A diet of natural foods combined with juice and water fasting returned my health and freedom. My chronic hepatitis had become a crippling disease. Years of serious addiction followed my drug abuse at thirteen, and I got hepatitis, a frustrating and very painful illness. Deterioration of my liver progressed as the years followed, my other filtering organs (kidney and spleen) were caused to be overworked, thus causing more pain and damage to them. Fasting with water and fruit and vegetable juices and a diet high in raw foods I suffered for sixteen years. My swollen liver was as big as a football. The liver is the major organ that cleanses the body, and does not have space for swelling. A constant irritating pain is felt from the rib cage to the stomach when swelling occurs. Hepatitis is unforgettable as the irritation is constant.
Life was dismal and hopeless. I was 270 lbs., a burned out drug addict coming off a massive intake of chemicals. I needed 20 to 30 tranquilizers a day so I would not lose my sanity.
I had uncontrollable emotions. Nerves were like electrical wires on overload. I did not know what to do, so I phoned Tom, a friend I did not see for years. He offered to help and welcomed me to his house.
After a few days of sleeping, I realized how my rebellious spirit had grossly complicated my life. I had lived an illusion for the last 20 years; a person who was ruthless, tough and invincible. An empty soul was the hollow reminder of a wasted life. I agonized over the loss of my family and I was flooded in tears , it wouldn't' stop. I was a victim of my own demise and there was no one to blame. Massive depression controlled life, and I thought Tom would help if I moved in, but nothing could stop my eyes from seeing painful reality. Several nights, Tom stayed up listening to my sad story. My insides would have exploded if my all my pent up anguish had not found an outlet.
The changes were remarkable after 20 days of juice fasting. Although I was not cured, I continued fasting because of the results.
After 40 days of juice fasting, the unstable sickly man became a healthy, vibrant free-spirited soul. Losing 100 pounds boosted my self-esteem. The retention of large amounts of body fluids had caused the excessive bloating. The damaged liver prevented the release these fluids. Whatever caused the bloating was healed, my weight dropped to 170 lbs after the 40 days of juice fasting. The swelling of my liver completely disappeared. I had a clear and stable mind. For the first time in years, I could live without tranquilizers! I thanked God that drugs had not caused permanent damage to my mind.
If a butterfly could speak of the changes from a crawling insect into a colorful and graceful creation, its words would be those burning in my heart. What drugs took away was given back.
The power of addiction was broken by juice fasting, prayer, the grace of God, and the love of a friend. I am now closer to God than ever before.