As his meds were reduced, and his micronutrient deficiencies were addressed through good food and customized supplementation, his symptoms began to reverse. He became continent, started driving again, could use his hands. Upon a new MRI, there were no active lesions, but we learned that he experienced a left frontal lobe stroke during his 3 month stay at the hospital. This is why he had such an increased decline. We can only assume it was from the medication as he had no issues with high blood pressure, arterial health or high cholesterol. As I reviewed his blood chemistry from his initial admit to the VA, I discovered he had low blood sugar, dehydration and excess cannibinoids. I also had his B12 numbers ordered after his lengthy stay. After 3 months of inpatient care, he was at 500 with his B12 levels. I can only assume it was much lower upon admit with excess caffeine intake, little food and over training. B12 below 600 can cause mental health imbalances, brain lesions and neurological decline. Low/high blood sugar and dehydration can also cause mental health imbalances. Although, he had 6 active lesions, I believe Jon needed his nutrient deficiencies addressed, IV fluid, rest and foods to stabilize blood sugar versus steroids and excess psychiatric drugs. This is why the meds weren't working. It was the wrong course of action. He was diagnosed with MS, but that didn't mean the MS was causing the decline.

The MS just made him more susceptible.

Jon, stabilized for 4 years. In that time, life changed and brought him and I together as a couple. We were able to travel to Iceland, take a couple cruises and go on multiple road trips together after previously being told he could not recover. In March of 2020, we decided to get married and we purchased a 10 acre property to continue his healing and to offer courses to help other professionals learn how to reduce pain, inflammation and chronic disease. Jon, was outside shining the cars, rolling around a lot in the sun and enjoying the weather. He had not been overheating like he used to with MS, so we didn't realize he was doing too much again. He started cramping.

I had some pharmaceutical grade CBD oil that was supposedly "safe", he began taking some orally to help reduce the cramping. He assumed the cramping was just part of the MS. As he took more CBD oil, he began to change. He became hateful towards me after me being considered his angel and he became obsessed with wanting to buy multiple cars. I knew something was wrong, but could not dig deeper, because his psyche had turned him against me now that I was the wife versus the health coach. I took him to the VA to get a new MRI. They admitted him, but said he was fine. MRI was clean, but I told them he was not stable. He was so high functioning they thought I was just the angry wife that was upset that he was buying cars. They sent him home, and then he had a night where he went into a rage. I sadly had to have him escorted to the VA. I asked them to reassess. It's a very long story, but this was during the COVID lockdowns, so I couldn't visit him inside. I could meet him outside and talk with his nurses sporadically by phone, but trusted in them to keep him safe. They did not have beds open in his specialty unit SCI (spinal cord injury), and they did not have beds in the psychiatric unit. So he was left to order his own food, had access to his phone, the bedside computer and his credit cards. He purchased a $60,000 Escalade from his hospital bed, put $10,000 down on his credit card and signed a loan for $1000 per month for 72 months, committed to a $90,000 mustang on Ebay and called several other dealers. It took everything I had in me to get the physicians to realize he sounded good, but he was having a manic episode. They medicated him with lithium again and within 2 weeks, sent him home. They did not tell me he could no longer transfer in and out of a car, in and out of bed or on to a toilet. They sent him home fully disabled. When we got home, it took him over an hour to crawl 8 ft into the house. He got angry with me and I knew something was still not right. I had a family member come help get him in to bed. I told him if he didn't feel better in the morning, I would have to get him back to the VA for PT. That morning, he could not transfer and we had nothing at home to care for him. I called 911. The fire department came and helped pick him up. The ambulance took him back to the VA. They promised they would use their state of the art PT center to get his strength back. They didn't tell me they had been using a hoyer lift during his 2 week stay (he never needed that before).

After we got him into SCI, they said, "Oh he has to quarantine for 14 days, no PT." Even though he had 4 negative COVID tests while admitted. I then found out after he waited 9 days, that their inpatient PT was not open. They had no intent of training him at an advanced level, just giving him bedside PT which was too rudimentary for what he needed. During this time, I was able to get the car purchases reversed, keep his wallet and protect him from destroying his credit or creating financial suicide.

At this point, I asked them to just get him home with condom catheters and a bedside commode and that I would get him better at home. He became more amicable with me while he was hospitalized and learned I was not out to get him. When I got him home, he could no longer roll, sit up, dress himself... NOTHING!!! The meds had destroyed his central nervous system. I also didn't realize he had to order his own food from his bedside and was not ordering meals correctly due to his mental health issues and not understanding the system. The low caloric intake and meds weakened him to a point that it looked like he may not make it. They never sent the items I needed, but they did drop off a hospital bed and a hoyer lift as if I was going to keep him in bed and use a lift from this point forward at 46 years old. I ordered supplies and took care of him in the bed, giving him corrective exercise and round the clock care.

I consulted with an outpatient, non VA psychiatrist and I worked to lower his meds again at home, while ensuring specific meals set on a schedule. He was put through the ringer. He got COVID from one of my clients that came to the house for help during the illness. He experienced neuroleptic malignant syndrome from his meds, causing his kidneys to go into distress, high blood pressure, elevated pulse, fever and low O2. It was insane, but we got through it all at home (not recommended, but a point we felt driven to). I discovered that his cramping was coming from low sodium and that although we use sea salt at every meal, he needed more due to his exposure to the sun and his body's energy needs. The low sodium had caused a sodium induced mania and when he kept using CBD oil to heal the cramping, he created a cannabis induced psychosis. So we learned that low sodium, cannabis, low blood sugar, low caloric intake, gluten and caffeine....are TOXIC for him. Which of course these can be deadly for many, but what looked to be minor imbalances for him, were life threatening. He is even highly sensitive to some dairy products.

I was able to get him into Brooks Rehab Facility in Jacksonville for a 21 day stay. They allowed me to stay onsite and we worked together to help him get stronger. He was able to gain his transfer ability back to get in and out of the car and into the shower etc. This made it safer to keep him at home and helped prevent a long term care facility. Now as we see how his body works, it is one year later. He has ZERO new/enhancing MS activity, is on no medications and is doing amazing.

He can dress himself, transfer, feed himself and is working on his core for standing and future walking. We have had the opportunity to take an 8,000 mile road trip together, seeing so many amazing sites.

So many people asked me if it was worth it to try to keep him at home. To try harder. I told them when he is Jonathan, he is caring, giving, polite, and respectful with such a big heart. I also felt as if the medical community had failed him over the years, leading him to believe the only option was meds and a wheelchair. He was not given all of the options and had no way of truly learning everything available to him while juggling life. Pieces were always left out of the puzzle. Even meeting with me 2 times per month for 2 years as a client, he only had 24-48 hours of total instruction/learning time utilizing 30-60 mins sessions. I knew I could not give up on him unless he was offered true comprehensive care between PT, OT, medical monitoring, holistic health care and nutrition. If a customized, thorough approach was offered and he still could not recover, then it was time to allow him to be placed long term into a facility that could keep him safe.

I am beyond grateful for what I have learned through this experience. Navigating the medical system and the human mind, body and spirit has been profound. Understanding unconditional love and patience has been the greatest gift.

The support from friends, clients and family who helped with food, words of wisdom, yard work, wiping away my tears....were all part of our success. When I was ready to give up, I was called to attend the River church in Tampa, the Stand event and Grace Family Church off Van Dyke. The exact message I needed to hear in each moment was presented in divine timing.

The most ironic thing is, the PT that helped evaluate him last year to get us into Brooks Rehab, was called back out to the house to do a new eval to help with getting him back to walking. This PT could not believe it was the same person. He was so excited as to what Jonathan was able to come back from. His social worker at the VA thought Jon lost his mind when she spoke with him on the phone and learned of all the daily activities he could now do on his own.

I share this with all of you in hopes of helping you or a loved one through various challenges you may have. To offer you various tools or ideas as to where the root cause may be lurking. The human body, mind and spirit are rather amazing if we utilize our free will to look for the breakdowns in our environment and daily choices. As we address stressors that may be weakening our body, we can see the body get closer to homeostasis, often times coming back better than before.

Please see the links below for additional support. I understand we may face additional challenges, but I am oh so grateful for the journey. Thank you for those who continue to offer prayers and positive energy. Thank you to those who are learning how to offer great care and healing to others. We are thankful for all of it.

Symptoms of low vitamin: B6, Folate, B12