Mina's Story
My name is Mina Marjanovic,
and I was born on Christmas Eve in the former Yugoslavia.
My father was Romanian and my mother half German and
Serbian. I am the oldest of 10 siblings. In 1983,
I accepted the Lord in my heart, and I thank God that
I did that, because the hardships of life are and
were much more peaceful and easier to handle. I have
been married for 30 years to a supporting husband,
Tom. We have 3 children, my son Boban and my twins,
Petru and Alexandra.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Aug. 1994 and
after a left side mastectomy the doctor also found
cancer in my right breast. I refused to have another
operation because I wanted to take control somehow.
The doctor gave me Tamoxifen and I had an allergic
reaction to it, but I was still taking it faithfully.
The doctors recommended chemotherapy, but I refused
and decided to go to an alternative cancer treatment
center in Playas, Mexico at "Oasis of Hope hospital.
There I learned that the three components for staying
healthy or becoming healthier. First is nutrition,
second is faith, and third is nature's exercise or
work. I stayed in Mexico for 3 weeks and visited later,
from time to time. I never recieved a definite answer
as to the remission of my breast cancer.
In April 1996, I had a gall bladder operation, and
afterwards, complications. The liver could not do
the work. The next day I retained water in my abdomen,
so I had to stay for 3 days in the hospital and then
they let me go home with water coming out of my lower
incision. As water accumulated in my abdomen I had
to have para-sentises, (water was taken out off my
abdomen with a needle). Usually 5 to 6 liters of water
was taken out weekly it depended how much I took liquid
in my body. I had a lung biopsy and they thought that
I might have Tuberculoses because I had a positive
result. That is because we from Europe had our "BCZ"
vaccine so it will always be positive. I was even
convinced to take the medication. I did for few weeks
and when I read the real side affects I stopped. No
one could come with an answer to why I was always
so sick.
I was in pain a lot
and one evening I just went to the hospital with an
enlarged abdomen (full of water). One doctor pulled
my sister to another room and told her that that I
probably had stomach cancer. When I saw my sister
in tears I told her that whatever the doctor said,
I did not have it. So the conclusion was to have an
exploratory surgery and to do a liver biopsy and according
to my request, to take out the good and healthy ovaries.
That was in September1996. I stayed in the hospital
for 25 days, and had a bone marrow biopsy. Most people
thought that I was dying.
After this ordeal,
I became a vegetarian/vegan. I ate all organic vegetables,
fruits, Soya cheese, Soya yogurt; night shades vegetables
and some white bread. No simple sugar, if I could
help it. After that surgery I was left with an inseasonal
hernia. It took me a long time to decide to have another
surgery. So I finally decided to have it done at another
hospital, in April 1997. and I had normal reading
of my blood work. For this operation it should have
been an over night stay, but no, the doctors came
a few hours later and told me that I am loosing a
lot of blood and they needed to do another open operation
to add extra drainage for the dead blood cells. Again
my doctor called my large family because he did not
think that I would make it.
Everybody was praying
and crying. For that ordeal I had to have several
blood transfusions, and I thank God for all the relatives,
friends, and church members who donated their blood,
so the blood bank was replenished. A few weeks later
an outside specialist came and took a closer look
and with all kinds of test I was diagnosed with a
hyper-splenism (overactive spleen causing), pansytopenia
(all three blood levels are low -white, red and platelets),
congestive splenomegaly, diabetes type II, peripheral
neuropathy and hairy cell leukemia. Some doctors told
me that I might have bone cancer and portal cshirosa
of the liver.
It took me 29 days
to be released from the hospital. For the next 4 months
at home I had to change the gauss on my abdomen wounds,
yet I could hardly walk to my bathroom or kitchen,
but I had the will power and determination from above.
Remembering my father's words "This too shall
pass". After couple of weeks, I was pushing my
self into the kitchen to create a meal, or make juices.
I had my blood drawn but I refused to have it as often
as my doctors have recommended it. They also recommended
having the spleen taken out. Can you imagine that?
Aren't enough hills and valleys on my belly?
At each hospital I brought my Bible and kept meditating
on the promises of my loving Father in heaven. People
prayed for me, helped and encouraged me, like: relatives,
church members, neighbors and friends. I believed
on Gods promises and that eventually everything would
be okay, even if is not my way it is all His and who
am I to say anything. Yes I know that we can't run
from death and taxes, as an American say. I also know
that I am Gods child and he will do what is best for
me, and my family. God loves us and wants the best
for us. Some of my motivational verses were and are
Romans 8:28 "All things work for good for those
who are called according to his name". Luke 17:6
"If your faith were only the size of a mustard
seed, Jesus answered, it would be large enough to
uproot that mulberry tree over there and sent it hurtling
into the sea. Your command would bring immediate results".
Proverbs 12:15 "A
fool thinks he needs no advise, but a wise man listens
to others". Isaiah 40:31 " But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They
shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall
run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint".
There were so many verses that I read and meditated
about. I am actually glad that this happened to me.
I became a different person. I even managed to write
a little history in 1995 and 1996 about my past from
my younger years in Europe and later in America. I
was taking vitamins by the hand full since 1995 and
after my 1997 operation. It was costly and I was going
in circles with my health until March 2000. At my
local health food store a nutritionist told me that
a woman is coming to give a lecture how she over came
her ordeal with cancer. Her name is Milenka (Mina)
Dobic.
When I heard her
story and a new approach to cancer with natural Gods
given food, called macrobiotic, (meaning "great
life") and making a balance, I was convinced
that this time I am on the right track. Plus she did
not use vitamins so I knew I was on to something good.
I took few classes with her and other local and distant
classes, seminars and retreats. She recommended reading
few books, for which I did.Soon I learned about George
Oshawa, the founder of macrobiotics. He had some students
who learned and studied macrobiotics fervently. They
started the Kushi Institute in Massachusetts to teach
others about macrobiotics.
Mr. Kushi states,
"Macrobiotics is the art and science of health
and longevity through the study and understanding
of the relation and interactions between ourselves,
the foods we eat, the lifestyles we choose to lead,
and the environments in which we live. It is compatible
with and adaptable to all forms of religious and traditional
cultural practices." As a well-known author and
trusted family physician Benjamin Spock, M.D. said
" My own favorable experience with macrobiotics
opened my eyes to the accumulating evidence that a
whole-grain, vegetable and bean diet can often prevent,
arrest, and even reverse deadly degenerative diseases
such as cancers, coronary heart attack, and strokes."
It all made sense
to me and I was getting better, without any supplements.
Life was and is easier now. I feel like I am looking
from above and see the peoples with unnecessary struggles.
Few stories from the Bible came to my mind and I was
convinced. Like from the Old Testament: Genesis 1:29
"And look! I have given you the seed-bearing
plants throughout the earth, and all the fruit trees
for your food". Numbers 11:7-9 talks about the
small yellow seed. Exodus 16:14-16 talks about manna
from heaven that was given to Israelites in the desert.
It was a delicious grain and it had to be prepared
and eaten on the day given or it would spoil. God
gave us all these natural foods that promote healing
the question remains, what are we doing to our body
and mind that make us suffer? Remember that our body
is our temple, and regardless of your beliefs, what
we put in it is what we will get out.
I've been living a
macrobiotic life since March 2000. In 2003 I went
to Becket, Massachusetts to the Kushi Institute to
study and to learn the perfect balance. So now I am
a health guider and I am helping myself and teaching
others too. Recently, I've been working with Dr. Gordan
Sacks on a research project supported by the American
Cancer Society at the UCSD Cancer Center. We are examining
the role of diet in stress reduction among recent
prostrate cancer patients. I learned that my health
problems were due to years of poor nutritional and
an unbalanced lifestyle. But it is only because the
trials I faced before and the grace, mercy and love
of God that I am able to help others now. I feel very
blessed for all the family, neighbors and friends
who prayed and cared for me. Thank you for reading
about my life.
God Bless,
Mina Marjanovic
