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Excerpt from a letter from Jean-Paul
Escarmelle In 1997 I did a trek in the mountains with my son. We were climbing up a mountain riverbed, but within 5 minutes I gave up, unable to continue. I couldn't stand on my legs anymore and I was out of breath. Walking became more and more painful. I started having pain in my knees, then in my legs and spine. It spread to my shoulders and neck. When my little fingers started to become paralyzed, I decided to take action. I could no longer hold my arms up because there was no strength left in them. I decided to abandon alternative therapies and see an allopathic doctor. I began tests in '98 and on July 6, 2000, the clinic gave me the results confirming hemochromatosis. Despite the treatment, the disease not only persisted, but became worse. I received several cortisone shots, but the relief was only temporary. I used to love tinkering in my workshop, but I was spending my days sitting in my armchair instead -- a sure way to become depressed. In May 2001, my wife read an article about Jacques Gauthier: "Stretching to Walk Again". Stretching allowed this Quebec man in his 60's, who was condemned to wheelchair, to walk 6,500 km across Canada. I asked myself, "Why not me? What if I could trek the mountains again?" We attended a conference given by Jacques on May 4 in Namur. I signed up for the course before the conference even started. I took this course from May 7 to 10. It was great. I've been stretching for 5 months now. I decided to get back to vegetarianism. I met Maryse who is working towards similar goals. We decided to form a company with the purpose of creating better health using natural methods. I can't wait to see what will happen next. Life seems worth living again. |