Annie Appleseed Project conference through the eyes of long-time Complementary-user Kathleen Livingston (MI)
For the second time, I had the privilege of attending the annual Annie Appleseed Conference. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about complementary and alternative medicine in a very relaxed and supportive environment.
This conference attracts those who have been on a cancer journey for many years like me and neophytes. There is enough variety in the way of lectures, exhibitors and other participants to network with, for everyone to learn something new and useful.
On the first page of the written program, in Annie’s opening address, she outlines two very important concepts about wellness. 1) There are many paths or modalities to wellness and 2) combinations of modalities work better and create a synergy that is more powerful than the sum of the parts.
She carries this theme through to how the conference is organized and presented. She gives participants many options in the way of lectures, exhibitors, exercise programs, massages and food. All are great paths to wellness and one must decide what is right for their particular situation.
On that note, I will outline what resonated the most with me, over the two-day conference.
One morning, an instructor led a class in Lebed movement. This program -as developed by a breast cancer survivor and dancer, using specific exercises to move lymph. This is always helpful for patients who have had surgery and a compromised lymph system. www.lebedmethod.com
This year, there was a patient panel and one of the participants on the panel was a caregiver/spouse of a throat cancer patient who lost her battle to the disease. The story of his wife’s healing journey and his role in it was very compelling and heartfelt. It is not just the patient who is affected by cancer.
It was interesting to hear about the role of iscador in breast cancer (www.iscador.com). I used this many years ago and I may go back to it, after hearing Michele Sanz discuss its many healing properties. (Mistletoe)
The exhibit promoting mushrooms was particularly thorough and informative. The company Mushroom Wisdom (formerly Maitake Products, Inc.), developed a product called Breast Mate, containing many healing ingredients such as the meshima mushroom. The speaker Michael Schachter, mentioned that the maitake mushroom decreases insulin in the body which is the most inflammatory substance in the body. Inflammation can lead to disease and needs to be controlled.
A representative from the Burzynski Clinic in Houston outlined their comprehensive program for cancer patients. This clinic offers a variety of alternative cancer treatments emphasizing a customized personal treatment plan based on a comprehensive analysis of a patient’s case. Treatments may involve the use of conventional treatments, targeted treatments such as avastin or treatments developed by the clinic such as antineoplastons, phenylbutyrates and aminocare. This clinic only takes cash, so please be ready for ‘sticker shock’, as treatment is very expensive.
I have known patients over the years that have used this clinic but have not survived but the Burzynski website has many testimonials of patients who have done well under their tutelage.
Last but not least, the organic food was lovingly chosen and prepared and of course, tasted great. Annie had an artist help
her with the food, so even the presentation of the food was pleasing and good for the soul.
Obituary
LIVINGSTON, Kathleen Helen – July 15, 1953 – September 20, 2011 – Kathleen Livingston passed away peacefully at home with loved ones by her side on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. She was 58 years of age.
Kathleen was born on July 15, 1953 to John and Helen Livingston in Alliston, Ontario. Soon after Kathleen was born, the family moved to Barrie, Ontario where father Jack opened the law practice of Livingston, Myers and Cockburn. Kathleen attended Codrington Public School and Central Collegiate in Barrie.
From there, she went to McMaster University. Upon graduation, she began working for Bell Canada in Toronto and then was transferred to Montreal. While living in Montreal, Kathleen met and married her husband Peter E. Preston on September 6, 1986.
In 1990, Kathleen and Peter moved to Toronto and settled in the Beaches. From there, in 1998 they moved to Waterford Township near Detroit. Kathleen was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 1998 and battled this disease for almost 14 years.
Over the past several years, she has used her knowledge and passion to get involved at several different advocacy levels in the U.S. She realized that successful advocacy in Washington D.C. requires increased advocacy at the State level and as a result, she co-founded the Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition (mibcc.org) in June, 2007.
Kathleen lobbied for research funds and laws that protect the environment. She was very active in the Inflammatory Breast Cancer (ibcresearch.org) organization and represented IBCrf In Washington D.C. as a Board Member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC).
Kathleen was a graduate of Project LEAD, an intensive science course covering the basics of cancer biology, genetics, epidemiology, research design and advocacy preparing her to engage in local and national forums where breast cancer decisions are made and to bring an educated consumer perspective and critical analysis skills to the table.
She was a strong patient advocate and used her leadership and project management skills to bring about change and improvement. Kathleen was a woman of great strength, tenacity and courage; truly a role model for all survivors.
In addition to her loving and supportive husband Peter, Kathleen will be greatly missed by her brother Steve Livingston of Barrie and her sister Beverley Livingston and her husband Jim Suske of Calgary, Alberta. Kathleen was predeceased by her brother John Livingston who passed away from cancer in 2008.
Kathleen was a warm and supportive aunt to Harmony, Jessica and Galen (John and Rosa) and Allie and Jimmy Suske (Beverley and Jim). She also has a niece and nephew from Peter’s side, Virginia and Nico Preston.
Kathleen was predeceased by both of her parents – Jack in 2003 and Helen in 1973. Should you wish to contact the family with condolences or a story/memory of Kathleen, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Kathleen had a lot of interests over and above as a patient advocate. She was an avid tennis player, loved golf, and was a lively participant of several groups through her involvement with the Newcomers Club in the Detroit area. A celebration of Kathleen’s life will be held at the Pine Lake Country Club, 3300 Pine Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, 48324 starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 28, 2011.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Kathleen’s name may be made to the Sunnybrook Foundation Breast Cancer Centre (sunnybrook.ca – Donate now or call 1866 696-2008) or to the RVH Foundation for the new Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre in Barrie.
Ann Fonfa (founder of the Annie Appleseed Project) “I was very good friends with Kathleen. She attended two or three of our Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Cancer Therapies conference. She was a brilliant, clever and interesting woman, and a very sad loss to the breast cancer advocacy community. In the last few years of her life, she wore all sorts of wigs to cover her always bald head as she tried chemotherapies through various clinical trials. She always combined this with a complementary program to help her reduce the unwanted effects”.
This conference attracts those who have been on a cancer journey for many years like me and neophytes. There is enough variety in the way of lectures, exhibitors and other participants to network with, for everyone to learn something new and useful.
On the first page of the written program, in Annie’s opening address, she outlines two very important concepts about wellness. 1) There are many paths or modalities to wellness and 2) combinations of modalities work better and create a synergy that is more powerful than the sum of the parts.
She carries this theme through to how the conference is organized and presented. She gives participants many options in the way of lectures, exhibitors, exercise programs, massages and food. All are great paths to wellness and one must decide what is right for their particular situation.
On that note, I will outline what resonated the most with me, over the two-day conference.
One morning, an instructor led a class in Lebed movement. This program -as developed by a breast cancer survivor and dancer, using specific exercises to move lymph. This is always helpful for patients who have had surgery and a compromised lymph system. www.lebedmethod.com
This year, there was a patient panel and one of the participants on the panel was a caregiver/spouse of a throat cancer patient who lost her battle to the disease. The story of his wife’s healing journey and his role in it was very compelling and heartfelt. It is not just the patient who is affected by cancer.
It was interesting to hear about the role of iscador in breast cancer (www.iscador.com). I used this many years ago and I may go back to it, after hearing Michele Sanz discuss its many healing properties. (Mistletoe)
The exhibit promoting mushrooms was particularly thorough and informative. The company Mushroom Wisdom (formerly Maitake Products, Inc.), developed a product called Breast Mate, containing many healing ingredients such as the meshima mushroom. The speaker Michael Schachter, mentioned that the maitake mushroom decreases insulin in the body which is the most inflammatory substance in the body. Inflammation can lead to disease and needs to be controlled.
A representative from the Burzynski Clinic in Houston outlined their comprehensive program for cancer patients. This clinic offers a variety of alternative cancer treatments emphasizing a customized personal treatment plan based on a comprehensive analysis of a patient’s case. Treatments may involve the use of conventional treatments, targeted treatments such as avastin or treatments developed by the clinic such as antineoplastons, phenylbutyrates and aminocare. This clinic only takes cash, so please be ready for ‘sticker shock’, as treatment is very expensive.
I have known patients over the years that have used this clinic but have not survived but the Burzynski website has many testimonials of patients who have done well under their tutelage.
Last but not least, the organic food was lovingly chosen and prepared and of course, tasted great. Annie had an artist help
her with the food, so even the presentation of the food was pleasing and good for the soul.
Obituary
LIVINGSTON, Kathleen Helen – July 15, 1953 – September 20, 2011 – Kathleen Livingston passed away peacefully at home with loved ones by her side on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. She was 58 years of age.
Kathleen was born on July 15, 1953 to John and Helen Livingston in Alliston, Ontario. Soon after Kathleen was born, the family moved to Barrie, Ontario where father Jack opened the law practice of Livingston, Myers and Cockburn. Kathleen attended Codrington Public School and Central Collegiate in Barrie.
From there, she went to McMaster University. Upon graduation, she began working for Bell Canada in Toronto and then was transferred to Montreal. While living in Montreal, Kathleen met and married her husband Peter E. Preston on September 6, 1986.
In 1990, Kathleen and Peter moved to Toronto and settled in the Beaches. From there, in 1998 they moved to Waterford Township near Detroit. Kathleen was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 1998 and battled this disease for almost 14 years.
Over the past several years, she has used her knowledge and passion to get involved at several different advocacy levels in the U.S. She realized that successful advocacy in Washington D.C. requires increased advocacy at the State level and as a result, she co-founded the Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition (mibcc.org) in June, 2007.
Kathleen lobbied for research funds and laws that protect the environment. She was very active in the Inflammatory Breast Cancer (ibcresearch.org) organization and represented IBCrf In Washington D.C. as a Board Member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC).
Kathleen was a graduate of Project LEAD, an intensive science course covering the basics of cancer biology, genetics, epidemiology, research design and advocacy preparing her to engage in local and national forums where breast cancer decisions are made and to bring an educated consumer perspective and critical analysis skills to the table.
She was a strong patient advocate and used her leadership and project management skills to bring about change and improvement. Kathleen was a woman of great strength, tenacity and courage; truly a role model for all survivors.
In addition to her loving and supportive husband Peter, Kathleen will be greatly missed by her brother Steve Livingston of Barrie and her sister Beverley Livingston and her husband Jim Suske of Calgary, Alberta. Kathleen was predeceased by her brother John Livingston who passed away from cancer in 2008.
Kathleen was a warm and supportive aunt to Harmony, Jessica and Galen (John and Rosa) and Allie and Jimmy Suske (Beverley and Jim). She also has a niece and nephew from Peter’s side, Virginia and Nico Preston.
Kathleen was predeceased by both of her parents – Jack in 2003 and Helen in 1973. Should you wish to contact the family with condolences or a story/memory of Kathleen, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Kathleen had a lot of interests over and above as a patient advocate. She was an avid tennis player, loved golf, and was a lively participant of several groups through her involvement with the Newcomers Club in the Detroit area. A celebration of Kathleen’s life will be held at the Pine Lake Country Club, 3300 Pine Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, 48324 starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 28, 2011.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Kathleen’s name may be made to the Sunnybrook Foundation Breast Cancer Centre (sunnybrook.ca – Donate now or call 1866 696-2008) or to the RVH Foundation for the new Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre in Barrie.
Ann Fonfa (founder of the Annie Appleseed Project) “I was very good friends with Kathleen. She attended two or three of our Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Cancer Therapies conference. She was a brilliant, clever and interesting woman, and a very sad loss to the breast cancer advocacy community. In the last few years of her life, she wore all sorts of wigs to cover her always bald head as she tried chemotherapies through various clinical trials. She always combined this with a complementary program to help her reduce the unwanted effects”.
