Back To Bienville, A Journey Into Wellness by Melinda Matthews is an inspiring read, no doubt about that. My review follows Matthews’s book blurb found on Amazon.

“Diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Melinda was shocked but still felt that she would be one of the few she’d heard about that would recover within a few years by learning to manage the symptoms and the stress in her life — and through a positive, hopeful outlook. As she watched with joy the national news broadcast the celebrations of the long-awaited demise of the Berlin Wall, she determined that she would not be walled in by illness. She was strong and courageous and just could not see herself with a debilitating chronic illness no matter what “they” said. She enjoyed life too much and there were things to do she still hadn’t done! She knew this type of thing happened to other people, but not to her! She would not be a victim of disease!

But in spite of her optimistic attitude and everything that sounded helpful that she tried, her physical condition continued to grow worse. Instead of being able to rally to the challenge before her and conquer it as she believed she would, she watched the years pass by as even more mysterious health issues surfaced, until the fierce hope she’d held onto so tightly turned into deep, dark despair. There seemed to be nothing else to try that might offer any real relief or restore any sort of quality of life to her existence. Worst of all, perhaps, there was no one who understood, no one who really seemed to care, and nowhere to turn — or so it seemed. When she finally hit bottom, there was nowhere to look but up. For a moment, mind and body put aside, she cried out from deep within her spirit, and a door to the supernatural opened.

Follow her miraculous journey from hopelessness to wholeness. Step by step she travels a road that leads, not just to answers, but to the genuine truth behind the matter — and not just to recovery, but to complete health. In the end, she learns that a lack of knowledge is by far the deadliest condition of them all…”

First off, this book is extremely Christian and bible quotes are used throughout (I am a Christian), yet no mention was made of what bible version was used for reference. I admired Matthews’ perseverance over the years with her various illnesses, and struggle towards a wellness state. I understand homeopathic medicine and its benefits. I believe in traditional medicine, and natural or homeopathic medicine. I am a Registered Nurse and not only that, but I am a Lyme Literate Registered Nurse. As such I could write pages about this book, and the authors’ disorders.

Early on, I knew the author had Lyme disease, although the author used the term Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), it is to be noted that CFS is a sub condition brought on by Lyme disease (and its co-infections), and not the other way around. I felt sadness, but I mostly felt inspiration, and that alone makes this book a great read. Doctors and science can be a soothing balm or a deadly arrow, and I highly recommend anyone with any of the diseases or disorders that Matthews’ suffered from seek a second, or a third opinion right from the beginning.

Matthews’ says that “said that all sickness and disease is spiritual”.  I don’t believe that for one second! Honestly, God does heal, but he doesn’t heal everyone. That is plain to see day in and day out, and in the bible. Certainly Jesus healed, yet many died when Jesus walked on Earth. Those who have died are certainly in a place of pure love and light.

Her story is readable, yet it was difficult for me due to the poor grammar and editing. Honestly, one cannot find a “micro valve prolapse” in the human body as it is a “mitral valve prolapse”, or “severally dehydrated” should be “severely dehydrated”, etc. Repeat-repeat words are found on most pages and in many paragraphs. I rate this book as three stars, and if editing is done, I will change my rating at that time.

Source: #RRBC Pay It Forward with author, Mary Schmidt @MaryLSchmidt #RRBCPIF

This is my Pay It Forward post for Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko. Joy is a writer and avid reader, really voracious reader and reviewer. Please check out her site. Thank you!

What I’m about to write is true, like it or not. Seeing lifelong pets sick and dying is horrible. They are like your own child, and when they die the pain is unbearable and emotions open the floodgates, and you will cry a lot. I had two beloved pet dogs die, one was put down after a horrible accident and this shattered me; she was my pet the most, and I cared for her. My ex put a bullet into my second one – in his head – and fed me lies. I was heart broken.

As a mother, I then found a loss beyond comprehension, beyond comparison, in losing not one, but two children; one who strangled on his umbilical cord, and one with a horrible cancer battle. If you had been me, you would know that this is the absolute King of Loss. There is no comparison, and I pray no one else must feel this true King of Loss.