The Conscious Caregiver (Part 2)
If you missed Part 1 of this series, catch up here: https://brandibunda.com/blog/52394/my-dad-s-cancer-diagnosis-wasn-t-the-end-of-the-story
Today's blog is a rather long one, God bless you if you make it to the end!
When the doctors told us there was nothing more they could do, I knew I couldn’t give up. That was October 2012.
My dad had just endured eight weeks of intense treatment—daily radiation, 8-hour chemo infusions, and two of the strongest drugs in oncology: one nicknamed the Red Devil, the other Bone Crusher.
His body was exhausted, and yet, I believed there had to be more we could do to support his healing. We doubled down on a full lifestyle shift—removing what we could, adding in what would help, and trusting God every step of the way.
Full disclaimer: I didn’t go slow. I researched my little heart out and went full throttle.
Here’s a glimpse into the tools, routines, and natural supports we used during that time… I dive even deeper in The Conscious Caregiver:
Essential Oils (Young Living)
It started with a Premium Starter Kit, and those oils became part of our daily rhythm for so many things (more than what is detailed below):
- Frankincense & Thieves: added to a shot of NingXia Red daily
- Lemon: added to our water for gentle detox support
- Lavender & Peace & Calming: used on my dad’s head at night to ease anxious thoughts and help him rest
- Peppermint: used in herbal teas and homemade capsules for digestive support
- Digize: rubbed on his abdomen and feet to support digestion
Early on, we also invested in the Golden Touch Kit, which expanded our options and added targeted support:
- Melrose: supportive for skin, especially helpful during daily radiation
- R.C. and Raven: respiratory-supporting blends that became part of our daily routine
- EndoFlex: helped support the endocrine system
- JuvaFlex: focused on liver support, which was critical during and after treatment
- Digize: also included in this kit—we used it every single day for digestive support
There were days my dad was too weak to apply anything himself, so I made sure the oils were used consistently—on his head, hands, chest, and other vitaflex points, especially on his feet, where absorption is gentle yet effective for the whole body.
NingXia Red & Antioxidants
We drank NingXia Red every single day—a powerful antioxidant drink made with wolfberries, essential oils, and whole-food ingredients. We had previously used MonaVie (an antioxidant drink made with the Açaí berry and other nutrients), but we made the switch after seeing the nutritional density in NingXia Red.
I remember watching a video of what blood looked like 30 minutes after drinking it… and it left an impression I’ll never forget. Watch the video here.
Want to learn more about the science behind NingXia Red and why we continue to consume it?
Teas & Hydration
Hydration became a priority—and not just with water. We eliminated coffee due to its acidity, knowing cancer thrives in an acidic environment.
We drank herbal teas daily, including:
- Essiac tea / tincture (a traditional blend used for cleansing)
- Liver teas to support detoxification
- Respiratory blends supportive to the lungs
- Throat Coat (soothing for radiation recovery)
To each cup, we added oils like lemon, peppermint, orange and thieves vitality (all are GRAS by the FDA for ingestion).
We also made the switch to alkaline water, focusing on maintaining a more alkaline environment in the body and reducing acidity.
Nutrition & Lifestyle Shifts
We made some major changes to the way we lived and what we brought into our home—because when you’re walking through cancer, everything becomes intentional. Every bite, every sip, every choice.
Here’s what that looked like for us:
- We cut out processed sugar completely, keeping only the naturally occurring sugars found in fruits and vegetables.
- Switched from conventional to grass-fed, organic meat whenever possible.
- Prioritized organic fruits and vegetables—doing the best we could within our means.
- Tossed all our conventional cleaning products—they were full of harmful chemicals that we were breathing in while trying to “clean.” That didn’t sit right with me anymore.
- Got rid of candles, plug-ins, and Febreze-like room sprays. I learned that our indoor air can be more toxic than the outside, especially with the constant use of synthetic fragrances.
- I also switched to a plant-based cleaner that I still use 11 years later. Not only is it safer, it saves us money and simplifies our entire cleaning routine.
When it came to meals, we became creatures of habit in the best way:
- Lots of soups, smoothies, and wraps became staples in our rotation.
- For my dad, oatmeal was a daily go-to—easy to digest, comforting, and nourishing. Breakfast bowls or burritos were also on the menu.
- We focused on whole, healing foods, protein intake and kept things as simple and nutrient-dense as possible.
I also dive deeper into the supplement regimen we followed—including what we took, why we took it and when—inside The Conscious Caregiver.
These weren’t easy changes by any means—but they were necessary.
I couldn’t control everything, but I could control our environment, what we consumed and what we chose to remove.
Mind, Spirit, and Routine
We prayed constantly. We took walks when he had the strength. My boss was one of the biggest blessings during that season—he allowed me to work remotely from the chemo room so I didn’t have to travel as much across my four-state territory. I continued researching by night and stayed by my dad’s side as both caregiver and advocate.
We stayed in a hotel during the week in Texas and traveled home to Oklahoma on the weekend for rest.
One of the most grounding rituals we had was reading from Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling every single day and listening to worship music. Those devotion passages often felt like they were written just for us—offering hope, comfort, and strength in our darkest hours.
They helped us stay spiritually connected when everything else felt uncertain.
I’ll never say that any one product or protocol cured my dad. What I can say is that we chose to support his body with every tool available to us—conventional and natural—while trusting God to do what only He can.
Honestly, if someone told me standing on my head for hours would help him, I would have done it. That’s the kind of love and desperation that fueled me. And looking back, I’m deeply proud of the commitment I gave during that season—every decision, every prayer, every ounce of advocacy.
Why I’m Writing The Conscious Caregiver
I know this seems like a lot, and it is but this blog post only scratches the surface. Over the past 11 years, I’ve continued to learn more about holistic health, natural living and have listened to others testimonies with similar journeys to my dads. They are survivors.
I’ve also said goodbye to people far too soon—wondering if their outcome might have been different had they explored another path or been open to complementary and alternative therapies. It breaks my heart, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I feel so strongly about sharing this story.
I’m not a doctor, and I’m not claiming to cure, treat, or mitigate any disease. I’m simply here to share our experience in the hope that it inspires others to stay curious, ask questions, search for answers, be your own advocate, stay close to God and hold onto hope—even in the hardest seasons.
- What we did
- What I learned
- How I stayed grounded
- What I’d do differently
- How to be a strong, present caregiver in the most tender of times
If you’re walking through cancer care—whether for yourself or someone you love—know this:
You are not helpless. There ARE things you can do.
You can be supportive. You can pray. You can research. You can hope. You can take aligned action.
And if you’re looking for a great first step, check out the 14-Day Reset Program—it’s the perfect foundation for anyone needing to reset their nutrition, hydration, and daily routine.
Thank You
Thank you for reading a snapshot of our journey. It means so much to be able to share this story with you.
If you have any questions or just need someone to talk to as you walk through your own wellness path, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You’re not alone.
And if you’re ready to take the first step toward a more natural lifestyle, I’d love to personally welcome you into my wellness community. You’ll gain access to trusted tools, education, and ongoing support to help you feel confident and equipped.
One of the easiest ways to begin is by grabbing a Starter Kit (the same way we did) and I’ll help plug you into everything you need to get started. It’s free to create an account. Simply click on my link below and use the code SHAREYL to save 10% on your first order.
Please let me know if I can pray over your journey with you.
With love, light and purpose,
Brandi
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