Tag: Karen Holton

After my children were born, my physical and mental symptoms got worse, and I weighed a whopping 320 pounds!  Over the years I tried many western and alternative healing modalities along with fad diets, TOPS, fen-phen (phentermine), Weight Watchers, etc. with only temporary, limited success.  I had to keep trying because I was desperate.  I had the option to give up and die, but I could not abandon my children, and I had the overwhelming feeling that I was meant for better times – so I hung in there year after year.  I also attended many therapy sessions: day therapy, residential therapy, counselling, AA, NA, etc. with limited success.

During all of this time, I underwent 8 major abdominal surgeries, two of which were botched: I lost my spleen during a surgery in 1988; then in 2007 I went in for a minor incision hernia repair.  The surgeon inadvertently sliced into my small intestine in at least two places.  Even though I remained in hospital, this went undetected for 7 days as I gained 45 pounds of my own waste material, which spread throughout my body.  I was dying!

On the 7th day I was rushed into another surgery, but by the fifth hour they had to call it off, after finding and repairing only one of the lacerations.  To spare you the details, I spent the next 5 weeks in a hellish hospital experience with faulty machines, experimental medications and procedures resulting in sepsis, diabetes, a completely numb left thigh, spinal injuries, a large wound that had to be kept open and continuously, mechanically drained; and brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.  My lungs could not inflate because my lung cavities were full of waste fluids, and the hospital staff didn’t consider this for about 4 days after the second surgery.

Afterwards, I was sent home with a huge open wound, drainage tube, and very little aftercare because my physician unexpectedly left town about the same time.  Doctors are in short supply in the North Island area and a replacement was not available at that time.  Words cannot express the suffering I experienced, and the frustration I felt, because I was too ill to advocate for myself.  The pain medication was totally inadequate while in hospital, and then cut off after I was sent home.  This took place in 2007 and I am still recuperating today!

In 2011, I developed several masses under my right arm, and the local doctor sent me for tests.  The ultrasound revealed a few “hypo-echoic tumours” in my right armpit.  She told me that I had cancer and that we had to get right onto the cancer protocols: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  The treatment scared me more than the disease did, and I never went back to see her again.  She made me an appointment to see a surgeon, (to have the tumours removed), and I kept that one appointment dated three months in the future.  In the meantime, I restricted my diet, took long walks and developed my own affirmation/visualization program to restore my health.  Unbelievably, three months later when I saw the surgeon, the symptoms were gone.  The surgeon was astounded.

I have had more than my fair share of suffering, but the good news is that I was forced to rebuild a brand new Karen.  I knew if I could get through this, I could get through anything.  I had nothing to fear or to hold me back.  My spirit guides were with me every step of the way, suggesting exactly what I needed through my intuition and lucid dreams.  2014 was a landmark year for me, because it was the first time I was able to work a little for many years; (although I had various minor volunteer positions the preceding two years).

Don’t feel sorry for me.  My suffering has led to great refinement and a deep understanding of the human condition.  I developed so much compassion for humanity that I was motivated to create the 9 Steps to Quantum Health Transformation; and to share this without financial barriers so that all may have access to this vital, life enhancing information.  I also discovered the great power of forgiveness!

Today I am about 178 pounds less than at my top weight.  I have conquered all of my addictions, use no pharmaceutical/synthetic medications of any kind, and am clear and bright with a very sunny view of my future.  As some things in the world seem to crash and burn around me, I keep getting better every day, and have much to look forward to as I live my life mindfully and consciously. My daily practice of meditation and lucid dreaming opens doors of possibility that I never before considered.

In spite of my challenges and advancing age, in 2001 I earned a Diploma in Women’s Studies at North Island College, and in 2004 I earned a Bachelor Degree (with Distinction) in Social Work at the University of Victoria.  I took a generalist program focusing on sociology, addictions and family counselling.  My education, dealing with my issues, and beating the odds puts me in an ideal position to coach others with their well-being and spirituality.  Enlightenment (ascension) is within reach of every human being; indeed it is our birthright.  I would love to be your coach, and assist you to find your own Inner Guru, to assist you with your journey.  Life is good. :o)

Change has been constant throughout my life.  I was born in Vancouver, BC and spent 6 weeks in hospital when I was only three months old, due to a dual diagnosis of spinal meningitis and polio (I underwent two spinal taps).  As a result, I was in constant pain as a child and as an adult.  I received no follow-up treatment.

Before the age of five, my mom frequently separated from my dad, and when I was 4 years old, I survived 6 months (along with my younger sibling) in an abusive foster home in Alberta.  In addition to foster care, my 2 siblings and I were always left with babysitters, and we only saw glimpses of my mother because she worked two jobs.  We rarely saw our father, and then I was permanently separated from him when I was four years old.

Not long after this, when I turned five, mom remarried and I faced an abusive stepfather.  He adopted me and my two other siblings, changed our names, and erased our past.  We were never permitted to speak of it.  I also moved twelve times before I quit school in grade 10.  Home life was a most disagreeable environment, but the good news is that during this time, I came to experience spiritual adventures that sustained me throughout my life.

I experienced metaphysical abilities that others did not share, (or at least talk about), and I was told that I had an over-active imagination.  I experienced lucid dreaming, telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition.  Due to my spiritual experiences, I kept going to different Christian religions for an explanation and support; but I was discouraged from embracing my gifts because I was told they were the work of demons.  Every religion I contacted taught me that they had the only way to correctly access God and a spiritual life.  They were wrong!  Unfortunately I did not yet believe in myself, and my spiritual connections, until many years later.

Then, when I was fifteen, I was severely criminally abused.  I was kidnapped and held with the intention of being sold into the sex-trade industry.  With the assistance of a kind stranger I escaped, but due to the trauma, ended up with mental health issues.  When I got home, my parents thought I was acting out of rebellion.  They did not understand that my depression and behaviours were due to the trauma of abuses, so they encouraged me to just leave home.  I soon discovered isolation and poverty, and could not interact well with others or look after myself properly; in order to survive I self-medicated with drugs and alcohol.  Eventually I learned to somatise my stress and emotional/physical pain, which led to significant weight gain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic migraines, colitis (IBS), severe depression, intense anxiety and addictions.

When I was 20 years old, I contracted a rare blood disease and within a matter of a few days, all the components of my blood died.  I was severely jaundiced and my urine looked like strong, black coffee.  At the hospital, they gave me 7 blood transfusions and put me on a massive dose of Prednisone, along with other drugs.  Prednisone may have saved my life but the 20+ pills I took per day, changed me physically and permanently.  I was effectively given about 5 times the amount of steroid that is prescribed today in order to turn a woman into a man.  This drug not only gave me a beard, but it changed the way my brain worked too.

About 16 years later, I married and had two beautiful children who have been my best influence for motivation to change and heal.  The marriage did not last but motherhood did.  I weighed 320 pounds, had plenty of health issues, but raised them on my own the best that I could under the circumstances.  Although we lived in poverty, (because I was too sick to work), I was there for them in a way that my mother could not be for me.  Not an ideal situation, but I believe the love and attention I paid toward both my children has paid off.  They have grown to become amazing individuals who I am so proud of.

Read more and find out the inspiring conclusion to my story in PART 2.