Margaret Clay's Story

August, 1995

Four years ago I was diagnosed with scleroderma, an auto immune disease that could do anything from be a general nuisance to kill me. The prognosis for me was relatively positive: it probably would not kill or severely debilitate me-but so little is known about the disease, that there is virtually no known treatment. So little is known about its origin that there is little prediction of its course or progression.

As I watched my father suffer with cancer several years earlier, I witnessed the chilling reality that no one can fight for your health or life for you - even if they cared enough to do so. It seemed early in his bout with cancer that my father resigned himself to "the inevitable" as we stood by powerless. I believe he did what he felt was the right thing to do at the time given what we believed to be the truth about cancer at that time. What I feel is important is to share the lesson I got out of that portion of his journey. His parting gift to me showed up several years later around my own health issues.

Upon receiving the diagnosis of scleroderma, I set out on a quest despite encouragement from many loving individuals to not focus on it since there was no more help to be found. Somehow I couldn't give up that soon. I had to check every possible option for information or clues that might somehow rectify or alleviate my situation, especially my digestive problems.

There was certainly no crisis anywhere near at that time. Then, two and a half years ago, during a very stressful time in my life, I started having diarrhea and losing weight. In three months I'd lost thirty pounds and couldn't seem to keep any weight on. I had no appetite and had to be very diligent to basically force feed my body. It was as if my body was in a self-destruct pattern - the auto pilot was set for anorexia even though my mind was not so inclined.

Two years and fifteen health practitioners later, (includes rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, internists, naturopaths, and nutritionist, and one dietitian), I was unemployed, with no energy to get through the day, let alone look for a job. My last naturopath had helped me to stabilize my weight and had taught me many things about my disease that were very informative and basic to the nature of my disease process. This brings us to April of 1995.

I ran into a friend of mine who told me about Aphanizominon flos-aquae, (AFA). She said she was eating the food and liked what it did for her. I learned it was not made of synthetics, but totally organic. (I had been told many times earlier not to even bother with vitamins since my system could not break down the ingredients.

I read up on this food called AFA and decided to give it, the enzymes and acidophilus a try. The first week I started noticing changes all over my body. My digestion improved, my chronic acid indigestion lessened. The pain in my forearms diminished (caused from the scleroderma). The ever-threatening muscle spasms in my neck and back dissipated. My allergies even starting disappearing. I found I had more mental alertness and clarity. I also became more limber than I'd been in years.

Instead of sleeping twelve hours a night, being exhausted all day, and having to take hour long naps just to get through the day, I sleep six to eight hours. I'd wake up rested and rearing to go. I was able to stay active for the rest of the day. Not a big deal for someone who's healthy, but for me, it's as if someone gave me my life back.

Jump forward to the summer of 2001 and I am happy to report that I've completed my Masters degree in reading and I'm now working with several children (which I love being with) in helping them to over come their challenges with reading.

I've also started publishing Monkey Minders®. These are printed business card size quotes a person can carry in their purse or pocket. They have positive reminders of what is possible in life when we turn off the monkey chatter in our minds. Most of all, I'm having fun with life!

Margaret Clay, Savannah, GA.