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I AM HealingStrong
114: Healing Through Grief, Spiritual Growth, and Alternative Cancer Treatments | Jennifer Reiner
00:46:54
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- [00:00]
Jennifer Reiner
So I thought I was doing all the right stuff, right? Like we changed our whole lives, but that was the most. Even going through 9 11, which was hugely traumatic. Losing my dad was more traumatic that that was. I was heartbroken, just like he was heartbroken about my mom. I mean, I was heartbroken about my mom passing, but I think I couldn't really deal with it because he immediately had cancer, right? So I immediately went into nurse mode instead of mourning, you know what I mean? So I didn't really get to fully mourn my mom. So then when my D pass, it was like my world was crumbled, you know, so. And a lot of things that I learned about cancer is usually it comes after some type of major, you know, life event or trauma or stress or something. And so I think that was, you know, I was heartbroken, and I think that's what it was.
- [00:52]
Jim Mann
You're listening to the I Am Healing Strong podcast, a part of the Healing Strong organization, the number one network of holistic cancer support groups in the world. Each week we bring you stories of hope, real stories that will encourage you as you navigate your way on your own journey to health. Now here's your host, stage four cancer.
- [01:16]
Host
Thriver Jim Mann, today talking with Jennifer Reiner in North Carolina. Just one state up where I'm sitting. How you doing, Jennifer?
- [01:25]
Jennifer Reiner
I'm great, thanks for asking. How are you today?
- [01:27]
Host
I'm all right. No, I'm doing great. I'm doing great. I like it because, you know, I'm. I'm analyzing myself as I get older because I never think about things and I'm like, man, I have all this energy when I first I get up, like at 5:00, you know, just automatically because I used to be in morning radio, so I'd get up two for that. So I guess it kind of ruined my internal clock. But, you know, I just. I'll wake up by five at the latest and I have all this energy all the way up until 12 or 2 o'clock. And then all of a sudden I'm like, when is bedtime coming? Which makes me feel like I'm an old guy. But I don't. I don't know what's going on there. I have to fix that. I need energy in the second part of the day.
- [02:09]
Jennifer Reiner
Also, I'm reverse. I'm opposite of you. I start getting my energy around 2:00. I'm dragging all morning, and then I'm like full of energy in the afternoon.
- [02:20]
Host
That's my whole family. So I don't yeah. I'm like the Chihuahua in the house. And then all of a sudden the big dogs get up, and then I'm. I'm down. I don't know, I thought maybe as a nurse you can give me some advice, but since you're. Since you're the opposite.
- [02:36]
Jennifer Reiner
As a nurse, I worked many opposite schedules, so I'm probably not the best person to give you getting up early advice.
- [02:44]
Host
So you're messed up too, then?
- [02:46]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, pretty much.
- [02:48]
Host
Well, okay. Well, we've already touched on the fact that you are a nurse, but I, you know, I was looking at some notes about story, and first of all, where did you grow up?
- [02:57]
Jennifer Reiner
I actually grew up in New York City.
- [02:59]
Host
Okay.
- [03:00]
Jennifer Reiner
I was born in Manhattan and then, you know, moved to Queens, and pretty much I lived in Queens. You know, all through high school, I still worked in Manhattan. I worked in Brooklyn.
- [03:11]
Host
Yeah, that sounded. It actually sounds exciting to me. I love the big city, but then I also love the rural country and all that stuff. I like. I'm pretty much like anything. I like to be at least near a city where I can enjoy that and then go home. How about that?
- [03:25]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, it was great when I was young, but it took me a long time to get used to rural North Carolina. Like, that was. That was a little rough. I wanted to go home every day for a long time.
- [03:35]
Host
Yeah. But how do you feel about it now?
- [03:37]
Jennifer Reiner
Oh, now I love it now. I don't even wanna, like, consider going to New York. The couple times I've gone, you know, in the. The last few times I've gone, I should say, I'm like, how did I live here? It's so dirty. It's so old. It's not, you know, it just doesn't look as attractive anymore.
- [03:53]
Host
And Raleigh's big enough, right?
- [03:55]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, Raleigh's pretty big. I live outside Raleigh. Country town. But, you know, it's growing so much here that even the little country towns are becoming, you know, suburbia and crowded and. So less farms and cows now.
- [04:10]
Host
Yeah. And we were discussing before we started this that you actually live in the listening area where I was on the radio, so. I changed your life, didn't I?
- [04:19]
Jennifer Reiner
You did. I used to listen to his radio. I would drive 45 minutes to an hour to commute to work and same coming home. And I used to listen to that.
- [04:30]
Host
Well, thanks for playing along. I know I personally didn't change your life, but, hey, thanks a lot.
- [04:34]
Jennifer Reiner
No, listening to that was definitely. It was very impactful.
- [04:39]
Host
Yeah, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed being able to Say dumb things, and people thought it was great. So it was my gift to the world, saying weird stuff. But anyway, that's a whole nother story. You were a paramedic. Is that what you went to school for? Is that what you wanted to do with your life or how did you stumble across that?
- [05:02]
Jennifer Reiner
Well, I didn't intend to be a paramedic. It just kind of happened. I was in high school, you know, trying to figure out what to do after high school. And I worked in a bakery all through high school. And all the EMS people would come in, the paramedics, the EMTs, the police and whatever. And, you know, we would talk about as a senior, like, what am I going to do when I graduated? And I said, well, you know, I really want to become a doctor. At that time, I wanted to go to medical school. I was like, but, you know, I came from, you know, a poor family, poor neighborhood, you know, and they were like, you know, so how, you know, what's your goal? Like, are you going to be able to pay for that working here? It's like, absolutely not, you know, so, you know, I had to talk about loans or whatever. And anyway, they kind of introduced me to, like, these programs where you can work for agencies or hospitals or whatever, and they pay for your college. Like, at that time, I never knew that existed. And so I went into EMS as a way to, you know, earn my way, like, pay for college and to go to medical school. But then after I finished four years of college, I was like, I don't want to go to medical school. So that kind of changed. Yeah. So I went out into corporate America after college, and I was like, I miss taking care of patients so much, you know, And I was still working ems. I always worked ems, even when I was working corporate America, they were like, you're going to do what on your days off? And I'm like, I'm going to go work in Brooklyn, you know, and pick up gunshot wounds and stuff. Yeah. So after I was in corporate America for a while, I missed it, and I went back to be a nurse.
- [06:38]
Host
It's in your heart to help people, right?
- [06:40]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah. I missed patient care, and I still love taking care of patients.
- [06:44]
Host
Yeah. But then something kind of drastic happened in 2001, 9, 11. You were right in the middle of all that, weren't you?
- [06:55]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, I worked down at ground Zero. I wasn't there when the towers physically came down. I was married at the time, and my husband was an EMS supervisor. And for some reason, I don't know why? We must have fell asleep watching a movie or something. But we woke up to the news and the like, you know, what was happening. And he had his radio on and you could hear the people screaming. Like you could hear our co workers, you know, like, screaming, calling for help. And, and it was just heart wrenching. And so obviously both of us were like, we gotta go. Like, we gotta go help. That was just in our nature, you know. So we went down to work. Yeah, we, you know, we responded to go to work. They had the city closed at the time, so you needed permission to get in. So we eventually, you know, like, I went over in an ambulance from my EMS base, you know, to the city across the bridge and, and we were stationed, you know, we went to triage, like stations for triage. And then we just rotated in and out to help with the recovery of patients and people, you know, if they found any deceased people or even the firemen, you know, they were in the recovery, we would have to take care of them, you know, if they were like dehydrated or, you know, injury or whatever.
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Host
Yeah. Wow, that must have been devastating.
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Jennifer Reiner
It was. It's something I, I don't. I mean, I've never seen anything like this in my life. Like, I grew up in the inner city, you know, you. You hear news of wars and that kind of thing, but like, you know, it's not like you don't know what it's like, you know, and then to go to the city that day and then those days after and just it was like being in a war zone. I mean, that's really the only way I could describe it. I've never been to war, but that's what it look like to me from like movies. It was like, you know, army people with big guns and just a big cloud of smoke. Like you couldn't see very far. And you know, we had to wear these big giant respirators and we had to carry medications in case there was like a biological attack. So it was really like, it was scary, but like, so surreal. Yeah. Wow. Motivated me to go indoors and work as a nurse.
- [09:06]
Host
Yeah.
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Jennifer Reiner
So, yeah.
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Host
So how much longer did you stay in the New York area at that time? After that?
- [09:11]
Jennifer Reiner
I should say three more years. And then I moved to North Carolina in 2004. My parents retired early because, you know, at that time, after it happened, a lot of people in the field, like my parents, my dad worked for the police, my mom worked for the police department. So they were all being able now to take early retirement. They Were. I don't know, there was some kind of thing going on. So we all planned. Like, my husband and I said we were going to move. My family plans. So we all just kind of planned to move to North Carolina. We all came here together. So.
- [09:42]
Host
Did you already have family here? What, what, what drew you here?
- [09:46]
Jennifer Reiner
Well, I had a brother whose wife had family here, so they kind of moved here like, I don't know, 10 years or so before that we would come and visit, you know, but we were all up there. But then when my parents were like, we're going to retire early and we're going to go to North Carolina to be around the grandchildren, my other brother and I were like, if you go, I'll go. So we just kind of all came. So the whole family's here in North Carolina? Well, my parents have since passed away, but, yeah, but we're still here. The kids and the grandkids.
- [10:18]
Host
And that was probably culture shock, wasn't it?
- [10:22]
Jennifer Reiner
I told you I wanted to go home every day for at least six years. Like, it took me a long time to adjust. But I did go to nursing school here and, you know, I started working and I did one of these, like, second degree programs where you agree to work for the hospital for five years and they paid for the whole program. And so I was kind of stuck here. I was stuck here for at least five years. Yeah, you know, you had to finish five years. So that was that. Six years it took me to get used to being here.
- [10:50]
Host
Well, welcome to the South.
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Jennifer Reiner
Well, I love it now. I wouldn't. I would. Don't think I could ever move back up north.
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Host
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's good things about it, of course, that, yeah, I'm sure you miss every once in a while, but.
- [11:03]
Jennifer Reiner
No, not really.
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Host
That's funny. I grew up in Baltimore, not that far from New York, but. And I, you know, I left in 81. Oh, my goodness, that sounds so old. And I have great fond memories. And like, I do. Like when I watch the Orioles play, I just, like, I need to go back. But then it passes.
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Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, I've gone back to see some, like, Yankee games and hockey games and stuff and, you know, like Broadway shows. But they have all that now here. You know, when I first moved here, that stuff wasn't here. But now they have it here. You can go watch Carolina Hurricanes. You can, you know, see Broadway South. So. Yeah, you brought it with you back. No, it's nice. You know, the cultural stuff. I missed the food. Some of the food is still not.
- [11:50]
Host
Here yet, but yeah, the pizza's better up there, isn't it?
- [11:54]
Jennifer Reiner
Pizza's amazing. I do miss pizza. We have some good ones now, though. Yeah, Good New York pizza.
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Host
All right, enough talking about food. I haven't had lunch yet. I understand that, like, your parents, your mom was first to pass away, right?
- [12:10]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, my mom passed. She was pretty young, but she had a liver problem. I don't know that they were kind of figured out all that was involved in that. It wasn't cancer. My dad did pass of cancer.
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Host
Yes.
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Jennifer Reiner
So, yeah, so that was my first introduction to cancer. So he was, I mean, he was young also. Both my parents were in their early 60s. That's pretty young. Very young, you know, to die. So my brother actually cracked jokes like, well, we're not going to live very long, so you better enjoy life now. I'm like, we can change things.
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Host
That's right.
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Jennifer Reiner
But yeah, so my, my dad did have cancer and he was, I mean, my mom was already gone. Was his best friend. So he really didn't. He. He didn't care about really staying alive. Like, I know that sounds weird, but like his best friend and his like, other limb to his body, like, that's how close they were, you know, was gone. So he really just wanted to see how he could make things better without doing chemo, radiation and all that stuff. So that was my first introduction to like natural healing, if that makes sense.
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Host
Yeah. Did you like, encourage him to do chemo or. I'm sure the doctors did.
- [13:29]
Jennifer Reiner
So, I mean, like I said, so I was in EMS learning all this stuff from like the medical everything. And then as a nurse and I took care of tons of cancer patients and we have to tell them to do their chemo and, you know, have to administer certain types of chemo type drugs. I mean, I worked in the emergency room, but we still had, you know, that kind of, you know, it wasn't like every single patient, but it was there. So for me it was like, of course you're going to do chemo. Radiation. It was like a no brainer. Like, like, why would you not do that? You know, so that was a big, a big paradigm shift for me, you know, but he asked me and he said, you know, I really, I'm asking you if you'll support me. Everyone told him he was crazy, you know, and I am. Daddy's girl was so tight. Like, I mean, I still miss my dad and cry. Like, you know, we were so, so tight. So of course I'm going to say yes. I'll support you. You know, I couldn't understand, but then he taught me well here I thought I knew so much, but he taught me so much that I didn't know and just opened my eyes to like, wow, medicine does wonderful things. I worked in the emergency room. I think emergency medicine is fabulous in this country. We have the best emergency medicine. But I think when it comes to chronic illness, there's a lot that still needs to be addressed or learned or however you want to say it.
- [14:54]
Host
How did your dad. Well, how was he introduced to the natural world? I should say.
- [15:01]
Jennifer Reiner
So my dad, My dad loved the Bible. Let's start with that. So he was very much in relationship with God, and so he loved his Bible, but in that he also liked to debate the Bible with a lot of people. So he would have these meetings with all different types of religious people. And he had met with the Seventh Day Adventist for a long time. Like, he never converted, but he would, you know, listen and learn a lot from them. And he learned a lot about their diet. And I think that was the, the first introduction to like, healthy lifestyle stuff was when he was reading the Seventh Day Adventist stuff about the way they live.
- [15:42]
Host
Yeah.
- [15:43]
Jennifer Reiner
So, I mean, I'm not a Seventh Day Adventist, but what I know about them is they live a pretty healthy life. So they have like the longest life expectancy. I think it's the only blue zone right. In this country. Is this where the Seven Day Adventists live?
- [15:57]
Host
Yeah. Wow. Okay. Yeah, I was just wondering about that, like, you know, because. And you being in the medical field, like you said, I mean, and that's how most people's mindset is. That's how we were all raised. Well, chemo, cancer, they go together, so you got to do that. And it's hard to talk. Talk people out of that if that is their mindset. But then when you just stop and think about it, especially if you know the Bible, I mean, there are diets in there that's like. Because God created all these herbs, these plants for a purpose. And there's so there's so many nutrients, nutrient dense, a lot of cancer fighting nutrients in these things, which I knew nothing about until I got my diagnosis. And, and now, now there's so much about it, it's almost overwhelming. It's like, oh, there's just too much information. You know, give me something simple to start with.
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Jennifer Reiner
Right. And that can be kind of stressful too, I think is too much information.
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Host
So what did your dad do? I mean, what kind of. He just doing like.
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Jennifer Reiner
So he didn't do a specific. Like, I. I mean, he didn't know Chris work. We didn't know the Chris work stuff, but we did. I watched the Truth about cancer with him. He found that. And we watched it, like, over and over and over again and took notes and instituted a lot of the things that they said in there and then researched other things. And it completely blew my mind. I mean, I'm being honest. I was like, wait a minute, why don't they say this like, in the hospital? You know, like, why don't we talk about these things? It just completely blew my mind. And then, you know, like, telling him he should do chemo, radiation. I started being more mindful now when I took care of cancer patients. And I was like, well, this is why he doesn't want to do it. You know what I mean? Like, I would see them and they would be so sick and so like. And they're doing all the treatments the doctor's telling them to do, but they look awful and they're super sick or they would get all these other opportunistic illnesses because they had no immune system. So it just made me. I don't know, I guess it opened up my eyes more. So when I saw them, I was able to register, like, wait a minute, this isn't. Doesn't look like this is how it should be, you know. But before that, I thought that's just how it was. I didn't question it. I just thought that's how it was.
- [18:24]
Host
So you pulled in common sense is what you're saying.
- [18:26]
Jennifer Reiner
Pretty much I opened my eyes from the tunnel vision, you know, because I only learned. I only learned, you know, the, the allopathic medicine way of things, because they don't teach you. You know, like I said, I have two bachelor's degrees. I didn't learn anything about. I had one class on nutrition, and it was never like, about how to eat healthy, you know, it was about like the food pyramid, which is a joke. I mean, really, you know, it's like stuff like that and like these rare diseases that you get, you know, other than like, you know, anemia, you know what I'm saying? Like scurvy, that kind of stuff. Like, it's. I mean, when am I going to use that? You know? But it would be nice to learn how to eat a good, well balanced and how important herbs and vitamins and vegetables and fruits and all that stuff is. But they don't teach that in school. That, at least then they didn't. I don't know if they do now. I mean, I think maybe more nowadays.
- [19:23]
Host
Yeah. Like I was telling you earlier, my. My daughter's in studying to be a nurse and. And I forgot how it came up. But, you know, like, she was telling me that her professor is saying that, you know, the coffee enemas, that that's crazy. That stuff doesn't work. And of course, my daughter knows better. Fortunately, she's a introvert. Otherwise her hand will be up a lot. When that came up, like, just get through it and become a nurse.
- [19:49]
Jennifer Reiner
Well, that's the difference between the first time I went to college and college now was the first time I went to college, now this, like 30 years ago. They really encouraged critical thinking and debate. In fact, I even wrote this paper that no one in the class agreed with. And they made me read it to the class because it was like, wonderful discussion. Right? But the second time I went to college was like, no, you just need to stay quiet and follow the agenda. Very different experience.
- [20:19]
Host
Experience cancer healing like you never have before at Hope4Cancer. Through their patient centered, integrative and alternative cancer treatments in Mexico. At Hope4Cancer, they offer a holistic approach. Treatments that address the root causes of cancer and provide a personalized healing protocol. Hope for Cancer treatment centers empowers all cancer patients to overcome the odds of their diagnosis, guided by their four core values of faith, love, hope, and generosity. To learn more, go to hopeforcancer.com that's hope the number four cancer dot com. So. So your dad's. I understand your dad's cancer got better, but he's pretty much.
- [21:02]
Jennifer Reiner
He did. I really believe he died of a broken heart because he really. I mean, he didn't know how to live without my mom. Like, he really didn't. They were so old school. Like, he didn't even know how to cook anything. He. He lived for himself very briefly after she passed. And he was going to die because he was, like, not nutritious, like, not eating, you know. And then when he found out he had cancer, he was like, so can, you know, can you help me? I'd like to live together. And so we moved in together, and one of the first things we did when we moved in together was we tossed all of our food and we started fresh. And we started with. We filled the pantry from scratch. All organic, non gmo, you know, tried to eat as much like live food. And so. So it was a switch for both of us. And I'm not a big cook. I'm nothing like my mom. My mom loved to cook and so, you know, there's a big learning curve for both of us. We got his cancer to go. I mean, his PSA was. I have all the records to you still. His PSA was up to 984, and we got it back down to 4, which is normal.
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Host
Yeah.
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Jennifer Reiner
And he had skin cancer lesions, and they were gone. He had, like a big tumor starting on his back here, like by the neck, and that was gone. But he still lost tons of weight and was very. Because he wouldn't eat. He was heartbroken. I really believe he died of broken heart.
- [22:33]
Host
Yeah. Yeah, that's true. That's how my dad went. But he was 96, so he was wearing out anyway, you know, but my mom died later, but she had dementia, so she didn't realize he had died. But they got separated because he had to go into physical therapy because he fell too many times in their assistant living. And I thought, man, he's 96. You're not going to get him back to health, for crying out loud. They have him, you know, lifting these little pink weights.
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Jennifer Reiner
Yeah.
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Host
Like, yeah, yeah. Get him back to where he's doing push ups and then he can go back. Just let's let him be together, for crying out loud. But he died because he was separated from her. They've been married 60 some years. So then you yourself get a diagnosis. Right.
- [23:15]
Jennifer Reiner
So I thought I was doing all the right stuff. Right. Like, we changed our whole lives, but that was the most. Even going through 9, 11, which was hugely traumatic. Losing my dad was more traumatic that that was. I was heartbroken, just like he was heartbroken about my mom. I mean, I was heartbroken about my mom passing, but I think I couldn't really deal with it because he immediately had cancer. So I immediately went into nurse mode instead of mourning. You know what I mean? So I didn't really get to fully mourn my mom. So then when my dad passed, it was like my world was crumbled, you know, so. And a lot of things that I learned about cancer is usually it comes after some type of major, you know, life event or trauma or stress or something. And so I think that was, you know, I was heartbroken, and I think that's what it was. So it wasn't long after, it was actually during COVID that I found out I had cancer.
- [24:13]
Host
Wow.
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Jennifer Reiner
Which that was scary too, because it was like. It was like, well, wait a minute. Because I. I knew my dad didn't want to do chemo radiation, and I was like, okay, I don't really want to do chemo, radiation. But I still want the option if it's right. You know what I mean? Like, I wanted to talk to professionals, but. And then it was during COVID and if you didn't get shots and you didn't do whatever, no one was going to talk to you about anything. Yeah, so. So that's even more crazy.
- [24:42]
Host
It's just complicated things, isn't it?
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Jennifer Reiner
Yeah. So I found a little tiny lump. It was like the size of a pea. And like I said, everybody was pushing, you have to get vaccinated. And I didn't want to get the vaccine. I really didn't want to get the vaccine because I didn't see any proof that it worked. You know, it's not that I'm anti vax, you know? You know, I'm anti vaxxer. I just want to put that out there. I do think. I do think that there should be a little bit of a change in the schedule, but I don't think that they're all like, you know, evil and you should never do them. But Covid was a brand new vaccine and I was not comfortable just going, you know, willy nilly and getting it without any proof that it worked, you know, So I was really hesitant about that. But I did go do it. I cried my whole way there and I cried my whole way back home after getting it because I didn't want to do it it, but I was going to lose my job. I was losing. I started losing my nursing licenses. At the time, I was working at home because I had just, you know, been taking care of my dad. So I was working at home for a bit and my employer said, you know, you have to get the shot. I'm at work at home. Why do I need the shot? You know? But the states were going to take away our nursing licenses for not getting the shots. So I had to get the shot. But I don't know, I don't have any proof or whatever, but it's funny because my little tiny pee tumor was gigantic within three years.
- [26:13]
Host
Wow. So what did you end up doing to take care of that? I mean, I'm assuming you're better now.
- [26:22]
Jennifer Reiner
Yes, I'm better. I don't have cancer anymore.
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Host
Okay, good.
- [26:25]
Jennifer Reiner
Praise God. I do not have cancer anymore. My margins were clear in my surgery. It wasn't in my lymph nodes. But when I first went to the doctor, I knew I had cancer because I had a lump and my skin was a different color. You know, you just know that like in healthcare, you know, But When I went to the doctor, I was like, I'm pretty sure this is what it is. And she was like, well, we don't know unless you do all these tests. And I was like, well, I don't want to do all those tests. Because the one thing I did learn with my dad was, you know, you know, biopsies, the research about biopsies, and then mammograms. And I was like, hold up. But they try to rush you, you know, like, you have to do this right now. This is urgent. I'm like, well, hold on a second. I'm not going to die tomorrow. I have a little time. Let me look into this, you know? And. And they were not happy with me. The doctor was not happy with me. So at the time, I also had some stuff going on with my back. So she. This was a breast surgeon, specific breast surgeon. And she said, well, you probably have it in your back as well. It's already in your lymph nodes. This is just from a physical exam, not like an ultrasound. Nothing else. Just physical exam. I can feel it in your lymph nodes. You have it in your breast. And from your. Your story that you're telling me, it sounds like it's in your spine, too, because I was having, like, some spinal symptoms, and I was like, well, how do we know? Like, what kind of test do we do? And she insisted on a biopsy and insisted on a mammogram. And I said, I'm not going to do either one of those. I'm going to start with something less invasive. And she adamantly refused. I said, well, before you say it's in my spine, can we get, like, a CT scan of my spine? Because that's not really invasive, you know? And she refused to do the CT scan unless I did the mammogram and the. The biopsy. I was like, that's. That's wrong. So I exchanged words with her that I was very disappointed in her behavior, and I thought it was really unprofessional. And I said, you know what? I'll find another doctor. I don't know where, but I'll find another doctor. So I left and I went on this journey. It took me a long time to find another doctor that wouldn't force me to do all those things just to, like, give me options or whatever. And that was really hard. I had a lot of people telling me that I was crazy. Like, why would you not do it? You're so young. You can do chemo and radiation. Because that was her suggestion. Right off the bat, you need to do chemo, radiation, probably need to do a mastectomy. And I was like, well, hold on, I got a little pea sized lump, but can't you just take out the lump? Like, why do we got to do all this other stuff? And there was never a discussion of just taking out the lump. It was just a huge, we're doing all of this stuff right away. And I was like, this is crazy. Like, this. That didn't make sense to me. I was like, wait, hold on. Shouldn't we, like, have more details? Maybe start slow? You know, at that point, I just had my eyes open and was like, no, this is a little crazy. And people told me that I was crazy because, you know, you're young and in, in America, breast cancer is cured so easy and so fast, you know, with all of these things. But then again, like with my dad, I started paying attention to cancer patients at work. I started paying attention to my breast cancer patients, and they were not doing well. They were not doing great. They were doing chemo, radiation, and they were dying and they were awful and they were unhappy and they were having all kinds of complications. And I was like, no, I can't do that. So I just prayed. I mean, not that I'm not saying don't do anything and just pray. I'm just saying, like, for me, I was looking for answers. So I went to God. I mean, that's what I did. I said, I don't know what to do. I'm young. Surely, you know, if I do these things, I probably have good odds. But, you know, what do I do? So I went to God and I just prayed and I prayed and I came across, you know, I watched all the truth about cancer series again, and I came across Chris work with square one. And then in Chris work square one, he talks about healing strong. And so I got involved with healing strong and I just started following the Chris work stuff. So I first started doing, like, his square one coaching program. I paid for the coaching program and I did all the modules and.
- [31:08]
Host
Right.
- [31:09]
Jennifer Reiner
And then after I started doing all those and I got all that down to a science, I started implementing his advanced protocols. So I was doing, you know, the big salad, the juicing, the, you know, the supplements. Then I started doing the advanced protocols. I was doing the soda, the soda products like pemf, therapy water. I bought a sauna, I was doing sauna. I was doing all of these things. And the truth is, I was getting better, but I was getting worse. And that sounds like an Oxymoron. But, like, the cancer was no longer. Like, it wasn't in my back anymore. I wasn't having problems. It wasn't in my axilla anymore. It was just in the breast. But it was getting bigger. It's getting much larger in the breast. And, you know, I just kept going to God, like, what else do I need to do? I mean, I'm doing all the things, you know, and it was hard to do all the things. It's not easy implementing all that stuff. And I just had to spend more time with God. That's what it came down to. The long short of it is it was like that spiritual tap on the shoulder, and I just had to have a relationship with God because I. The final part of my treatment plan was time with God. Honestly. I mean, it was all along, but it was like, intense time with God. So I took. I took my sauna time as my daily devotional with God every day, 45 minutes every day in the sauna. And then, you know, I would talk to him all day long. But that was time where I would go in there and I would cry and I would pray and I would talk to God, just pour out my heart and soul and pray for discernment. I mean, I've been praying for discernment my whole life, but, I mean, this time, like, serious discernment, because I'm. All these different things coming at me, options and what should I do and not do, and all these different protocols that people are doing and. And doctors, and doctors I work with telling me, you know, you're crazy. Like, why would you risk your life? You know, just all of this, you know, different information from all these directions. And. And in my sauna, I got my answers, and they were from God. And, you know, I. I never wanted to have surgery. I tried to avoid the surgery at all cost. I did all of the things to try to avoid surgery to try to shrink the tumor. But like I said, it was. Every part of my body was healed, but it was in the breast, and it was getting bigger. And so I just got on my face and I prayed and I talked to God. And, you know, I never thought I could hear God talking to me or like. Like, I never thought I could feel an answer from God, but I finally was able to feel an answer. I don't know if that makes sense. Like, I don't hear a voice talking to me. I don't, you know, but I could feel an answer when I pray. Even now, when I pray. Like now I don't I don't make decisions like I used to make decisions, you know? Now if I want to do something, the first thing I do is I go to pray and I ask God. And now I can physically feel what I think he's telling me. Does that make sense?
- [34:28]
Host
Yeah.
- [34:29]
Jennifer Reiner
People think that I'm crazy, but.
- [34:31]
Host
Yeah, you probably are crazy.
- [34:32]
Jennifer Reiner
Love God.
- [34:35]
Host
I think you're telling us that God knows stuff.
- [34:39]
Jennifer Reiner
Yes, but we need to go to God is. Well, for me, I needed to go to God. I really, you know, I don't look at the cancer as. It was this horrible thing in my life. It was the greatest blessing of my life, which is the craziest thing to say. Right. Greatest blessing, because I never had this relationship that I have now with my heavenly Father. I was. You know, I went to church. I always was a Christian, but I was always, like, lukewarm, you know what I mean? Like, I wasn't. I wasn't living the. Living the life, you know, I was. I was sinful. I had lots of sin in my life. And it was during that. That journey where I was, like, truly repenting for my sins, if that makes sense, you know? And I said, you know, if I've got to put my boobs on the altar, God, then I'm gonna put my boobs on the. I know that sounds wacky, but. But that's where I was, was like, is that what I need to do? Like, you know, I'm a new woman at this point. And so I knew I needed to have surgery, and so I prayed on a surgeon. And I called up, there's a big health institution here, which was not the one that I had gone to with the first lady. I called up this other institution, and I said, I'm looking for a breast cancer surgeon, but this is what I want. And I was very specific. I said, I want a woman, or man, whoever. I want a person who is going to respect my wishes, who is going to do what I ask them to do, not what they demand that I do. Like, I really need them to appreciate my input in this and do as little or as much as I want. You know, if I want to do it all, I want someone who's willing to do that. If I don't want to do any, then I want someone who's going to respect that. And they said, well, we'll have a meeting and we'll call you back. And there was, like, several days, and they called me back and they had a recommendation for me. And she was amazing, and she did exactly that. I went in to see her, I told her everything. She didn't argue with me. She didn't say, well, I would love to like the snarky first one. Well, I want to see the research that you're reading. I was like, wow, I'd love to share it with you. She didn't say anything. She said, I'll do as much or as little as you want. It's your body and it's your decision, you know. And she asked me what were my goals. And I told her, you know, I have a very young son. He doesn't have any family, but me, I have to live. Like, I have to live long enough to take care of him.
- [37:05]
Host
Right.
- [37:06]
Jennifer Reiner
She's like, well, you need bigger goals than that. So, I mean, she was. She was a really wonderful lady. So she did the surgery and she even was surprised. She said, before the surgery, I'm going to have to tell you, we recommend chemo, radiation. That's always what we recommend after. And then we always recommend the estrogen blockers if it's an estrogen positive cancer, blah, blah, blah, the whole spiel. And then afterwards, she said, your margins are clear. I would recommend, because I have to, that you talk with the medical oncologist and just hear what they have to say. But I didn't have to do it, you know.
- [37:47]
Host
Right.
- [37:48]
Jennifer Reiner
So, yeah, yeah.
- [37:49]
Host
I mean, of course their hands are tied. They have to, you know, do the recommendations. But to find one that will go with your wishes, that's a. It's kind of a rare.
- [37:59]
Jennifer Reiner
That was huge.
- [38:00]
Host
Yeah.
- [38:00]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah. And I prayed for her. The whole time, I prayed for her. And I'm telling you, God was involved the whole way because, you know, even. Even up to that point, she was like, the tumor's so big, we'll probably have to put a vacuum on your chest. Like a wound back. And I was like, what a wound? Like, I freaked out. I free. I cried and prayed about the wound back, and then, you know, she didn't have to do it. And it was such an emotional experience. And I think everyone around me saw this emotional experience. Like, I cried the whole way down the hall to the surgery, and I prayed out loud and heard me. And as soon as they woke me up and told me there was no vacuum, I cried and prayed right there in front of everyone. So it was like, you know, just happy prayers. Like, thank you, God, for listening, you know, answering my prayers and. Yeah.
- [38:54]
Host
Wow, that's a great story. I like that one.
- [38:58]
Jennifer Reiner
That's good. It's. It's all About. I mean, from where I'm taking from it now. So I'm healthy. I don't have cancer, but I have the best relationship with my heavenly father than I've ever had. And I wasn't in church. I actually stepped away from church. I didn't go to church, like, like, for months. You know, I was just with God. No influence from anyone else, just God and the Bible. And I read the Bible every day to you, you know, like.
- [39:24]
Host
Right.
- [39:25]
Jennifer Reiner
And, you know, had all these, like, new things that I learned from the same that I've read before that I, like, didn't understand. You know, like, it's a living word. Right. So, like, I just got all this new insight and knowledge. All of a sud. And it was. It was so. It was life changing. I mean, it really was.
- [39:43]
Host
Yeah. And now you're a group leader, right?
- [39:46]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah. So our group is on a break. We were. We had a really large group, and I think it became really stressful because it got so big. And one of the things we're trying to do now in our healing journey is not be stressed. So. So, you know, after the cancer is gone, it's like, what do you do now? Now we try to live a healthy life. Three of the things that caused the cancers. Right. So I think, personally, I would rather, I think, do an in person right next time. So I think when I restart the group, it'll be like, local in person, because I think we just get better connection that way.
- [40:27]
Host
Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's. Mine's totally in person. I can't stand Zoom myself, even though. So it's, you know, it's been a godsend during COVID especially, but still just. It drives me crazy.
- [40:43]
Jennifer Reiner
So I think the problem with Zoom for us was, like, the group got so big that it was really just doing like, a lecture, which is not really what people need. You can watch lectures or get the relationships. Yeah, right. We need those relationships and those bonds with each other. And I think that that's what started going away. And so people were not as happy with it, you know, So I think if I start back, it'll be in person, more intimate, and, you know, you can really support each other in person, you know, Is that something I needed? Like, I never juiced in my life. I needed to learn everything from scratch. Like, how do you cut these carrots? How do you get them in the juicer? Like, you know, stuff like that. And that's the practical stuff that I think we need to learn, you know, hands on in person.
- [41:29]
Host
Wow. Well, Jennifer, that's a great story. And I know the fact that you were involved with the 911 things. I'm sure you were saying before that. Sure. That had something to do with the cancer down the road because there's so many people that were there and that situation where they developed cancer and so many, so many stories where people passed away from that, from that time.
- [41:51]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, most of the people that I worked with passed away from cancer. Like my partners, you know, the ones who didn't die in the actual thing. Friends, you know. Yeah, a lot of them have passed away from. I think the ones that I knew and were close to at that time have passed away from cancer. So I actually just filed with the victims thing for the World Trade center health plan because they, they. I have an attorney that thinks that it was from. Yeah, 9 11, you know, the cancer. Because I have, I had genetic testing, so I did the little swabby thing that they make you do. And I have no genes for breast cancer. I have no family that has breast cancer. Like zero women in the family on either side with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, any of those cancers. So it's really odd that I'm so young and got breast cancer, you know.
- [42:41]
Host
Yeah. Well, good. Well, I hope that goes well. And how's your son doing?
- [42:48]
Jennifer Reiner
He's great. He. He is an amazing kid. He's 13 and he could tell you how to juice, how to grow stuff. He never knew any of that either. He would help me, you know, wash the veggies and stuff. So he's a great kid. I'm. I'm truly blessed. I'm a single mom, so it's just him and I, so it was hard for him, you know, at first to hear what's going on, but he was encouraged, you know, and he would pray with me. We would spend lots of time, you know, just, you know, just tell him we have to believe that God is going to make this happen, you know, so.
- [43:26]
Host
Yeah, and that's, of course, that speaks volumes to him to see his mom figure things out and be a fighter and overcome this. And so. Yeah, that's excellent.
- [43:36]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, so it's funny because he, he did. I did bring him to church one day. I forgot why, but we went to church one day. I think they were having an event or something. So we went and he went to his little boys group and the teacher came to me later on and was like. He said the most amazing prayer I've ever heard a child say. Like, like it blew my mind. And it just, you know, it just made my heart melt because it. He's obviously listening and learning. Right. You know, so I want him to have that too.
- [44:06]
Host
Yeah.
- [44:07]
Jennifer Reiner
You know.
- [44:07]
Host
Well, Jennifer, it was, it was great to meet you. And your, your story is fantastic. I like, I like happy endings. They're always better.
- [44:15]
Jennifer Reiner
Me too. Yes. Yeah.
- [44:17]
Host
How can people get a hold of you if they want to find out more about your story or do you not want to get a hold of you?
- [44:23]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah, no, they could call me or.
- [44:26]
Host
Is emailing better?
- [44:27]
Jennifer Reiner
Or, you know, email is good too. They could email me in the Healing Strong email.
- [44:32]
Host
And what is that?
- [44:33]
Jennifer Reiner
I don't remember what it is. It's HS Central.
- [44:38]
Host
Okay.
- [44:39]
Jennifer Reiner
Right. HealingStrong Central. NC.
- [44:43]
Host
Okay.
- [44:43]
Jennifer Reiner
NC gmail.com. that's it. So it's healingstrong.centralncmail.com okay. Oh, the other good thing is I also don't have a thyroid condition anymore. So all those things also fixed my thyroid.
- [44:56]
Host
Wow.
- [44:57]
Jennifer Reiner
Back to the doctor. And I said, I need a refill on my thyroid medicine, so. Well, we haven't done your labs. Let's check your labs. And she my exam and she's like, your thyroid's fine. What do you mean? So fix my thyroid in the process too, which is amazing.
- [45:12]
Host
Wow, that's excellent. A little, little side benefit there.
- [45:15]
Jennifer Reiner
Yeah.
- [45:17]
Host
All right. Well, Jennifer, thank you so much for sharing your story.
- [45:21]
Jennifer Reiner
Oh, thanks for wanting to hear it.
- [45:23]
Jim Mann
You've been listening to the I Am Healing Strong podcast, a part of the Healing Strong organization. We hope you found encouragement in this episode as well as the confidence to take control of your healing journey, knowing that God will guide you on this path. Healing Strong is a non profit organization whose mission is to connect, support and educate individuals facing cancer and other diseases through strategies that help to rebuild the body, renew the soul, and refresh the spirit. It costs nothing to be a part of a local or online group. You can do that by going to our website@healingstrong.org and finding a group near you or an online group or start your own. Your choice. While you're there, take a look around at all the free resources. Though the resources and groups are free, we encourage you to join our membership program at 25 or $75 a month. This helps us to be able to reach more people with hope and encouragement. And that also comes with some extra perks as well. So check it out. If you enjoyed this podcast, please give us a five star rating, leave an encouraging comment and help us spread the word. We'll see you next week with another story on the I am healing strong.