This exquisitely written note was so moving and so heartfelt, it brought tears to the eyes of everyone on our staff.  We all say thank you for thanking us. 

A friend of a friend wrote us this note about a cat who chills to guided imagery – we’d heard this about dogs but this is the first time we got a note about a cat.

Health Journeys got this wonderful note last week:

Hi. Thank you so much for all the things you do.   I am a victim of child sexual abuse and rape. I've been through years of therapy, but I absolutely LOVED the CD, Healing Trauma. The first time I listened to it was the first time I slept without waking up in the middle of the night or having a nightmare. It has been a major blessing.

I am now a child-adolescent therapist myself and work with a variety of issues. I've already used a few of your Guided Imagery CD's during sessions, but I'm curious to know if you have anything that deals with ritual abuse?

[Ed. Note: We have nothing geared for ritual abuse per se, other than the materials for posttraumatic stress. This seems to have been adequate for the ritual abuse survivors who’ve given us feedback.]

My sister Debbie was told by her OBGYN that her baby was too big for a vaginal delivery and to get mentally prepared for a C-section. She was overwrought, as, for better or worse, she had set her heart on a standard delivery.

Very quickly she got extremely fearful about what lay ahead. Instead of her usual, high-energy, enthusiastic personality, she was withdrawn and depressed. I did not recognize my sister!  Weeks earlier, she was on top of the world!

On a hunch, I got her the guided imagery for pregnancy and delivery. Pardon the pun, but it was just what the doctor ordered. She listened devotedly, once or twice a day.  I saw the change right away.  I can honestly say it turned her whole attitude back around. She regained her belief in her own body and her old Can-Do confidence in herself re-emerged. She was smiling and happy again.  This is not an exaggeration but a straight report.  That CD hit her sweet spot – that is the best way I can relate this.

We got this wonderful email as part of a chain, and even though I never do this, I’m passing it along – it’s simply too terrific to miss.  Check it out:

This is 'Faith'

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which had to be amputated. He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.

His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself. 

My friend gave me this CD (Successful Surgery) when I discovered I needed open-heart surgery. Open-heart surgery!  I'd never been admitted to a hospital nor had I had any medically invasive procedures in my fifty-three years of life.

I was so anxious I had shortness of breath.  I know it was anxiety, because I was asymptomatic from my aneurysm. But I started listening to the Successful Surgery CD 3 weeks before my operation, and I listened to it during the surgery, and it was amazing.  I was so relaxed that I was joking with the anesthesiologists. I experienced minimal pain, zero complications, and 9 weeks later, my recovery is going amazingly well.

We got this marvelous email from a phobic driver, who got herself back behind the steering wheel by playing affirmations… she probably has no idea how much good company she’s in with this challenge  Here it is:

I wanted to share my experience with affirmations and driving. Maybe if there is someone else like me, it might help.

I am 48 years old and am terrified of driving. I got my driver’s license at age 16 as did all my peers, but never drove until I was 22 and starting my first teaching job after getting my degree.

Please forgive the mixed food metaphor, but if schmaltz is your cup of tea, you mustn’t miss the inspired kid stories that Celine Dion pulled together for her latest  book, currently being featured on Ms. Oprah’s show.  There won’t be a dry eye in the blogosphere, and even if you do feel a tad manipulated by the slick production values of perfectly edited video and slide show production, you still can’t deny the power of these terrific stories and the intention behind their creation.  Click here to check ‘em out.

Some of you may remember C.J., the terrific youngster who underwent bone marrow transplantation way back in 2001.  We had just completed recording the Bone Marrow Transplantation imagery – it wasn’t duplicated or packaged yet – but we sent a rough studio copy to him, at his mother’s request (everyone should have an advocate like this awesome Momma, let me tell you!!).