My mother is currently hospitalized for end stage heart failure. Particularly congestive heart failure, diastolic dysfunction. Age 72. Her docs were preparing us for her death, but she’s defied the odds and is doing better than they anticipated in all measures. 5-7 days on ventilator turned out to be 2 days, and she’s getting out of the ICU into a cardiac ward today or tomorrow, and they are planning to move her to a rehab hospital some days after that. She was able to stand and walk on her own (with a walker) the same day she got off the ventilator.

She’s plant based but not strict whole food. I’d honestly say the majority of her diet is vegan junk food with small amounts of dairy/egg mixed in. Her doctors are still saying that there’s really no coming back from end stage heart failure and to expect her to continue to decline and that she could be hospitalized again in days, weeks, or a month.

She, and I, have been greatly inspired by Dr. Greger, and the story of his grandmother and her spectacular recovery. Her path started with enrollment in a live in program run by Dr. Nathan Pritikin.

But, that was a long time ago. Looking at the Pritikin program’s eating plan today (https://www.pritikin.com/eating-plan] it seems like they are no longer whole food plant based. But it does seem like they offer it as an option.

So I’m concerned that they’re no longer as good as they once were. So I come to you, looking for suggestions. Are my concerns unfounded? Is there a better program?

Money is not too much of a concern. They’re small time blue collar millionaires near the end of their life. Books and self managed programs are unlikely to work. The books I’ve bought her by Greger, Esseltyn and others are just collecting dust. But I feel like if we can just get her started and break the junk food addiction and bad habits, get her to try a different way than what she’s used to, she can continue down that path.

by LurkLurkleton

3 Comments

  1. hughjames34

    Look into True North in Santa Rosa, CA

  2. InterestingOcelot583

    Look up Dr. Furman. He runs a plant based retreat in San Diego. He keeps patients there for a few weeks so that they can really understand the lifestyle without having to navigate the outside world

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