My name is Mina Marjanovic, and I was born on Christmas Eve in the former Yugoslavia. My father was Romanian and my mother half German and Serbian. I am the oldest of 10 siblings. In 1983, I accepted the Lord in my heart, and I thank God that I did that, because the hardships of life are and were much more peaceful and easier to handle. I have been married for 30 years to a supporting husband, Tom. We have 3 children, my son Boban and my twins, Petru and Alexandra.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Aug. 1994 and after a left side mastectomy the doctor also found cancer in my right breast. I refused to have another operation because I wanted to take control somehow. The doctor gave me Tamoxifen and I had an allergic reaction to it, but I was still taking it faithfully. The doctors recommended chemotherapy, but I refused and decided to go to an alternative cancer treatment center in Playas, Mexico at "Oasis of Hope hospital. There I learned that the three components for staying healthy or becoming healthier. First is nutrition, second is faith, and third is nature's exercise or work. I stayed in Mexico for 3 weeks and visited later, from time to time. I never recieved a definite answer as to the remission of my breast cancer.
In April 1996, I had a gall bladder operation, and afterwards, complications. The liver could not do the work. The next day I retained water in my abdomen, so I had to stay for 3 days in the hospital and then they let me go home with water coming out of my lower incision. As water accumulated in my abdomen I had to have para-sentises, (water was taken out off my abdomen with a needle). Usually 5 to 6 liters of water was taken out weekly it depended how much I took liquid in my body. I had a lung biopsy and they thought that I might have Tuberculoses because I had a positive result. That is because we from Europe had our "BCZ" vaccine so it will always be positive. I was even convinced to take the medication. I did for few weeks and when I read the real side affects I stopped. No one could come with an answer to why I was always so sick.
I was in pain a lot and one evening I just went to the hospital with an enlarged abdomen (full of water). One doctor pulled my sister to another room and told her that that I probably had stomach cancer. When I saw my sister in tears I told her that whatever the doctor said, I did not have it. So the conclusion was to have an exploratory surgery and to do a liver biopsy and according to my request, to take out the good and healthy ovaries. That was in September1996. I stayed in the hospital for 25 days, and had a bone marrow biopsy. Most people thought that I was dying.
After this ordeal, I became a vegetarian/vegan. I ate all organic vegetables, fruits, Soya cheese, Soya yogurt; night shades vegetables and some white bread. No simple sugar, if I could help it. After that surgery I was left with an inseasonal hernia. It took me a long time to decide to have another surgery. So I finally decided to have it done at another hospital, in April 1997. and I had normal reading of my blood work. For this operation it should have been an over night stay, but no, the doctors came a few hours later and told me that I am loosing a lot of blood and they needed to do another open operation to add extra drainage for the dead blood cells. Again my doctor called my large family because he did not think that I would make it.
Everybody was praying and crying. For that ordeal I had to have several blood transfusions, and I thank God for all the relatives, friends, and church members who donated their blood, so the blood bank was replenished. A few weeks later an outside specialist came and took a closer look and with all kinds of test I was diagnosed with a hyper-splenism (overactive spleen causing), pansytopenia (all three blood levels are low -white, red and platelets), congestive splenomegaly, diabetes type II, peripheral neuropathy and hairy cell leukemia. Some doctors told me that I might have bone cancer and portal cshirosa of the liver.
It took me 29 days to be released from the hospital. For the next 4 months at home I had to change the gauss on my abdomen wounds, yet I could hardly walk to my bathroom or kitchen, but I had the will power and determination from above. Remembering my father's words "This too shall pass". After couple of weeks, I was pushing my self into the kitchen to create a meal, or make juices. I had my blood drawn but I refused to have it as often as my doctors have recommended it. They also recommended having the spleen taken out. Can you imagine that? Aren't enough hills and valleys on my belly?
At each hospital I brought my Bible and kept meditating on the promises of my loving Father in heaven. People prayed for me, helped and encouraged me, like: relatives, church members, neighbors and friends. I believed on Gods promises and that eventually everything would be okay, even if is not my way it is all His and who am I to say anything. Yes I know that we can't run from death and taxes, as an American say. I also know that I am Gods child and he will do what is best for me, and my family. God loves us and wants the best for us. Some of my motivational verses were and are Romans 8:28 "All things work for good for those who are called according to his name". Luke 17:6 "If your faith were only the size of a mustard seed, Jesus answered, it would be large enough to uproot that mulberry tree over there and sent it hurtling into the sea. Your command would bring immediate results".
Proverbs 12:15 "A fool thinks he needs no advise, but a wise man listens to others". Isaiah 40:31 " But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint". There were so many verses that I read and meditated about. I am actually glad that this happened to me. I became a different person. I even managed to write a little history in 1995 and 1996 about my past from my younger years in Europe and later in America. I was taking vitamins by the hand full since 1995 and after my 1997 operation. It was costly and I was going in circles with my health until March 2000. At my local health food store a nutritionist told me that a woman is coming to give a lecture how she over came her ordeal with cancer. Her name is Milenka (Mina) Dobic.
When I heard her story and a new approach to cancer with natural Gods given food, called macrobiotic, (meaning "great life") and making a balance, I was convinced that this time I am on the right track. Plus she did not use vitamins so I knew I was on to something good. I took few classes with her and other local and distant classes, seminars and retreats. She recommended reading few books, for which I did.Soon I learned about George Oshawa, the founder of macrobiotics. He had some students who learned and studied macrobiotics fervently. They started the Kushi Institute in Massachusetts to teach others about macrobiotics.
Mr. Kushi states, "Macrobiotics is the art and science of health and longevity through the study and understanding of the relation and interactions between ourselves, the foods we eat, the lifestyles we choose to lead, and the environments in which we live. It is compatible with and adaptable to all forms of religious and traditional cultural practices." As a well-known author and trusted family physician Benjamin Spock, M.D. said " My own favorable experience with macrobiotics opened my eyes to the accumulating evidence that a whole-grain, vegetable and bean diet can often prevent, arrest, and even reverse deadly degenerative diseases such as cancers, coronary heart attack, and strokes."
It all made sense to me and I was getting better, without any supplements. Life was and is easier now. I feel like I am looking from above and see the peoples with unnecessary struggles. Few stories from the Bible came to my mind and I was convinced. Like from the Old Testament: Genesis 1:29 "And look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth, and all the fruit trees for your food". Numbers 11:7-9 talks about the small yellow seed. Exodus 16:14-16 talks about manna from heaven that was given to Israelites in the desert. It was a delicious grain and it had to be prepared and eaten on the day given or it would spoil. God gave us all these natural foods that promote healing the question remains, what are we doing to our body and mind that make us suffer? Remember that our body is our temple, and regardless of your beliefs, what we put in it is what we will get out.
I've been living a macrobiotic life since March 2000. In 2003 I went to Becket, Massachusetts to the Kushi Institute to study and to learn the perfect balance. So now I am a health guider and I am helping myself and teaching others too. Recently, I've been working with Dr. Gordan Sacks on a research project supported by the American Cancer Society at the UCSD Cancer Center. We are examining the role of diet in stress reduction among recent prostrate cancer patients. I learned that my health problems were due to years of poor nutritional and an unbalanced lifestyle. But it is only because the trials I faced before and the grace, mercy and love of God that I am able to help others now. I feel very blessed for all the family, neighbors and friends who prayed and cared for me. Thank you for reading about my life.
God Bless,
Mina Marjanovic