in December of 1998 after just having turned 40 years old I started
turned 40 years old I started
turned 40 years old I started experiencing a strange numbness in my
experiencing a strange numbness in my
experiencing a strange numbness in my right leg and I didn’t think much of it
right leg and I didn’t think much of it
right leg and I didn’t think much of it until about a week later I was at a
until about a week later I was at a
until about a week later I was at a rehearsal and I stepped off the riser
rehearsal and I stepped off the riser
rehearsal and I stepped off the riser onto the stage of my right leg collapsed
onto the stage of my right leg collapsed
onto the stage of my right leg collapsed from under me at this point I saw two
from under me at this point I saw two
from under me at this point I saw two doctors and they both thought it’s
doctors and they both thought it’s
doctors and they both thought it’s probably just a pinched nerve nothing to
probably just a pinched nerve nothing to
probably just a pinched nerve nothing to worry about
worry about
worry about good two months later I started to lose
good two months later I started to lose
good two months later I started to lose peripheral vision in my left eye which
peripheral vision in my left eye which
peripheral vision in my left eye which was now a worrisome situation and I saw
was now a worrisome situation and I saw
was now a worrisome situation and I saw my very first neurologist and he
my very first neurologist and he
my very first neurologist and he examined me and said you have MS and I
examined me and said you have MS and I
examined me and said you have MS and I didn’t want to hear this my only
didn’t want to hear this my only
didn’t want to hear this my only knowledge of multiple sclerosis was the
knowledge of multiple sclerosis was the
knowledge of multiple sclerosis was the Great British cellist Jacqueline Duprey
Great British cellist Jacqueline Duprey
Great British cellist Jacqueline Duprey who was forced to stop playing at the
who was forced to stop playing at the
who was forced to stop playing at the age of 26 and later died from
age of 26 and later died from
age of 26 and later died from complications of the disease at 42 so
complications of the disease at 42 so
complications of the disease at 42 so you could imagine a professional cellist
you could imagine a professional cellist
you could imagine a professional cellist being told I have this debilitating
being told I have this debilitating
being told I have this debilitating disease denial was a river in Egypt I
disease denial was a river in Egypt I
disease denial was a river in Egypt I was not willing to accept this and then
was not willing to accept this and then
was not willing to accept this and then four months later I started losing
four months later I started losing
four months later I started losing peripheral vision in my right eye which
peripheral vision in my right eye which
peripheral vision in my right eye which was really scary because my left eye had
was really scary because my left eye had
was really scary because my left eye had never recovered completely and about one
never recovered completely and about one
never recovered completely and about one week after that I came down with what I
week after that I came down with what I
week after that I came down with what I thought was a stomach bug but it didn’t
thought was a stomach bug but it didn’t
thought was a stomach bug but it didn’t go away it turned out to be a prolonged
go away it turned out to be a prolonged
go away it turned out to be a prolonged period of something like motion sickness
period of something like motion sickness
period of something like motion sickness I wound up vomiting couldn’t keep food
I wound up vomiting couldn’t keep food
I wound up vomiting couldn’t keep food or water down for a week and I wound up
or water down for a week and I wound up
or water down for a week and I wound up in the hospital for severe dehydration I
in the hospital for severe dehydration I
in the hospital for severe dehydration I was released from the hospital four days
was released from the hospital four days
was released from the hospital four days later and I was unable to move my hands
later and I was unable to move my hands
later and I was unable to move my hands I could no longer
I could no longer
I could no longer play the cello I could hardly walk I was
play the cello I could hardly walk I was
play the cello I could hardly walk I was incontinent my entire body felt like I
incontinent my entire body felt like I
incontinent my entire body felt like I was receiving electrical current I was
was receiving electrical current I was
was receiving electrical current I was hearing helicopters all the time and I
hearing helicopters all the time and I
hearing helicopters all the time and I saw my neuro-ophthalmologist whom I had
saw my neuro-ophthalmologist whom I had
saw my neuro-ophthalmologist whom I had been seeing for the previous six months
been seeing for the previous six months
been seeing for the previous six months and he gave me a basic vision test and I
and he gave me a basic vision test and I
and he gave me a basic vision test and I was unable to see even the largest
was unable to see even the largest
was unable to see even the largest letters on the chart and he proceeded
letters on the chart and he proceeded
letters on the chart and he proceeded then with a visual field test where
then with a visual field test where
then with a visual field test where you’re given a clicker and you click
you’re given a clicker and you click
you’re given a clicker and you click every time you see a light flesh in the
every time you see a light flesh in the
every time you see a light flesh in the periphery and I sat there completely
periphery and I sat there completely
periphery and I sat there completely frozen not one click I couldn’t see a
frozen not one click I couldn’t see a
frozen not one click I couldn’t see a thing
thing
thing he changed through the other eye i sat
he changed through the other eye i sat
he changed through the other eye i sat there once again no clicking he stopped
there once again no clicking he stopped
there once again no clicking he stopped the test and he said the words I’ll
the test and he said the words I’ll
the test and he said the words I’ll never forget I’ll write you a note for
never forget I’ll write you a note for
never forget I’ll write you a note for permanent disability whoo this was just
permanent disability whoo this was just
permanent disability whoo this was just insane I don’t know what happened at
insane I don’t know what happened at
insane I don’t know what happened at this point but something went through me
this point but something went through me
this point but something went through me and I told him you can take that note
and I told him you can take that note
and I told him you can take that note and you can use it as a suppository
because I’m going back to work in six
because I’m going back to work in six weeks when the orchestra season started
weeks when the orchestra season started
weeks when the orchestra season started I said I’m going back to work in six
I said I’m going back to work in six
I said I’m going back to work in six weeks when the orchestra season started
weeks when the orchestra season started
weeks when the orchestra season started and he said how are you gonna do that he
and he said how are you gonna do that he
and he said how are you gonna do that he didn’t believe it was possible but I did
didn’t believe it was possible but I did
didn’t believe it was possible but I did so what do I do I have this
so what do I do I have this
so what do I do I have this I’m completely taken out my central
I’m completely taken out my central
I’m completely taken out my central nervous system is up in smoke I can’t do
nervous system is up in smoke I can’t do
nervous system is up in smoke I can’t do anything there’s a story of a
anything there’s a story of a
anything there’s a story of a tractor-trailer that gets stuck under an
tractor-trailer that gets stuck under an
tractor-trailer that gets stuck under an overpass and structural engineers are
overpass and structural engineers are
overpass and structural engineers are brought to the scene how do they raise
brought to the scene how do they raise
brought to the scene how do they raise the overpass dig grooves into the
the overpass dig grooves into the
the overpass dig grooves into the pavement under the wheels a six year old
pavement under the wheels a six year old
pavement under the wheels a six year old boy comes along on his bicycle and says
boy comes along on his bicycle and says
boy comes along on his bicycle and says hey mister why don’t you just let the
hey mister why don’t you just let the
hey mister why don’t you just let the air out of the tires so we were all six
air out of the tires so we were all six
air out of the tires so we were all six years old once but we lose that over
years old once but we lose that over
years old once but we lose that over time and with education so I said to
time and with education so I said to
time and with education so I said to that six-year-old boy inside me I need
that six-year-old boy inside me I need
that six-year-old boy inside me I need your help
your help
your help you’ve got to show me how to let the air
you’ve got to show me how to let the air
you’ve got to show me how to let the air out of the tires of this disease so
out of the tires of this disease so
out of the tires of this disease so together we started looking for obvious
together we started looking for obvious
together we started looking for obvious things that were overlooked by the
things that were overlooked by the
things that were overlooked by the experts and
experts and
experts and the first thing I found was the water
the first thing I found was the water
the first thing I found was the water cure I started drinking half my body
cure I started drinking half my body
cure I started drinking half my body weight in ounces of water a day I
weight in ounces of water a day I
weight in ounces of water a day I noticed my first signs of improvement I
noticed my first signs of improvement I
noticed my first signs of improvement I looked at other things I looked at MS
looked at other things I looked at MS
looked at other things I looked at MS rates around the world and noticed that
rates around the world and noticed that
rates around the world and noticed that your very poorest nations have rates of
your very poorest nations have rates of
your very poorest nations have rates of MS that are about 1/3 of your wealthy
MS that are about 1/3 of your wealthy
MS that are about 1/3 of your wealthy affluent industrialized nations I looked
affluent industrialized nations I looked
affluent industrialized nations I looked at Japan having been there with its
at Japan having been there with its
at Japan having been there with its environmental and overcrowding issues
environmental and overcrowding issues
environmental and overcrowding issues very low rates of MS
very low rates of MS
very low rates of MS I saw the Okinawa centenarian study over
I saw the Okinawa centenarian study over
I saw the Okinawa centenarian study over 900 people that were looked at over the
900 people that were looked at over the
900 people that were looked at over the age of 100 and in perfect health so I
age of 100 and in perfect health so I
age of 100 and in perfect health so I began to believe that our wealthy lavish
began to believe that our wealthy lavish
began to believe that our wealthy lavish lifestyle has some link with higher
lifestyle has some link with higher
lifestyle has some link with higher rates of multiple sclerosis I also
rates of multiple sclerosis I also
rates of multiple sclerosis I also looked at something called the placebo
looked at something called the placebo
looked at something called the placebo effect and this is where the
effect and this is where the
effect and this is where the six-year-old boy helped if you look at
six-year-old boy helped if you look at
six-year-old boy helped if you look at clinical trials where you get people who
clinical trials where you get people who
clinical trials where you get people who inexplicably improve in the placebo
inexplicably improve in the placebo
inexplicably improve in the placebo group it’s written off as an anomaly by
group it’s written off as an anomaly by
group it’s written off as an anomaly by the experts the six-year-old boy said
the experts the six-year-old boy said
the experts the six-year-old boy said something is happening here so I started
something is happening here so I started
something is happening here so I started learning the placebo effect by
learning the placebo effect by
learning the placebo effect by meditating to 30-minute sessions a day
meditating to 30-minute sessions a day
meditating to 30-minute sessions a day that the MS was going into remission and
that the MS was going into remission and
that the MS was going into remission and leaving my body completely one of the
leaving my body completely one of the
leaving my body completely one of the other things I used experiences all
other things I used experiences all
other things I used experiences all through my life and I was once on a
through my life and I was once on a
through my life and I was once on a backpacking trip not far from here in
backpacking trip not far from here in
backpacking trip not far from here in shannon Doan National Park and after
shannon Doan National Park and after
shannon Doan National Park and after three days in the woods I came out at a
three days in the woods I came out at a
three days in the woods I came out at a visitor center and I saw a big sign with
visitor center and I saw a big sign with
visitor center and I saw a big sign with a beautiful picture of a deer and it
a beautiful picture of a deer and it
a beautiful picture of a deer and it said do not feed the deer when you feed
said do not feed the deer when you feed
said do not feed the deer when you feed a deer human foods such as chips and
a deer human foods such as chips and
a deer human foods such as chips and candy you reduce its lifespan by 30
candy you reduce its lifespan by 30
candy you reduce its lifespan by 30 percent so I’m thinking I’m gonna be as
percent so I’m thinking I’m gonna be as
percent so I’m thinking I’m gonna be as healthy as this deer so I basically
healthy as this deer so I basically
healthy as this deer so I basically adopted the deers diet a deer drinks
adopted the deers diet a deer drinks
adopted the deers diet a deer drinks water eats vegetation probably some
water eats vegetation probably some
water eats vegetation probably some insects I passed on that one but
insects I passed on that one but
insects I passed on that one but another thing I started to do is I
another thing I started to do is I
another thing I started to do is I looked at people who accomplished the
looked at people who accomplished the
looked at people who accomplished the impossible how do they do this your most
impossible how do they do this your most
impossible how do they do this your most basic example is in 1954 the first
basic example is in 1954 the first
basic example is in 1954 the first person to run a mile in under four
person to run a mile in under four
person to run a mile in under four minutes was Roger Bannister prior to
minutes was Roger Bannister prior to
minutes was Roger Bannister prior to that people said it’s impossible human
that people said it’s impossible human
that people said it’s impossible human body can never do it he does it it’s now
body can never do it he does it it’s now
body can never do it he does it it’s now an achievable goal the baseball pitcher
an achievable goal the baseball pitcher
an achievable goal the baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan who threw his seventh
Nolan Ryan who threw his seventh
Nolan Ryan who threw his seventh no-hitter at the age of 44 and in that
no-hitter at the age of 44 and in that
no-hitter at the age of 44 and in that game throwing the ball 96 miles per hour
game throwing the ball 96 miles per hour
game throwing the ball 96 miles per hour he stayed off the aging process of the
he stayed off the aging process of the
he stayed off the aging process of the human body for 25 years so I’ve adopted
human body for 25 years so I’ve adopted
human body for 25 years so I’ve adopted his lifestyle
his lifestyle
his lifestyle every morning I begin with yoga
every morning I begin with yoga
every morning I begin with yoga stretching weight lifting you name it
stretching weight lifting you name it
stretching weight lifting you name it cycling I live a very disciplined
cycling I live a very disciplined
cycling I live a very disciplined lifestyle in 2013 I had the privilege of
lifestyle in 2013 I had the privilege of
lifestyle in 2013 I had the privilege of meeting someone who accomplished the
meeting someone who accomplished the
meeting someone who accomplished the impossible and that was Nando parado who
impossible and that was Nando parado who
impossible and that was Nando parado who survived the famous plane crash in 1972
survived the famous plane crash in 1972
survived the famous plane crash in 1972 in the Andes Mountains and when the
in the Andes Mountains and when the
in the Andes Mountains and when the plane crashed in the winter high up in
plane crashed in the winter high up in
plane crashed in the winter high up in the mountains nanda was thrown from row
the mountains nanda was thrown from row
the mountains nanda was thrown from row 9 into the bulkhead his skull was
9 into the bulkhead his skull was
9 into the bulkhead his skull was fractured in four places he was given up
fractured in four places he was given up
fractured in four places he was given up for dead and placed in the cold with the
for dead and placed in the cold with the
for dead and placed in the cold with the bodies three days later he awoke from a
bodies three days later he awoke from a
bodies three days later he awoke from a coma and 72 days after the crash Nando
coma and 72 days after the crash Nando
coma and 72 days after the crash Nando showed up in the foothills and got help
showed up in the foothills and got help
showed up in the foothills and got help this man had gone 37 and a half miles
this man had gone 37 and a half miles
this man had gone 37 and a half miles through one of the most difficult
through one of the most difficult
through one of the most difficult mountain ranges in the world in the
mountain ranges in the world in the
mountain ranges in the world in the winter he had never seen snow
winter he had never seen snow
winter he had never seen snow he had no survival training no gloves no
he had no survival training no gloves no
he had no survival training no gloves no boots no equipment and no food his only
boots no equipment and no food his only
boots no equipment and no food his only source of food was the people who had
source of food was the people who had
source of food was the people who had perished in the crash mountain climbing
perished in the crash mountain climbing
perished in the crash mountain climbing teams that reconstructed his route said
teams that reconstructed his route said
teams that reconstructed his route said what this man did was not possible so I
what this man did was not possible so I
what this man did was not possible so I met him and I said to him I always
met him and I said to him I always
met him and I said to him I always wanted to meet you and thank you because
wanted to meet you and thank you because
wanted to meet you and thank you because you were one of my guides when I was
you were one of my guides when I was
you were one of my guides when I was finished I’m not supposed to be here and
finished I’m not supposed to be here and
finished I’m not supposed to be here and he said I’m not supposed to be here
he said I’m not supposed to be here
he said I’m not supposed to be here either and when this giant gave me a hug
either and when this giant gave me a hug
either and when this giant gave me a hug something went through me I felt like
something went through me I felt like
something went through me I felt like for the first time that I had cured
for the first time that I had cured
for the first time that I had cured myself of this incurable disease and I
myself of this incurable disease and I
myself of this incurable disease and I went back to my neurologist whom I
went back to my neurologist whom I
went back to my neurologist whom I Sene for 11 years and he did a complete
Sene for 11 years and he did a complete
Sene for 11 years and he did a complete series of MRIs again on my brain and
series of MRIs again on my brain and
series of MRIs again on my brain and spinal cord in 1999 my brain had over 50
spinal cord in 1999 my brain had over 50
spinal cord in 1999 my brain had over 50 active lesions in my spinal cord had one
active lesions in my spinal cord had one
active lesions in my spinal cord had one that was three and a half centimeters in
that was three and a half centimeters in
that was three and a half centimeters in length and I worked so hard at my
length and I worked so hard at my
length and I worked so hard at my recovery and true to my word I went back
recovery and true to my word I went back
recovery and true to my word I went back to work in six weeks when the orchestra
to work in six weeks when the orchestra
to work in six weeks when the orchestra season started wasn’t easy but I kept
season started wasn’t easy but I kept
season started wasn’t easy but I kept going never missed work I missed five
going never missed work I missed five
going never missed work I missed five weeks of work that year when I was
weeks of work that year when I was
weeks of work that year when I was hospitalized so I had in 2013 I had a
hospitalized so I had in 2013 I had a
hospitalized so I had in 2013 I had a complete series of MRIs then when my
complete series of MRIs then when my
complete series of MRIs then when my neurologist looked at the results he
neurologist looked at the results he
neurologist looked at the results he said to me you did the impossible
said to me you did the impossible
said to me you did the impossible because there were no more lesions and
because there were no more lesions and
because there were no more lesions and no traces of the disease anymore
no traces of the disease anymore
no traces of the disease anymore whatsoever so I was so taken out in 1999
whatsoever so I was so taken out in 1999
whatsoever so I was so taken out in 1999 but I worked hard and everything came
but I worked hard and everything came
but I worked hard and everything came back I got the use of my legs back I got
back I got the use of my legs back I got
back I got the use of my legs back I got the use of my eyesight back I now make
the use of my eyesight back I now make
the use of my eyesight back I now make it to the bathroom when I need to go I I
it to the bathroom when I need to go I I
it to the bathroom when I need to go I I don’t hear helicopters anymore and I
don’t hear helicopters anymore and I
don’t hear helicopters anymore and I don’t feel like I’m receiving electrical
don’t feel like I’m receiving electrical
don’t feel like I’m receiving electrical current anymore but the most important
current anymore but the most important
current anymore but the most important thing I’ve gotten the use of my hands
thing I’ve gotten the use of my hands
thing I’ve gotten the use of my hands back
back
back [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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