Health in layers – like an onion

The Boys of Summer continues to roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

Back in March 2014, my dad, who had dealt with his Parkinson’s diagnosis for nearly 13 years was nearing the end of his rope. He had chronic back problems, with scoliosis and a 55-degree tilt causing him to shy away from even his most beloved activities because of the constant, excruciating pain.

As we documented this summer, dad found some relief in his work with Dr. DeMartino. As important as the relief was, the feeling of hope in knowing there was something my dad could actively be doing to improve his quality of life was and remains equally as valuable (something he heard nothing about from his doctors at Kaiser).

Earlier today, he received the results of his second set of blood work from Dr. DeMartino, who did a draw at the beginning of my dad’s process back in May. The marker that showed up differently this time indicated an infection in my dad’s kidney. The fascinating thing about that information was that it didn’t show up a few months ago, and nothing in my dad’s recent history would suggest him getting an infection between May and now. However, he did have kidney stones back in the mid-90’s and had a very powerful and disruptive sonic blast treatment that broke up the stones (and almost certainly damaged his kidney, too). Dr. DeMartino suggested that some of my dad’s back pain and the scoliosis itself could well be tied to this infection. The fact that this infection wasn’t even on the map previously due to all the other things my dad was dealing with (pancreas in crisis, mercury levels off the chart, etc.) suddenly made sense. The body can only deal with so many fires at once. The idea that we have layers of health, source or core problems that manifest in other ways than are directly evident is fascinating.

“It’s like an onion,” Dr. DeMartino said, with a smile. “Like Shrek.”

 This immediately gave Dr. DeMartino a new course to work with for my dad and my dad some interesting food for thought. He’d known about his low white blood cell count for some time (indicative of an infection), but hadn’t received any assistance on where it might be. It’s clear my dad has peeled back some layers of disease from himself already, literally in the extra weight as well as the heavy metal toxicity buildup internally. The idea that he could peel back another and, perhaps another yet, to get closer to the core health of his being is fascinating and quite hopeful.

Safe at Home

The Boys of Summer continues to roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

In March 2014, we rekindled the adventure we began ten years prior. My dad, with Parkinson’s, and me, with a camera or two, came together around baseball and went on a journey. In 2004, the journey was simpler to define: we road-tripped 20,000 miles in two months to see a game at each of the 30 MLB parks. In 2014, the initial idea was to do it again. Because of financial and physical limitations, we decided to pare the idea down to the six parks built since 2004. When the limitations became tighter on both fronts, we changed directions.

Dad broke through many walls this summer - most more metaphorical than this one.

My dad was signaling that he was giving up. The red flag for all of us ­­was dad’s lack of interest in golf and his admission that the pain in his back had become nearly debilitating. His doctors had told him there was nothing more they could do beyond prescribing more pain medicine. My mom was scared to the point she fell into another depression.

Dad plays with his grandson, Giuseppe.

Through searching for alternatives, a friend suggested I give Dr. DeMartino of Superior Health Solutions in Henderson, NV a call. We exchanged information, then discussed opportunities. He liked what he saw in our original documentary enough to offer my dad pro bono treatment at the clinic. He was confident he could relieve some of the pain and bring my dad to a greater degree of health. It wouldn’t be easy, though. Dad would have to come to Las Vegas for an extended period of time, estimated at two to three months. Dad said yes.

In late April, Dad said yes. I’ve been blogging about this process over the last three months in detail and there is more to come still. I want to cover the last day right now and a few thoughts on what the future holds.

One goal achieved. Next up.

Mom worked through her depression and came down to join my Dad in Las Vegas in early June. She went home for a brief period of time, then stayed for the last six weeks. Living conditions weren’t always the easiest or most comfortable for them in their extended stay hotel, but they managed. There were many ups and downs in the treatment. There was great skepticism at times and great hope at others. The constant physical sign of health was my dad’s weight loss through nutrition and supplementation. He lost nearly thirty pounds and reached his goal weight of 175 pounds in the final week. He displayed signs of increased health, vitality and enjoyment in his activity. He suggested social events and dates with my mom as opposed to holing up in a room and tuning out with television or his laptop. He said yes to road trips to Zion and Los Angeles. He braved a boxing ring, the Pacific Ocean and some water slides. He played with his grandkids. He emerged, three months later, a healthier man.

Dad plays with his granddaughter, Francesca.

For those looking for a cure to Parkinson’s here, I suggest you look elsewhere. It’s the wrong line of thinking as far as I’m concerned. As to whether or not those working on a cure for it will ever find one, that’s well beyond me. “Ever” is a long time. I have serious doubts about some, if not many, traditional western medical institutions, foundations and pharmaceutical manufacturers because their loyalties, in my examination of them, often following the dollar, seem to value that dollar or system that is supporting them long before the individual. I can say, with certainty, I believe in the power of the human body to heal itself. I believe it is doing exactly that on a daily, combatting much of the toxicity we introduce to it, both knowingly and unknowingly. I believe our bodies can be overwhelmed and that we do sometimes need help in evaluating our health, as we can easily become locked in our silos of self and blind to the things that we are in control of versus those we are not.

 

My Mom and Dad went home yesterday, July 31, 2014. My mom cleaned out the old food they had been eating and they both pledged to “protect their home” from unhealthy foods, recognizing their damaging effects back in June. My dad, who began his treatment with a 55-degree tilt in his spine and ended it with a 49-degree tilt, is committed to a more vigorous, physically active lifestyle. Dr. DeMartino repeatedly remarked how strong my dad’s body was, despite the PD or the massive curvature in his back. That encouragement, along with the weight loss and a renewed acceptance of himself as an athlete, has driven my dad forward.

Our journey is not over. We still hope to get to the six new ballparks built since 2004. We love our Oakland A’s and will cheer our lungs out for them to finally push through and not only get to but win a World Series for the first time in 25 years. Mom and Dad have much work to do, as do I. When will the film come to light? That’s beyond me right now. Too many questions. It will be seen at some point, when the time is right. I am working up my case for the next ask and I will write it soon. I hope you will join those who have already contributed to our mission, understanding, now more than ever, that we have proved the concepts we have put forth, worked diligently and professionally and are very worthy of your financial support.

The biggest difference between now and when we began in the early spring is the presence of hope. My Dad knows he can’t cure Parkinson’s, nor is he even remotely interested in seeking one out. That’s out of his control. He has quit looking. He is interested in making the most out what he has, Parkinson’s – not my Dad -- be damned. His body is much more willing than he previously thought and now so is his mind. The last action he took with Dr. DeMartino yesterday was to take a brief jog with him around the parking lot of DeMartino’s office. The idea of running again, something my dad identified very closely with for decades, was not on the list of hopes when we began this process. It emerged naturally through perseverance, saying yes and a happy accident. Look for Dan Cochrane jogging on a block near you, Walnut Creek, CA.

I am deeply proud of my parents for accepting their challenges head on and fighting back, for not listening to the naysayers, even professional and very well-educated ones, who told them they were on a fool’s errand. Contrary to popular, and I believe often well-meaning advice, “never quit” is not a philosophy I subscribe to. There is a time to quit – whether it’s a belief system, relationship, job or anything else dragging one down or causing you to lose focus. Holding on to too many things is far more dangerous and detrimental than quitting, reevaluating and harnessing one’s energy.

Mom says goodbye. Dad encourages her along.

The journey continues.

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!