Sisterhood Spotlight: Donna Recovers from Illness and Injury on the Raw Food Diet

It happens often that we receive letters from our community thanking us for the work we do. Sometimes it’s just friendly appreciation for the little things, and other times we receive letters from people insisting that we’ve changed their lives (or saved them) by the work we do and the community we’ve created. We decided that Donna’s story was very inspirational and wanted to share it here with you so that no matter where you are or how you’re feeling you know you’re supported and that there is a way out. Enjoy! -Lyn

2008 – The year starts off so wrong!

Hi!  My name is Donna and I’m from Grimsby, Ontario.  The beginning of my raw food journey began in 2008.

I woke up one morning feeling sluggish, overweight, along with a few other health issues. I couldn’t believe I had let myself get in such bad shape.   I had always been a very active person.

I decided to start off my day with a bike ride and start getting in shape.  It was a beautiful morning and I was really excited about doing something healthy for myself.

I had ridden about 5 miles and was just heading for home when a car coming out of a driveway hit me and threw me and my bike into the air.  I hit the ground hard and it knocked the wind right out of me.  Once I realized what had happened, I tried to get up, thinking I would just walk home with my mangled bike.  But, to my surprise, I couldn’t move my legs at all.  I was scared to say the least.

The guy who had hit me had already called the ambulance.  At the hospital they found I didn’t have any broken bones, so they sent me home to recover.  My husband called a very good friend of ours who happens to be a chiropractor.  He wanted me in his office as soon as possible but I was so shaken up I just wanted to sleep.   I went to see him 2 days later and for the next 5 months we did acupuncture and adjustments.

Then my sister died of ovarian cancer. The loss of my dear sister and my discouragement over my slow recovery made me just about want to give up, crawl into a corner and die.

I discover the world of Raw Foods and The Raw Divas

I had all but given up when a friend who was really into health suggested I read a book by Natalia Rose about a raw food detox diet.  I began to read it and I couldn’t put it down.  I had never heard of this kind of eating in my life.  I had thought my diet was healthy but now I knew I was onto something big and I started reading everything I could get my hands on.

Then I decided to do a Google search and that’s when I found The Raw Divas website. I went to the Powder Room to find out what it was all about.  Turned out it was a great community of women sharing their experiences and supporting each other. I was totally amazed that there could be something this great on the internet.  I had almost forgotten about my legs, until I went to get up and about fell flat on my face.

I started to journal, join in and really got inspired

I kept going back.  I was silent for a long time, but then I began sharing some of my experiences with the other women.  Wow, I was having such fun!  It really touched my heart to feel the warmth from everyone on this website.

I was inspired.  I sent my husband out to buy me a juicer and a blender.  He thought I was totally crazy.  I started juicing, making smoothies and changing my diet.

I especially liked my new favorite breakfast: I would soak raw oatmeal overnight.  In the morning I would add soaked almonds, apple, coconut oil, and bananas.  Blend it all up, put it in a bowl and add some raisins with a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Really yummy!

I also started eating a lot of salads and making green smoothies.  I love using weeds like chickweed, lambs quarters, stinging nettle and dandelions, right out of my garden.

My husband would have no part of it, so I was making two different meals every day.  He liked the S.A.D. diet while I was eating a Raw Diet.

I was still using a wheelchair at this point but, was determined that this was only temporary.  My dear sister who had passed away would have told me to get up, dust myself off and get back into the game of life!

Things get a lot better.  I started doing The Raw Divas Programs and I made it out of my wheelchair!

It was the most wonderful blessing in my life to be a part of the Powder Room community and I became inspired to join in the programs.

I joined the 7 day detox. I couldn’t believe all of the recipes they sent me for free and the emails every day to help me succeed. Wow!   I hope to get to meet Tera and Doll one day, as they are two of the angels who run this website.

I began to feel better and was now out of the wheelchair and using crutches.   As I ate more and more raw foods I felt healthier and had more energy than ever before.

Next, I did a 14 day fasting cleanse and talked about it in the Powder Room.   I would write about what I ate each day and any detox symptoms.  I got a lot of response and support and I lost 20 lbs!

Then I signed up for The Raw Diva’s free 90 day detox.  I learned so much and I was telling everyone who would listen about The Raw Divas website.  People were starting to notice all the changes that where happening to my body.

2010 – Bad news hits again – but turns out for the best as it brings my husband on board!

This year I was hit with yet another tragedy.  My wonderful, husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was shocked.  Hadn’t I already been through enough! But, I wasn’t about to lose another loved one to cancer.

So, onto the battlefield we went.  We are facing this enemy together.  He is now listening to what I have to say and is on board with all my green smoothies, juices and salads.

He doesn’t like a lot of things I make but he is willing to do whatever it takes to beat this thing.  Today I made him a pineapple, mango, smoothie with a few greens in it and he actually said he is beginning to like it!  He went out and bought me a Vitamix blender.  Boy, I was so happy!

I am using a lot of the recipes on The Raw Divas website and from books I’ve read.  I really like David Wolf’s books, he is truly amazing.  I also really like ‘The Uncook Book’ by Juliano with Erika Lenkert.  It is full of great recipes that are easy to make.  ‘The Raw 50’ by Carol Alt is another favorite.

The future is looking good now…

A BIG thank you to The Raw Divas for giving me my life back! The friends I’ve made and the support I’ve received in the Powder Room has really meant a lot.  It’s my community now! I hope I get to meet you all one day, as you have been a big part of my life for the last two years and will be for the rest of my life.

And I just have to mention.  This story wouldn’t be complete without my little border collie Mandy who has been a part of my journey.   She is 14 years old and I am sure she wouldn’t still be here if I hadn’t put her on a raw diet.  So, The Raw Divas helps more than people.  It works for our furry children as well!

My husband will have his surgery in October and I will be writing about that in my journal in the Powder Room.   My Powder Room name is ‘Miss Ginger’ if you’d like to join me. By surgery time he will have lost 20 lbs, be 75% raw and no longer digging his grave with his teeth if I have anything to say about it!

Again, thank you for putting up this wonderful website and caring enough to help people find their own path on their journey to health.  I am now a walking, living testimony to this raw food life style.  I have recovered 100% from my injuries, have greater health than ever before, and I owe it all to The Raw Diva’s website.  Keep up the good work ladies!!!!!