disease had spread to three lymph regions in her body, though the nodes remained small and painless.
One thing led to another, and soon Heather was reading Web pages for holistic alternative treatment centers around the country, and even one in Salzburg, Austria. Wow, there was one situated on a private island in the Caribbean, too. Who wouldn’t feel better just being there? She spent the next hour online, viewing sites for fasting weekends, day spas, Candida cleanses, and alternative treatments ranging from detoxes to therapeutic massages and thermal water cures.
Quite the gamut , she thought, baffled. One YouTube clip actually featured a man vowing his water diet would cure anyone of anything.
Heather shook her head, sighing. Some of this was almost laughable. But people did impulsive things when their life was in jeopardy. How was it possible to sift the scams from what was legitimate, especially when so many of these places were charging an arm and a leg? They’re certainly not covered by insurance.
She closed the laptop and stared at the sky. Despite her initial denial, she was ready now to make some choices based on her diagnosis. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the springtime sounds and smells. Didn’t she owe it to herself and to her family to give natural methods a try, at least for the summer?
Yes, she definitely wanted to experiment with a natural approach before getting a second opinion from a medical doctor later. The Lancaster naturopath came to mind once again, and she decided to call Dr. Marshall’s office for an appointment.
She might’ve helped Mom, if it hadn’t been too late. . . .
While Grace waited for Mandy to determine the next move of her king on the checkerboard, she admired again the cute card from Becky. A hummingbird fed from a single pink flower, a vibrant sea of flower cups opening to the sun in the background. A legend she’d heard as a girl said that a hummingbird’s flight was unfettered by space and time . . . and carried all one’s hopes for lasting affection, greatest joy, and merriment. Grace paused to consider it, looking fondly at the expertly rendered likeness.
Becky’s a wonder. . . .
It was evident how many hours her friend had put into the picture. Grace almost felt guilty for having received the many multicolored pencils in the fancy case from Jessica. Surely they were something Becky might better enjoy.
“Your move.” Mandy looked up, eyes mischievous.
Grace laughed. “Nice try. I see you’re goin’ to double jump me!”
“If you’re not careful.”
She smiled at her sister, then made her move.
“You’re partial to board games, ain’t?”
“Any time you want to play, I’m willing.” Grace also enjoyed cross-stitching and tatting, just as Mammi Adah did. And, on occasion, she liked to spin wool on an old treadle wheel Brittany and her mom had purchased at a flea market—a most unique hobby.
“Are we still taking Willow for a ride tomorrow?” Mandy asked.
“Fine with me.” She waited for her sister to move her checker.
Mandy folded her arms, grinning because she’d made the perfect setup to block Grace. “There . . . how’d ya like that?”
Not ready to be outwitted, Grace leaned closer to the board, studying her options. “Do you think our grandparents had a gut time tonight?” she asked.
“Jah, why?”
Grace shrugged, reaching across the board to move her king backward. Truth was, she worried all the foolish bantering at the table had not been overlooked by either her parents or her grandparents. But each year they put up with it, and rather graciously at that. Next year, though, things would be different with Jessica Spangler married and living elsewhere. And who could know about Becky? Mandy, too, for that matter.
Grace did not include herself in the group of potential brides, although she wondered if she would still be residing in her father’s house on her twenty-second birthday. Would Henry decide to make her his wife
One thing led to another, and soon Heather was reading Web pages for holistic alternative treatment centers around the country, and even one in Salzburg, Austria. Wow, there was one situated on a private island in the Caribbean, too. Who wouldn’t feel better just being there? She spent the next hour online, viewing sites for fasting weekends, day spas, Candida cleanses, and alternative treatments ranging from detoxes to therapeutic massages and thermal water cures.
Quite the gamut , she thought, baffled. One YouTube clip actually featured a man vowing his water diet would cure anyone of anything.
Heather shook her head, sighing. Some of this was almost laughable. But people did impulsive things when their life was in jeopardy. How was it possible to sift the scams from what was legitimate, especially when so many of these places were charging an arm and a leg? They’re certainly not covered by insurance.
She closed the laptop and stared at the sky. Despite her initial denial, she was ready now to make some choices based on her diagnosis. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the springtime sounds and smells. Didn’t she owe it to herself and to her family to give natural methods a try, at least for the summer?
Yes, she definitely wanted to experiment with a natural approach before getting a second opinion from a medical doctor later. The Lancaster naturopath came to mind once again, and she decided to call Dr. Marshall’s office for an appointment.
She might’ve helped Mom, if it hadn’t been too late. . . .
While Grace waited for Mandy to determine the next move of her king on the checkerboard, she admired again the cute card from Becky. A hummingbird fed from a single pink flower, a vibrant sea of flower cups opening to the sun in the background. A legend she’d heard as a girl said that a hummingbird’s flight was unfettered by space and time . . . and carried all one’s hopes for lasting affection, greatest joy, and merriment. Grace paused to consider it, looking fondly at the expertly rendered likeness.
Becky’s a wonder. . . .
It was evident how many hours her friend had put into the picture. Grace almost felt guilty for having received the many multicolored pencils in the fancy case from Jessica. Surely they were something Becky might better enjoy.
“Your move.” Mandy looked up, eyes mischievous.
Grace laughed. “Nice try. I see you’re goin’ to double jump me!”
“If you’re not careful.”
She smiled at her sister, then made her move.
“You’re partial to board games, ain’t?”
“Any time you want to play, I’m willing.” Grace also enjoyed cross-stitching and tatting, just as Mammi Adah did. And, on occasion, she liked to spin wool on an old treadle wheel Brittany and her mom had purchased at a flea market—a most unique hobby.
“Are we still taking Willow for a ride tomorrow?” Mandy asked.
“Fine with me.” She waited for her sister to move her checker.
Mandy folded her arms, grinning because she’d made the perfect setup to block Grace. “There . . . how’d ya like that?”
Not ready to be outwitted, Grace leaned closer to the board, studying her options. “Do you think our grandparents had a gut time tonight?” she asked.
“Jah, why?”
Grace shrugged, reaching across the board to move her king backward. Truth was, she worried all the foolish bantering at the table had not been overlooked by either her parents or her grandparents. But each year they put up with it, and rather graciously at that. Next year, though, things would be different with Jessica Spangler married and living elsewhere. And who could know about Becky? Mandy, too, for that matter.
Grace did not include herself in the group of potential brides, although she wondered if she would still be residing in her father’s house on her twenty-second birthday. Would Henry decide to make her his wife
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