As I would start on my way to somewhere, anywhere there were times that I would get so weak and sick that I had to turn back and come home. Going shopping, to church, for a drive was next to impossible. It was found that I had environmental allergies. I was reacting to scents, dust, grass, weeds, trees, and foods.

I was under attack inside my own body and felt very much not in control. There was no mask to hold back the attack. In the spring of ’99 I had to work from home; by the end of June, we were certain I would not be going back to work. I was very much confined to the house and very sick. I lost weight and felt depressed. Allergy shots that I started in April were not to have any effect until possibly the spring of 2000. With every day I was getting worse very quickly.

When you hit rock bottom and conventional medicine doesn’t work anymore; even though you say you’ll try anything, unconventional medicine like N.A.E.T. is also very scary. I thank God that I had a wife who hadn’t given up the fight, because at this point I think I was too weak to make any decisions.

We heard of Forever Healthy. What did we have to lose? After all nothing was working. I would give it a try (at least for my family).

I use the words “we” and “us” often because this is truly a family illness. Nothing I have been through affects a family’s quality of life like environmental illness.

I went for my assessment at Forever Healthy at the end of July ’99. I remember thinking: “My God this allergy list is longer than the one that I previously had. I’ll never get through this…” One thing that I felt though, when Debbie explained what was happening to my body, what was NAET and what she and the clinic could do for me was a sense of confidence and caring on her part.

I started the treatments immediately. We decided that we would attack this as hard as it had attacked me. I would do as many treatments a week as I could. Being a teacher, I wanted to be ready for work in September.

Elaine and Debbie started treating me. Vicki and Bernice keeping us informed of what to do to not blow the treatments. After the basic treatments, I could feel a difference. I followed everything and did everything these people suggested to the letter. I was so scared and wanted so much for it to work.

There are the treatments but then there is the staff at Forever Healthy. They are inviting and caring. They are with you all the way. They take the time to listen, to know you. It is all those things and the enthusiasm they show in your progress, however slight you think it is, that picks you back up and makes you rush another yard. Then you start believing in yourself again.

Since August, I have hardly missed any days of work due to allergies. For the first time in years, I went from September past March break without a cold, sore throat or ear infections. I have not had to wear my black mask since October, or needed to take Benadryl. Although there are still some scents to avoid, I can attend meetings for work. Blanche and I can go out for dinner; we can go shopping or simply go for a drive. We can enjoy Sunday dinner with our children and grandchildren. We can enjoy the simple things.

A mere “Thank You” can’t express the gratitude we feel. Elaine, Vicki, Debbie and Bernice you do make a difference! Thank you for giving me all these extra days; at one point not so long ago, I really felt that they were numbered.

Regis V.