This campaign is now CLOSED. After recently having several very rough months, I am now stable again. Due to having been notified that somebody may be collecting money in my name, I am informing you that this campaign is closed and any funds being collected are not being donated on behalf of this account. Funding for this account was only being accepted through this website.
I Am the Warrior Queen
Dear family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and even strangers whose lives I have yet to touch,
I am asking you to help me fight cancer. I hope you will find it in your hearts to give generously.
I am reaching out to you in strength and truth, stripping away all the safeguards we place in our lives to protect ourselves from prying eyes that may or may not be well- meaning. I am reaching out to you seeking help, your help, which I now desperately need., as I am fighting cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia to be specific.
I have been fighting cancer for several years now, but over the Christmas Holidays, I had a life threatening episode that gave me an additional, more dangerous diagnosis. That diagnosis is warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In short, it means that my body destroys its own red blood cells under certain conditions, mostly any type of stress. I am asking you to help me with finances to support my fight, as this part has taken its toll to get this far. I am asking you to give only what you comfortably can in these extremely difficult times, what your heart and situation place upon you to give freely. If you are in a situation where you have nothing financial to give or do not feel called to give money, then please, send love, prayers and positive energy (including humor) for successfully winning this battle. All jokes, even super bad ones are welcome, because laughter is one of the very best medicines and jokes are usually free. Stress kills people quicker than cancer does, so by all means, keep the laughs coming…no drama, no pity, no sad eyes or concerned frowns, just smiles, jokes, a lot of love and encouragement, and as much or as little money as you see fit to give.
I will share this part of my journey with 100% transparency, in the hope that this part of my story will contribute to so many others of you out there also fighting battles with illness or conditions in life holding you back. I think pf all of you as warriors, artists of Life, and I will use my story to encourage you in your battles by letting you look through the window of my life to see who you are as heroes and heroines in your world. Finally, your aid will help me continue to be me, to be able to pay it forward at levels not currently available. Battling for your life does take tremendous energy and resources. I will continue to see a very limited number of patients, whenI am able (I was recently caught seeing telemedicine patients from my own hospital bed). But I am technically unemployed for now and qualify as fully disabled. I will be shifting back into the world of communications such as public speaking, broadcast media, and writing. This shift is an expansion of my purpose to increase my leverage for helping people while protecting my physical well-being as I continue to fight this battle in a post-Covid world. . I AM the Warrior Queen with so very much more to give, and life always finds a way. I promise to continue to believe that I, WE, can change the world for the better. To address some possible concerns, I want to note some assumptions which have been made about me. Some have said “Well, she’s a doctor. She should have plenty of money.” However, the costs of medical practice can be high, especially when setting up a practice to serve those having trouble finding/affording good integrative health care or if when innovating to shift the existing culture of health care, which is what I have done. I’ve often put others’ needs first, including financial. I have been the “Robinhood of Medicine,” caring for people with money, so I could fund providing to those less fortunate. I have always willingly, freely, and lovingly paid it forward, walking in Faith, that should need ever arise, I would have whatever I need, knowing: “I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me.” The current battle is not changing this truth for me. It may be teaching me that I have to take better care of myself to fulfill my purpose. Please help me take care of myself at the level I now require.
What will I do with your hard- earned money? I will fight to LIVE! I HAVE seen miracles, so I steadfastly BELIEVE for miraculous healing, which by definition is beyond our human understanding. I will practice what I preach, using the funds to buy the cancer-fighting healing foods that I need, supplements, integrative and traditional medications, to pay for medical expenses that are not covered by insurance. I will buy equipment or tools needed to support, sustain, and strengthen my body and my mind throughout this battle. I will share this journey for all who could benefit from it. I will be a responsible citizen and pay my bills. I also commit to doing whatever I can, whenever I can, to add to my own financial support to compliment your contributions towards surviving, healing, thriving. I will set this up as an open crowd funding page without a finite goal request, because I know my expenses will be great, my needs may be many, and the timeline is unknown. Any monies left in the fund at the end of this battle will be used to set up a permanent endowment to continue to pay it forward to others who will need help in their own battles. There. Now you have the first share of my world, my reality, the truths within which I live. Our journey together begins. Thank you for all your loving support, kindness and generosity. Thank you for believing in me. And remember, SEND JOKES!!!
Peace, Blessings. Health, and Longevity, Cheryl BryantBruce, M.D., The Warrior Queen
02/22/2021
Greetings friends, family, and supporters!
Thank you for all of the support being shown. Progress has been slow, but steady. I grow stronger daily. The battle is ongoing. It appears that the hemolytic anemia (autoimmune breakdown of my red blood cells) is going to be an ongoing risk that can be triggered by things like stress, lack of sleep or even minor illnesses. As with the first event, these events will each have the potential to be life-threatening. It feels kind of like having a guillotine hanging over your neck suspended by a frayed rope. You are not sure if and when it will drop. That being said, I am doing everything I can to repair that frayed rope! It is an interesting example of the counterbalanced balance for an abundant life on which my business principles are built as a physician. While I wish to rush headlong forward, because I have so many projects and gifts that I wish to share with you all, it is necessary that I do focus on some of the other spokes of my umbrella right now, including it’s spiritual handle. I am forced not to push my body faster than it is ready to go, because the risk of a life-threatening set-back is a real and present danger. I am forced to re-prioritize certain things in my life, but one absolute priority remains the same; everyday, I am determined to live each day to the fullest of my abilities, accepting it with gratitude as the gift that it is. It does not matter what the day brings. It is a gift and I will accept it with utmost appreciation.
I am able to get outside more now. When I am feeling less strong, I go out onto the little deck outside my window and sit and enjoy the warm sun. On my stronger days, a few days before the next immunotherapy infusion, I am now getting downstairs to take very short walks on the deck. I am enjoying seeing the Paper Whites blooming cheerily in the garden. I enjoy watching sweet Rosie and Sandy romping through the garden. Although most of my writing is being done inside at this time, as the weather warms, I will begin carrying the laptop downstairs and writing in the garden. The songs of nature that I hear down there are both uplifting and inspiring. Right now, they remind me of renewal. I will harness that energy to restore myself, so that I may continue to share with you. As much as I long to pull down my pointe shoes, I am reminded by my body that I am doing well just to work my feet and strengthen my calves with a few small foot and ankle flexion/extension exercises, which I now can enjoy doing outside. Although memory calls me to do long country walks in the fresh morning air, I accept the reality that these short ventures downstairs to the front garden will have to suffice for the short-term goals. The important thing is to always be in process.
One of the challenges that I have been facing is with my diet. While I am diligently endeavoring to consume a variety of different types of mushrooms, known to contain nutrients that help fight cancer, I have found supplies limited in my area. As a solution, I will be purchasing the supplies to begin a mini mushroom farm in my kitchen. I will also begin using these often interesting and unusual appearing plants as decorative accents in place of non-edible house plants. Where there is a will, there is always a way. I will keep you posted on my success. I am going to begin with oyster, maiitake, shitake and Forest Namenko mushrooms. I am planting garlic too, because I am consuming huge quantities of it. I love growing things. It is both healthy and therapeutic. Growing plants infuse lots of life-enhancing, healing energy into our indoor environments, purifying the air.
I will sign off for the moment…time to rest…
#iamthewarriorqueen
04/08/2021
Sometimes I have to remind myself how important the baby steps really are, reminding myself to celebrate them every day. Today I am celebrating finally having built back up to doing two sets of eight releves, eleves, and plies (that is toe lifts and turned out squats for all of the non-dancers). Exhausting! O.K., I won’t be back to my new Gaynor Minden pointe shoes any time soon, but I am headed in the right direction. Since dance is my endorphin producing passion, being unable to use it to pull me through this leg of my cancer battle has been a bit of a challenge, but I’m working my way back to the dance floor and optimized health. Each movement I reclaim is a win! Each little win builds towards the bigger win. I do intend to win this war! I am the Warrior Queen!
#iamthewarriorqueen #thecelebritydoc #drcherylmd #cherylbryantbrucemd #tep_transcendyourlimits #cancer #americancancersociety #leukemia #gaynorminden #gaynormindens #health #healthandwellness #dance #dancer #dancerlife #dancerslife #pointeshoes #win #celebrate #babysteps
04/12/2021
When every single day is spent in gratitude, the same parts of the brain are activated so that one perceives oneself as successful and happy. Such brain activity positively influences a decrease in inflammation in the body and increases its healing capacity. I am trying to live every moment with a spirit of gratitude and love. #cherylbryantbrucemd #drcherylmd #thecelebritydoc #iamthewarriorqueen #tep_transcendyourlimits #theempowermentproject #cancer #cancerjourneys #cancerjourney #gratitude #mindfulness #healing #selfcare #mentalhealth #health #wellness #love #speaker #speakerlife #speakyourtruth
April 30, 2021
One of the poignant things about life-threatening illnesses is that they force you to slow down and contemplate the value of your life and the world around you. I find profound moments of contemplation in the observance of the beauty of a sunset. At these times my soul feels aligned and calm. I know that I am right where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. In these moments I find great inspiration. I haven’t been online a lot lately, because I have had my head down, focused on creative activity. I have been using the time to create programs and systems that will give generously to the world, while helping to sustain me financially. Although there is frustration in finding myself in this situation, battling against cancer, struggling with my finances, facing uncertainty in my future(although certainty in our future is an illusion in the first place), I do recognize that this is an opportunity for infinite growth and infinite sharing. I am building programs, making connections, and educating myself-lots of educating myself, in order that I can have more to share with you and can share it most effectively. It is stressful, but it is good stress. I am excited about the things that I am learning and doing. I am aligned with my purpose. Thank you all for your generous support in helping me be present to this growth journey, instead of stuck in my head worrying about my financial survival. Your generosity will allow me to continue to give to the world in a meaningful way. Your generosity allows me to be present in the moment and appreciative of the experience that I am having, even in times of difficulty or pain.
HAPPY MAY DAY!
May 1, 2021
Did you know that mushrooms are more genetically similar to us than they are to plants? Did you know that mushrooms are the only non-animal source of Vitamin D? Yes, one of the things I am becoming since embarking on this cancer journey is a budding mycologist (pun intended) and a mycological horticulturist! What that means is I am learning all about mushrooms, including their health benefits and their important role in the existence of all life. Since the variety of mushrooms that I can purchase in my area is limited, I am learning to grow my own. Some examples of the ones that I am growing are pictured above.
Mushrooms have become an integral part of my diet, as part of my cancer fighting regimen. Oyster mushrooms, particularly ones that have been grown in the sun to convert Vit D, are noted to have extreme benefits in fighting cancer and as a good source of vitamin D. They are increasingly being studied for their numerous health benefits even in those who are not fighting cancer. As a matter of fact, they are increasingly being studied for their importance to the mere existence of every living creature.
Now those of you who have a little more knowledge of both cancer and fungi may be saying, “Wait a minute! Mushrooms are in the fungus family and cancer patients are susceptible to fungal infections.” While this is true, cancer patients, by virtue of our immunocompromised nature, are more susceptible to infections by many different types of fungi, the spores of mushrooms do not infect humans. We do not grow fungus in our lungs from mushroom spores. Inhaled spores will not cause a lung infection. They may however cause severe allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to them. In that case, they may need to be grown outside, with precautions being taken to wear a mask while harvesting them, until they have been rinsed free of spores, which should initially be done outside, if one is very sensitive to the spores. Sensitivity to the mushroom spores is not a reason not to eat mushrooms, but may be a good reason to get a food allergy panel to make sure that there is no underlying allergy to mushrooms themselves.
While mushrooms can trigger allergic reactions in some people, an article in the January 2015 International Journal of Microbiology delineates the numerous immunological and anti-tumor benefits that mushrooms have, identifying a naturally occurring complex sugar B-glucan as a key component in conferring such protection. If you would like to learn more about the health benefits of mushrooms, just ask me!
“Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.” -Hippocrates
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