sacred food comes from, how it’s been cultivated, even the soil composition. The food justice and sustainable food movement prides itself on preserving just food for all.

Because I’m in the birth business, it got me thinking about how this concept applied to a new type of birthing model, one that is ages old but getting lost in the fast-paced world we live in. That concept is slow birth.

Slow Birth references labor and maternal care practices that are respectful and honor the inner ecology of the woman, her sacred anatomy, her innate wild wisdom and her attuned rhythms. It respects that birth can take time.

Like Slow Food, slow birth is about going back to the basics, celebrating what’s natural. That doesn’t mean without sophistication. It does, however, mean listening to the sophisticated rhythms of the body and acknowledging that you don’t always need technological support. The body is highly sophisticated and undergoes a host of processes to bring forth a baby.

The time of birth cannot be predicted, and this phenomenon of uncertainty leaves medical practitioners uneasy. So many women have the experience of being encouraged to take medications to “move things along.” With their haste to speed up their labor via drugs, they alter the woman’s internal hormonal ecology, and she can become disconnected to what is happening in her body and start to mistrust. No one can govern the female body but the woman who lives in that body. When practitioners take a position to modulate the normal course of a woman’s labor (without good reason to do so) they perform an act against nature. The connection to the Slow Food movement is strong here: The widespread use of agro-chemicals in farming are also an act against mother nature.

There is also the issue of unnecessary medical waste that is accumulated as a result of the technocratic birth model (which mirrors the inorganic waste, chemical compounds and natural resources wasted from industrial farming methods). Midwifery care is less expensive and less invasive, and midwives respect the mother/baby dyad. Organic farming is less expensive, uses less energy and the produce tastes better. We have a lot to say about this when it comes to our food, but what about when it comes to our wombs? We have to work with women and their bodies, not against them. We have to work with mother nature’s rhythms, not against them.

In my labor support work as a doula (Greek for “one who serves”), I strive to work with the mother and keep her in the hormonal flow and in a rhythm with her baby. We use breathing techniques, visualization, sound, movement, essential oils and therapeutic touch to help her labor comfortably. When a woman trusts her body and has proper support, she can have an empowering birth – no matter what the outcome. If Slow Food is a movement that takes us back to the land with respect and honor for sustainable food, then Slow Birth takes us back to the womb with respect and honor for the sacred process of birth.

For more information on how to optimize your health, visit TenderShootsWellness.com

Photo credit: bies

Turn Those Kids Upside Down for Fun, Focus, Confidence and Calm

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when kids used to run out of the house after breakfast, then scoot home when the street lights came on in the evening. I know, because I lived that time. Activity-filled days for kids have been replaced by hours of watching videos and playing computer games. And when summer comes, that’s where the majority of the day is spent – staring at a screen. But there are ways to get your kids to be active and healthy this summer, even when the computer is calling out to them. I found one way with yoga.

Not just any old yoga. We’re talking fun stuff here. Did you know that some of the things kids naturally love to do, like handstands and headstands, can be part of a quick and invigorating yoga sequence? It turns out that these “inversions,” which is any pose in which your head is below your heart, have fantastic health benefits. They build upper-body muscle, increase focus, reduce stress and increase calm. They enhance confidence as you move outside the natural boundaries we have built in standing upright.

The reluctance most people have with yoga is the time and money commitment. Many of us don’t have the time to participate in 60- to 90-minute classes, and that’s not including commute time! And if you want your kids to participate with you, they’ll roll their eyes at the thought of a class of that length. It’s like being back at school. Even when you can find economical classes, paying for yourself and your kids adds up.

So what to do? I created a 10-minute yoga sequence that can be done anytime, and almost anywhere. You really don’t even need a yoga mat. The poses are specifically sequenced to grab the majority of the benefits yoga has to offer, like increased flexibility and strength, as well as lessening stress and increasing calm. And just try to stop the kids from joining you in this fun little sequence. What kid can resist a handstand?

But that doesn’t mean you have to do a handstand, unless you want to. Let me share my beginner-level 10-minute yoga sequence so you can see how easy, how calming and how fun this is to do with your kids this summer.

10-Minute Beginner Yoga Sequence

We begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Tell your kids you want to become as still and strong as a mountain. Challenge them to do it and remain still for a few breaths. Here’s how: Bring your big toes together, heels slightly apart. Lift through the crown of your head as you reach your hands toward the floor. Take a few deep breaths here, inhaling and exhaling evenly through the nose.

Next, come to your hands and knees, with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees hip-width apart. We call this “Table Top.” For the kids, the most fun part of Table Top is to try to make your back as flat as a table. Hold for a moment.

On an exhale, sink your hips to your heels, reach your arms out in front of you, and come into Utthita Balasana (Extended Child’s Pose). Really reach your hands out and get a strong stretch through the back. Hold for five longs breaths. This feels really good.

On an inhale, reach the buttocks up and back, and straighten the legs, coming into Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose). Tell the kids this is their preparation for going upside down, which will come in a minute. Hold for five breaths.

On an exhale, bring the knees back to the floor, sink the hips to the heels, and reach out with the arms, coming back into Extended Child’s Pose. On an inhale, reach the buttocks up and back, and straighten the legs, coming back into Downward-Facing Dog Pose. As an option, instead of coming back into Downward-Facing Dog, kick up into Handstand. Here’s how:

Move near a wall. Start in Downward-Facing Dog Pose with your hands about 6 inches away from the wall. Walk your feet forward until your shoulders are right over your wrists. Bend one leg under your chest in a lunge position, and raise the other leg to hip level. Now kick up with the bent leg as you swing the other leg up. Reach both heels to the wall, coming into Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand). Tell the kids to try to hold Handstand as long as they can, aiming for at least five deep breaths, if not more. (This is a powerful strength builder and calming tool. It helps kids focus and builds confidence!)

When you are ready to come down from Handstand, come down, step back from the wall and fold forward at the waist into an easy forward fold to rest and catch your breath. Repeat this sequence four times, moving from Extended Child’s Pose to Downward-Facing Dog, or moving from Downward-Facing Dog to Handstand. This will tucker them out.

We’re done with inversions, and now we’ll move into the backbend. In yoga, backbends are any pose that arches your spine back. Backbends are chest openers as well, which are invigorating and mood elevating – especially good for grumpy kids who have been hunched over a computer screen.

Let’s start. Lie flat on your stomach with your legs together and toes pointed behind you. Bend your elbows, placing your palms flat on the floor next to your ribs. Press down through your palms, raising your head and chest, and spiral up the spine like a snake, coiling into Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose). Remain here for five breaths, then lower yourself for a rest. Repeat two more times.

Next, turn over and lie flat on your back, face up. It’s time to do our twists, the bent knee

variation of Jathara Parivartanasana (Reclined Twist). Bring the arms out to each

side at shoulder level, in a T position, palms up. Draw the knees to the chest, keeping

your back flat on the ground. On an exhale, gently roll your knees to your right side, allowing

them to rest on the floor. Twists soothe the spine after the backbends, and “wring out” emotion, creating a calmer kid. Take five long, deep breaths. Repeat to the left.

We’re going to finish the sequence by coming into Savasana (Corpse Pose). This is where the kids are challenged to become as still as a lifeless body. Can they do it? Lie on your back, extend your legs, and allow your feet to roll open. Extend your arms near your body, with your palms up. Close your eyes and breathe naturally. Completely let go and unwind, releasing any muscular tension. Savasana allows us to absorb all the benefits of the sequence we just did.

You can remain in Savasana as long as you like. And don’t be surprised if the kids fall asleep.

Holly Mosier is the author of “Stress Less, Weigh Less” and the creator of “10-Minute Yoga with Holly Mosier,” which contains this and other 10-minute sequences that will keep your kids busy and focused.

Photo credit: a4gpa

7 Eco-Friendly Tips for Raising Your Baby

When we decided to have a baby, we knew we wanted to keep the experience as eco-friendly as possible. What we found out is that raising an eco-friendly baby can be really fun and easy on both the earth and your wallet. Here are some tips to get youstarted.

1. Breastfeeding: More Than a Trifecta – Not only is breastfeeding the best way to start off your baby nutritionally, but it’s also better for the environment, your wallet and your waistline. How awesome is that? Imagine all of the cans of formula and bottles you won’t have to buy and how that helps the earth and your cash, while being confident that you’re giving your baby the absolute best. Plus, you’ll burn an extra 400 to 600 calories a day, making breastfeeding one of the best ways to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight. (As our daughter transitions to solid foods, our next step is feeding her organically grown food.)

2. Organic Cloth Diapers and Cloth Wipes Are So Stinkin’ Cute (no pun intended!) – These offer another way to help save our earth by keeping a bunch of disposable diapers and wipes out of the landfills. There’s a feeling of pride that comes over me every time I snap on one of Kamea’s cloth diapers or use an organic cotton cloth wipe. Cloth diapering takes a few times to get the hang of, but you’ll be glad you did, and you’ll save money on diapers in the long run.

3. Co-Sleeping: Keeping Mama and Earth Rested – When you co-sleep you don’t have to spend money or waste the earth’sresources with a crib, sheets, mattress … heck, we don’t even have a nursery! And can I just say? It’s been the best way for this mama to get in lots ofsleep.

4. Hand-Me-Downs Are Hot – Here is an area that has really had an impact on the earth and our wallet. Thankfully we were one of the last couples in our circle of friends who started having kids,because we reaped some great steals. What a blessing to not have to buy everything brand new. Hand-me-downs are the ultimate “reuse.”

5. Eco-Friendly Toys Rock – First, reduce the overall number of toys you buy. (I know, it’s hard, because they’re so damn cute!) Instead, rotate in safe common household objects. Baby won’t care either way, and you’ll be amazed at how much fun a baby can have with something as simple as measuring cups or the cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper.

For toys you buy (and encourage as gifts from others), keep your baby and the earth happy with eco-friendly toys that are made from sustainable, BPA-free and organic materials. Old-fashioned wooden toys are especially darling, and babies like them just as much as plastic. With eco-friendly toys, you can rest easy knowing that your baby isn’t exploring toxic substances with his or her little hands and mouth.

And we all know that reading to our babies is of uber importance! Books are aterrific way of keepin’ it green, both for the planet and inside your wallet. Two words: public library!

6. Organic Clothes Rule – Organic clothes are a great and gentle option for your eco-friendly baby. There was a time when they were all expensive and hard to come by, but not anymore. You can now find cute, reasonably priced, organic baby items at places like Wal-Mart and Target, as well as scoring deals from websites like GreenBabyBargains.com and EcoBabyBuys.com.

7. Air Dry Laundry Whenever Possible – This is easier to do in dry climates, but you’ll score a double whammy in the summer. Not only will you reduce your electricity bill by not running the dryer as much, but you’ll also avoid having the dryer heat up your house during warmer months. When you do run the dryer, run it at night when rates are lower and the outside temperature is cooler. Air dry your cloth diapers for the ultimate in green.

These seven ways to raise an eco-friendly baby are easy to do. Whether you do one or all of them, you’re setting a great example!

Photo credit: stetted