Hello from RawFudi in Winter Park, Florida!

My name is Connie, and this is my blog. It was created to gather all things vital to our health in one convenient place and provide easy access to this information for friends and family.

For me, my family history was reason enough to embark on the journey toward good health. Why? Because I come from one of those families seemingly plagued with nearly every condition imaginable.

Thankfully, I am the odd one out—the “health-nut” of the family. To my friends, I’m affectionately known as the “White-Wicken,” and to myself, the ever-passionate “Healer-Wannabe.”

Our family’s history of illness is so extensive that I’ve become that person—you know, the one people warn about: “Don’t mention any disease around her, because someone in her family has had it or died from it!”

Almost true! *LOL*

I come from a family of nine, including my parents, two sisters, two brothers, myself, and two nephews raised with us nearly since birth. Our family history is marked by a wide range of illnesses and conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and emphysema. We have faced gastrointestinal issues such as bleeding ulcers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, GERD, and gallbladder disease. Cancer has also been prevalent, with diagnoses of ovarian and colon cancer, as well as polyps, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Other health challenges in our family include gout, neuropathy, Dupuytren’s disease, cataracts, macular degeneration, total blindness, and macular telangiectasia. Surgical interventions have included colostomies, kidney stones, lap band procedures, stomach stapling, lens replacements, and even cauterized tear ducts. We’ve experienced reproductive and hormonal health issues like infertility, fibrocystic disease, fibroid tumors, benign breast lumps, endometriosis, and hysterectomies.

Additionally, there have been cases of respiratory illnesses, liver disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple strokes, lupus, collapsed spine, and arthritis. All of this for a family of nine. Sadly, three in my family suffered with colostomies and my sister is also a paraplegic.

Today, four of us remain, and I am the only one who is truly healthy. At 70, I take no prescription medications, have no known illnesses, and appear much younger than my true age. At least that’s what I’m told, lol, and yes, that’s a current photo. I rely on self-treatment. I do not undergo regular check-ups, mammograms, pap tests, or routine colonoscopies. I do wear glasses, strength 250-300 depending on need. I blame my near 24-hour use of my computer for that, lol, and I wear very little make-up… a little mascara, a touch of blush when needed, and lipstick when I remember to put it on. And for those of you wondering (oh, I hope you are, lol) I’ve never had a face lift. But don’t think I wouldn’t consider it as I get closer to 80. 😂😂😂

In contrast, my two remaining siblings and nephew, suffer from many of the illnesses I mentioned earlier. They adhere to a carnivorous diet and dismiss the idea that lifestyle changes—such as switching to a plant-based diet, incorporating powerful essential oils, and taking the right supplements—could significantly improve their health. My one remaining brother would be the most likely to consider and I’m holding out hope he will, but not as of today.

It is unfortunate, but ultimately, it is their choice.

As a young woman, I faced a barrage of health challenges. Fast food, potato chips, and sodas were a staple in our family and although I made better choices for myself, I was too young to eliminate all things bad.

At 14, I had non-cancerous lymph nodes surgically removed, followed by the removal of kidney stones at 18. I battled fibrocystic disease, enduring countless needle aspiration treatments, and developed so many fibroid tumors that between the two the hospital justified investing in new color-coded ultrasound equipment proclaiming I was the perfect candidate to justify the need. Later, infertility treatments led to the removal of grapefruit size ovarian cysts and a near-ruptured appendix. By the age of 36, I had undergone five surgeries. That was my wake-up call to rid myself of the Standard American Diet.

I never identified as vegan; it wasn’t a conscious decision to go totally vegan. I just wanted to consume a healthy diet. Plus, I had never enjoyed the taste of animal flesh and when I had seafood was not one to dip in butter. In fact, I rarely consumed dairy throughout my life. But when my husband enrolled in a cooking course, I eased my commitment to my diet—a mistake I’d soon regret because my health suffered for it, tremendously. My journey took a dramatic turn with a diagnosis of GERD and the grim prediction that I’d need five medications for the rest of my life. Absolutely no way! Then shortly after, kidney stones flared up, and a massive drop in Progesterone had me seeking bio-identical hormone therapy for the next three years. Not long after, I was diagnosed with Macular Telangiectasia (MacTel 2), a condition I had never even heard of. The prognosis was terrifying: blindness with “no known cause, no known treatment, and no known cure.” Refusing to accept this fate, I turned to the internet, determined to find my own answers. I wanted a way to heal all of it, my entire body, and I was bound and determined to find it.

In my quest for healing, I embraced a totally raw, vegan diet, which totally eliminated the GERD, even though my Gastrointestinal doctor swore would never work, but it also rekindled my relationship with therapeutic-grade essential oils. I committed to treating my body right. I needed to replenish my vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Within two months, I had reversed my eye condition, and no one on God’s green earth could tell you what that meant to me. Initially, I had lost the ability to see facial features, and my eye specialist warned me of waking up one day—perhaps even tomorrow—completely blind. His words were chilling: “Go home. Do research. Get your paperwork in order. And learn brail.” Period. End of discussion.

But I wasn’t ready to give up.

Two months into self-treatment, I sought a second opinion from one of the nation’s leading eye institutes. To their amazement, not only had MacTel 2 vanished, but there was no evidence it had ever existed. Without the initial records, they would not have believed it had been there at all. When I returned to my original doctor for a third round of testing, he was speechless. After some shoulder-shrugging and headshaking as he stared at my x-rays, he asked, “You are Connie, right?” It was priceless.

And yet, he never asked how I did it.

No one did.

That was fifteen years ago now and it is evident that I am fully recovered. 🎉

To summarize: Although costly, essential oils and a vegan diet became my only options when I was told there were no treatments and no cure. I invested in the highest-quality oils (Young Living) and maintained a strict regimen. My raw food diet eliminated animal fat entirely. I drank kombucha daily, made wheatgrass shots for both drinking and nightly eyewash treatments, loaded up on nutrients, and consumed superfoods high on the ORAC scale. Eye exercises strengthened my muscles, and I never gave up. My perseverance conquered what others deemed impossible.

So, stay focused!

Helichrysum, Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Sandalwood, Lavender, Copaiba, Frankincense, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Lemon, Oregano, Thyme, and Myrrh became my medicine cabinet.

Imagine holding an egg against your eye socket and using it as a guide. Gently tap a fingertip of oil along an imaginary outline of the egg—starting under the brow and continuing around the cheekbone. I performed this treatment 8 to 10 times a day, using the oils neat (directly from the bottle). However, a word of caution: some oils, like Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Oregano, and Thyme are extremely hot oils and can cause a burning sensation. Trust me—OMG, ouch!

Start by blending a drop of any oil, or oils, with a bit of fractionated coconut oil. This allows you to test your skin’s tolerance before applying the oils neat. Layer the oils one at a time or in groups of three throughout the day, depending on your preference. Alternatively, you can combine as many oils as your budget allows into a 10ml roll-on bottle filled halfway with fractionated coconut oil, or any organic plant-based oil, making it easy to reapply multiple times per day.

Remember to use caution and adjust the process to suit your comfort level.

The key is to take action—just do something!