It’s a calm summer Friday evening here in Roanoke, Indiana as I'm preparing this weekly message while writing from the front porch. I can feel a refreshing breeze as a sit here.

If you look closely at the photo below, you’ll spot two of our youngest—Jules and Houston chasing butterflies with their nets. 

It's been a busy day but as I sit here I'm feeling a sense of encouragement—Why?

Because I’ve just finished reading over 20 heartfelt letters from readers—many of you—responding to last week’s newsletter about my healing journey with Crohn’s disease.

I was blown away. Your encouragement, vulnerability, and shared stories touched me more than I can express.

Here are a few paraphrased messages that serve as powerful reminders for us all:

💬 “I’ve felt alone in my diagnosis—reading your email reminded me I’m not.”

💬 “We’ve told our kids: pay the farmer now, or the pharmacy later.”

💬 “Reading your story renewed my commitment to clean eating—right when I needed it.”

💬 “After retiring to care for my husband, I forgot to care for myself. Your words reminded me why I must.”

Many of you wrote with powerful reflections and sincere questions—about EMDR, supplements, dietary shifts, and how to find the right kind of help. 

So in today’s message, I want to follow up by sharing more details—less as a “how-to,” and more as a companion on the road.

Why I Started with Stress Management

When I was first diagnosed, I chose to start by addressing stress—not because I thought it was more important than diet, but because I knew that without emotional health, I wouldn’t have the clarity or discipline to follow through on anything else.

I also believed stress was something I had quicker agency over. And if I could reduce the chronic tension I was carrying, I felt it would make everything else—especially diet—more effective.

That belief turned out to be true. Over time, I learned about something called neuroplasticity—the ability of our brains to reshape how we respond to the world. We don’t have to stay stuck. Our minds can be renewed.

Some of the most helpful tools I learned in this process were:

• Healthy detachment
  
• Grieving unmet expectations
  
• Acceptance of what’s outside my control
  

These weren’t just philosophical ideas—I had to change how I led my life.

It wasn’t easy. But looking back, every relationship around me improved as a result.

And if you’ve never prayed the Serenity Prayer, I recommend keeping it close:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

What Is EMDR, and How Did It Help?

Several of you asked about this, and I’m glad you did. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of therapy that helps the brain reprocess stored memories that are still creating stress or panic responses.

Here’s how I think about it:

It’s natural to feel concern when life throws challenges at us—money problems, relationships, health issues. That’s normal. 

The problem is when concern crosses the line into panic. That’s when our nervous systems flood us with stress hormones. Our sleep suffers. Our relationships feel tense. And over time, the immune system becomes overwhelmed.

EMDR (and somatic therapy in general) helped me notice when I was crossing that line—and taught my brain and body how to respond differently.

It was a game-changer.

What Did I Eat? (Then and Now)

The connection between food and healing can’t be overstated. Just like unhealthy thought patterns can damage the body, inflammatory foods can do the same.

During my six-month healing phase, I followed what was essentially an elimination diet:

• Steamed vegetables
  
• Brown rice
  
• Gluten-free pastas
  
• Chicken (the most easily digestible meat for me at the time)
  
• Homemade bone broth
  
• No gluten, dairy, refined sugar, or alcohol
  
• Fruit in moderation
  

My practitioner also had me complete food sensitivity testing, which guided many of these decisions.

And no—this wasn’t easy. Not during the holidays. Not while traveling. Not when others around me were enjoying foods I had to avoid.

But I stayed the course. Over time, habit took hold, and it got easier.

One mindset that really helped was this: “Maybe this diagnosis will actually help me live a longer, more vibrant life—starting now.”

Gratitude and positive focus weren’t just accessories to healing—they were core ingredients.

And of course, I didn’t do it alone.

Who Helped Me Along the Way?

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation.

I had the support of my wife Charis, who stood by me through every difficult decision. I leaned on my mom’s wisdom, gathered from years of her own health journey. And I found strength in prayer and community through our church family.

Many of you asked about my practitioner. The holistic professional I worked with back then has since retired. But here’s my encouragement to you:

Don’t stop searching.
Ask staff at your local vitamin shop.
Ask your chiropractor.
Ask friends and family.
Use Google. Use ChatGPT. Use prayer.
Keep asking until you find someone you trust.

Today, many consultations can happen via Zoom—so don’t limit yourself to someone local. And for those of you near Fort Wayne, I’ve had good experiences with Gladd MD, and so have several of our local customers.

What About Supplements?

I took many supplements during that time—but they weren’t chosen at random.

Like my diet, they were based on testing and guided by a practitioner. But here are a few I recall taking:

• High-quality fish oil
  
• Liquid Vitamin D
  
• B-complex vitamins
  
• Various digestive support formulas
  

These were professional-grade supplements and not covered by insurance. As I mentioned, we were living on about $35K a year at the time, so every penny was felt—but I kept reminding myself: this was an investment in the future.

And here’s something unusual—but worth mentioning: I slept for 6 months with a cloth soaked in cod liver oil placed over my stomach each night. Sounds strange, I know—but it was a practice meant to reduce gut inflammation, deliver nutrients transdermally, and support detoxification and circulation.

Did it help? I believe it did.

One Final Word of Encouragement

If you’re still in the thick of your own health battle—don’t lose hope.

Start with one choice. One act of care. One phone call, one food change, one boundary reset.
Let the results of that one decision begin to multiply. 

Healing rarely comes all at once—but it does come.
And wherever you are on the journey, I’m cheering you on from the porch here in Roanoke.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Got a question, story, or resource that might bless others? I’d love for you to join the discussion—just click below to leave a comment on the blog.

Join the conversation below.

Thanks for reading.

- Blaine