In 2007, I ended up in the emergency room and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It rocked my world! I spent four days in the ICU, and my kidneys were shutting down. I was in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis and septic shock after contracting a flu virus. My doctor told me, “Not many people are able to recover from this. I suggest you get a will in place immediately.” WHAT?? How did this happen?? I was blindsided, I was scared and it seemed to happen overnight…. But did it?

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No, but I do believe everything happens for a reason…

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That incident altered my life forever. My body systems were so exhausted that I spent a year barely able to get off the couch. I was so discouraged! It all led to anxiety, depression, nightmares and I could no longer pursue my career path. Just washing my hair would bring me to tears. I was also suffering with digestive issues that led to a second autoimmune disease in my intestinal lining causing a great amount of pain. I was frequently sick with respiratory infections, and kidney infections. Add a childhood neck and spine injury with degeneration in several discs, you could say I was a physical wreck!!

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Even with EIGHT insulin injections daily, my blood sugar was completely unmanageable and I was told dialysis was in my future. I fought it, but I needed an insulin pump to stabilize my blood sugar. In the end, it proved effective. Type 1 diabetes is not reversible or curable because the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin. After seeing multiple specialists, I found plenty of insulin related support but not for an overall change in my health. Finally, I found an amazing Nutritional Therapist who ran several tests discovering that my body was full of toxic chemicals, pesticides, lead, yeast, parasites, and many other harmful pathogens. He said he had never tested anyone that had as many pesticides in their body as I did! He asked if I had ever been subjected to aerial sprayed crops (crop dusting). Welp, I grew up the daughter of an apple orchardist and was exposed to that and MANY other chemicals and pesticides most of my life!! He also discovered I had multiple food allergies and the list of what I could eat was much shorter than what I could not eat. All those things attributed to my pancreas shutting down and my adrenal glands giving up the ghost. But, after spending a fortune on doctors and naturopaths trying to “fix” my issues - I finally had the right information, a solid plan and clear direction for my journey to health. It was up to me to make some serious lifestyle changes. No one else was responsible, it was all on ME. AND, it was not going to be easy.

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I still had young kids to raise, one in 3rd grade and one in 2nd grade. We had a lot medical debt and my inability to work hit us hard financially. My husband, my children, my closest friends, and my strong faith in God kept me pressing forward.

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Let me tell you, research is my JAM! And, with lots of it, I discovered that sometimes a flu virus can attack the most compromised, or weakest organ. Who knew?! The consensus was that having had gestational diabetes with my third child, partnered with unhealthy lifestyle choices, had taken their toll on my body’s immune system. So, my pancreas just up and called it quits!

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I took authority over my health and controlled what I could; our home environment and my eating habits. I eliminated the toxic chemicals, pesticides, and preservatives I was ingesting, inhaling, or putting on my skin and started a radical diet of only organic, whole, raw foods. I didn’t eat anything processed, pre-packaged or prepared, had no grains for almost two years and made bone broth weekly to heal the lining of my gut. Eating at a restaurant was a very rare event. It was a full-time job managing my health and I was easily overwhelmed with the simplest tasks. Prayer, meditating on God’s word, essential oil baths, exercise, and aromatherapy were all added to my daily routine. My inner peace was a priority. Distancing myself from people, including family or friends that caused pain or stress, and setting clear boundaries was all vital. I had a tenacious desire to be healed and it took nine years of hard work and change! Years of bad choices take time to recover from, but it can be done! Natural, organic products and essential oils are not magic potions with special powers. They are amazing scientific compounds taken from plants, trees, flowers, fruits, and grasses that were put on this earth to help us.

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When I started making my own products and incorporated the necessary lifestyle changes, my health began to improve. I lost weight, my overall skin appearance changed, my attitude and demeanor changed from being down, negative and depressed to being excited about life. Most importantly my insulin need was drastically reduced.

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One Christmas I gave some of the products I had been making for myself, as gifts. Everyone loved them! Some even wanted to order more. I was like wait, what? Before long I had too many orders to ignore what was happening - my small home-based business, “Debra's Raw Body Goods” was born! I had no idea that my own healing and love of essential oils would land me here. Creating pure natural goods without chemicals, pesticides or preservatives that help others is my passion!

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Thank you for allowing me to share my journey!! I’d love to help you on yours! Together, focusing on your WELLNESS not your sickness or disease, we can tap into the freedom you need to transform your own health. I do not prescribe or treat illness as I am not a healthcare professional. I’m simply motivated by a deep empathy and compassion for those struggling with their health because of what I’ve been through. I make no claims that any of my products will help you, but you’re welcome to try them and discover for yourself!