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HANNIBAL, MO -- Cindy Heibel’s parents died within three weeks of each other, right at the Christmas 2010 holidays.

They were 63 years old.

Cindy’s at that stage in her grief that she’s angry with her parents for not doing more to protect their health.

“They could still be here, still seeing their grandchildren, if they’d have been more careful,” says this Hannibal mom.

Cindy shared her story with me over a glass of wine one night (good for the heart :)!

She’s just a jolly character, quick to laugh and easy to talk to.  When she told me what happened with her parents, she was able to shake her head and even chuckle about her situation…but there was no mistaking her pain.  She agreed to share her story with you in hopes of helping someone else avoid the grief she’s going through.

Cindy’s mom, Cheryl Chapman, had a host of medical problems, including diabetes.  When she contracted swine flu last year, that really did her in.  The flu taxed her body to the point that her pancreas failed.  Pancreas help digest food.  Without it, Cheryl became malnourished and lost a lot of weight.

Cheryl’s sister stepped in to help.  She researched some websites that offered homeopathic remedies.  She found an “all-natural” pill that promised to help her digest food.  Those pills, straight from some crackpot company in India, eventually killed Cheryl Chapman.

“I just thought, ‘you’ve never listened to your baby sister before, why start now?’” Cindy told me with a rueful smile.

Now, Cindy’s aunt had her sister’s best interest at heart.  She loved Cheryl and just wanted to help.  And truth be told, Cheryl’s days were numbered because of her ailments.  Those pills just sped the process along.

Stumped by why her liver was failing, Cheryl’s doctors in Utah performed a biopsy.  The test revealed deadly amounts of heavy metals in her liver.  Specifically, she had toxic amounts of copper and nickel.  After asking some questions, the doctors learned of the “homeopathic” pills Cheryl was taking every time she ate.  Two weeks later, Cheryl died of liver failure.

“My mom was a nurse.  She should have known better.”  This time there’s no smile in Cindy’s voice, only regret.

Why would Cheryl do such a thing?  A couple of reasons; ones we can all understand and appreciate.  The doctor had prescribed enzymes to help Cheryl’s digestion and pancreatic function.  She couldn’t afford them.  She didn’t have health insurance and hadn’t qualified for Medicare yet.  And Cheryl was desperate.  She knew her body was failing her, and when her sister stepped in with a possible solution, Cheryl decided she didn’t have anything to lose.  So she gambled--and lost, big.

If you take nothing else away from Cindy’s tale, she asks that you remember this:  TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR!  We all know that, right?  So why don’t we do it?  Why would we place our trust in some wingnut out to make a buck instead of our physician?  I don’t know why, but I can admit I’ve pulled some dumb stuff myself without talking to my doctor.  I’ve learned my lesson, thanks to Cindy, and it’s her sincere hope that you’ve learned your lesson too.

Next time, we’ll talk about Cindy’s dad and how his wish for a clear driveway drove him to his death.  Until then, take care ~Sarah.