Cherry Limeade Juice

A couple weeks ago a friend told me about a friend of hers who was diagnosed with cancer.  I’ll leave her name out of this but will refer to her as Lily.  It’s a beautiful name, and the first one that comes to mind when I think of her.  Lily’s doctor put her on a vegan diet after diagnosing her with cancer so my friend wanted to connect us.  I am not completely vegan but as close as you can get without being all the way there.  I do not know Lily personally, but we recently exchanged emails.  After just a few short emails, I feel like I have known her for years.

I first heard her story from one of the other moms in my youngest daughters dance class.  She would not be in the dance class if I had not pulled her out of a two day a week Mother’s Morning Out program at my oldest daughters Pre-School.  I never felt right dropping her off, even though it was only six hours a week, I just could not continue.  After taking her out of the program I heard about a mommy-and-me ballet class at the same studio where my oldest takes classes.  She was younger than the other girls in the class but I decided to try it, and it worked out.  She loves the class!  In fact, she wears a tutu and ballet slippers everyday of the week, almost everywhere we go.  After learning about Lily’s diagnoses, I offered to make her some juices to try.  She was just starting chemotherapy so I was hoping the juices would be a good way for her to get lots of nutrition in small amounts.  So far, so good!  Lily loves the juices and in her last message to me told me how therapeutic the juices were.  She has not been feeling well after her chemo treatments so eating is not easy but at least the juices provide a lot of nutrition and flavor in small amounts.

I am amazed at her strength and courage as she goes head to head with what I think is one of the most evil things out there.  She is a real inspiration.  She never complains, or says why me, she just lives her day and continues fighting.  We made a promise to each other in one of our first emails, I would keep making juices and she would stay strong and positive.  So I’m continuing to research to make sure she gets the best juice possible to hold up her end of the deal and kick cancer in the you know what.

I started reading a book called “The Cancer Fighting Kitchen” by Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson.  I have had the book for months now but never took the time to read it.  As I was reading about the different foods that are best for fighting cancer I found a powerful and very tasty combination, Cherry – Lime – Mint.  Mint and cherries both contain perillyl alcohol, which in studies has shown to stall the growth of liver, mammary, and pancreatic tumors.  Limes boost white blood cell activity, and some studies show the sugar in limes, glucosides, can help prevent cancer cells from dividing.  This juice also has kale which is a powerful anti-inflammatory food.  Today I make more juices for my dear friend Lily who I feel like I known for years.  I have no idea what she looks like, or what her voice sounds like.  But I do know she a strong, beautiful soul who inspires me and everyone around her.

There are moments in life when you can look back at the path you’ve taken and connect the dots.  You realize what got you where you are and why you are doing what you do.  Hearing Lily’s story and getting to know her via email is one of those moments in my life.  For some reason I decided to start a health / food blog.  I’m not a writer, a chef, a doctor, or a nutritionist but I knew I was passionate about promoting health.  So I took the chance believing I could possibly help someone.  And  I could not drop my daughter off at school another day, so I made the choice to take her out and try a dance class instead.  It was there I leaned about Lily.  Life is full of choices.  There are so many decisions to make and chances to take.  Believe in yourself to make the right choices for you and take chances for things you believe in.  You just never know where it might take you and who you’ll meet along the way.  They may just be the fuel to keep your flame burning.