Letter From a Student

Submitted by Richard Brier, Tiburon, CA

Kay Monroe Farrell is a Student of Richard Brier, Tiburon, CA

Dear Richard,

I want you to know how much I appreciate the time and effort you have dedicated to me over the past two and a half months. You were referred to me as someone who might help me learn qigong. Mission accomplished! You not only taught me Shibashi Qigong but also T’ai Chi Chih. More importantly, you shared your considerable knowledge about Chinese philosophy as it relates to T’ai Chi and you imparted your love and enthusiasm for the discipline. All of this has been so very helpful to me in my efforts to heal myself of cancer…

…Thank you Richard. Thank you so much for your contribution to my health. You are a great teacher and a good person.

Sincerely,

– Kay Monroe Farrell

In January of 1995 I was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer which gave me a 20% chance of surviving five years. Since I was only forty-nine and had been in excellent health until the diagnosis I was shocked, outraged and scared beyond words. I vowed to fight for my life with all my might using both conventional western medicine and alternative medicine. Over the next twelve months I had two surgeries which removed twelve inches of my colon, sixty percent of my liver and every other organ in my abdomen that I could possibly live without; and I went through seven months of chemotherapy. In addition I have read all I could about alternative medicine and experimented with yoga, the macrobiotic diet, guided imagery, acupuncture, Chinese herbs and mega vitamin therapy.

Many of the alternative therapies were helpful to me, but I was unable to find anything to keep me mentally at peace and in the present moment. Fear and anxiety about the cancer was taking its toll on me. In May, 1997, my worst fears were answered: another tumor was found in my lungs. I found a surgeon who was willing to remove the tumor. Six weeks later my CEA, which is a blood sample indicator in the progression of the cancer, was higher than ever before. My oncologist gave me a grim speech about my prognosis, refused to give me more chemotherapy and suggested that I “enjoy my life.”

It was shortly after my hopes were dashed by the oncologist that I found you to teach me qigong and I have been so pleased with how my mental and physical well-being has improved. Suddenly I am no longer anxious about the cancer. I have finally learned to live in the present moment; more importantly, I have learned to find total peace and joy in the present moment. Last week my CEA was lower by 59% over the previous blood work. That is the first decrease in my CEA in one and a half years! I believe that the daily one to two hours of Qigong and T’ai Chi Chih are responsible for these remarkable physical and mental improvements.