When we reflect on the present moment and how we got here, there are many beginnings where we might start the telling of the story. In this moment, it feels right to begin by sharing one of the most pivotal moments on this journey of learning, healing, and evolving. When I was 14 years old, my dad had a heart attack and refused standard medical care, which was very concerning for our family. We were devastated and feared for his life, however accepted that he stood resolute in determining the course of his care. I, in particular, was the most skeptical about this decision. Ultimately, my father opted for a holistic approach and we were committed to supporting him. He chose to make his health the priority and that was the day that our family changed the way we lived…
As we began to question, the compartments within our minds began to open to a new way of being and this has been an ever-evolving process. We, as a family, began to explore the many facets involved in truly being “well” and learned that it all encompassed so much more than we originally thought. For one thing, we discovered that the “healthy foods” we had been eating (like organic, free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, cow dairy, and chicken eggs) were actually the culprits behind his disease. I still become overwhelmed with gratitude when I share that my father recovered and is healthier than ever today. I now understand how something beautiful and transformative can emerge from the seemingly darkest hour when there is truth, love, integrity, and dedication to guide it. My father, through his own health crisis, catalyzed a deeper more expansive healing process for his whole family. It is this experience that plunged me into a realm previously unexplored – one of true healing, nontraditional nutrition practices, and medicinal herbs. I thank my family for their unwavering support in my explorations and deepening in the field of natural healing and my training in the medical field as a physician. There is much to share with you and I will continue to do so with a grateful heart with the hope that any part of this experience or knowledge might resonate with you – to inspire, to heal, to live a better life.
I must also take this first post as an opportunity to honor my dearly departed mentor Dr. Mihoko Nelsen, who was a practicing neurologist for over 40 years. She lived each day with unrelenting enthusiasm and joy, avid curiosity, and a questing thirst for knowledge. She continues to be an inspiration to me. She was about to reinvent herself as a functional medicine physician as she grew tired of practicing medicine “in the box” as she put it. She wanted to help her patients get to the root of their disease and guide them back to wellness. We had planned to co-author a book together and had already begun compiling our research, knowledge, and case studies. Tragically, she was taken from us all too soon in a plane crash. Our world lost a brilliantly gifted physician and a beautiful human being. Our book remains unwritten but I hope that by sharing information here it may be the beginning of what she envisioned.
Finally, a special acknowledgment to my mentor Dr. Don Plance, a Family Medicine/Sports Medicine specialist, with over 30 years experience, who has known me since I was four years old and has mentored me through the process of becoming a physician. He is a shining example of a doctor who serves his patients with integrity, compassion, and caring dedication.
I have never witnessed a more determined lifelong learner or scrupulous work ethic. I am honored to continue learning from him.
All of the writings that follow are in honor of this beautiful, challenging, magnificent gift we call life.
Blessings to all of you.
Dr. Avaness
