Your Healing Retreat: Education & Hope for Autism and ADD
The "Your Healing Retreat" conference is this June 3-5 at the Kanuga Conference center in Henderson, NC.
Carve out a few days for yourself and spend time with Elizabeth Mumper MD, Julie Buckley MD, FAAP, Maureen McDonnell RN, Nancy O'Hara MD and Stephanie Cave MD, MS, FAAFP, true leaders of the autism treatment community. This is a unique conference designed with treating Mom and Dad to a gentle retreat that will also help your child.
Visit Your Healing Retreat today to learn more.
Your Healing Retreat:
June 3rd – June 5th 2011
Sponsored by Hopewell Pharmacy and Compounding Center
By Maureen McDonnell RN
Parents Can’t Keep Going Without Hitting the “REFRESH” Button
Parents of children with autism are on a constant quest to discover all they can to improve the behavior, speech, cognitive function and general health of their children. However in the midst of their ever-escalating activities and pursuits, they need to stop once in a while and take care of themselves.
When I joined four of the top medical experts in the biomedical field (Drs Stephanie Cave, Liz Mumper, Nancy O’Hara and Julie Buckley) for a weekend last year after Julie Buckley (a pediatrician and mother of a child with autism) developed breast cancer, it wasn’t to compare power points or fill each other in on the latest research, it was to stop and acknowledge that with Julie’s diagnosis and surgery, the early passing of Jo Pike and the general high level of stress and illness in the autism community, something needed to shift.
The concept that was born out of the five of us coming together for that weekend was not only our name (sisters in science, spirit and spunk), but a new model of education, hope and rejuvenation we call Your Healing Retreat. Yes, all four of these docs (and I) realized that in addition to fulfilling our mutual desire to teach physicians and parents methods for improving the children’s health and behavior, we also wanted to address the very real needs of the caregivers.
So, instead of doing what we had always done and renting a hotel where we would breathe re circulated air, eat processed food and ask every researcher and clinician we knew to present, we decided to do something more in alignment with our new vision. We searched for a serene, resort-type setting and found such a place in North Carolina. The Kanuga Conference Center has hiking trails, a beautiful lake, 100 year old cottages with fireplaces and to add some proverbial icing on the cake, we will be serving all local and organic food.
Yes, there will be lectures on mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and GI distress as well as talks for parents and primary care providers on practical solutions for reversing and repairing these conditions. But there will also be a lakeside wine reception, massage, yoga and dance sessions in the morning, whole food cooking classes, workshops on toxin-free dentistry and ways to create a healthy home or office, sessions on stress management, healing relationships and meditation as well as a chance to sample low pressure hyperbarics.
Will parents and clinicians who attend learn cutting edge treatment strategies to help their children heal? Absolutely! But in addition, those who come to the healing retreat will leave feeling rejuvenated by both new perspectives on, and practical tools for, achieving healthier more balanced lifestyles.
Spring is a time of renewal and Your Healing Retreat is an opportunity to experience this new model for learning and healing….. Press that REFRESH button and register today!
Register at a discounted rate for the month of April at www.YourHealingRetreat.com
The sisters will not let finances get in the way of parents and clinicians attending. Any questions call or email Maureen McDonnell, RN at [email protected] or call 609-240-1315 and we will assist you.
Top 3 Reasons to Register for Your Healing Retreat (and to Bring a Physician)
1. Four of the best and most experienced medical doctors from the biomedical treatment community (Stephanie Cave, MD, Liz Mumper, MD, Nancy O'Hara, MD and Julie Buckley, MD) have collaborated to continue the much needed service of training physicians, nurse practitioners, Physician’s Assistants and other primary care providers on the biomedical approach to treating autism.
2. Parents will receive a $50.00 discount off of registration for the month of April and another $50.00 off for simply getting a physician or other primary care provider to register. We all know how desperately we need “trained” clinicians to partner with parents to address the medical issues the children with autism and ADD have.
3. The stress level that parents of kids with autism experience is enormous. To address this issue (that is taking a hefty toll on our community), we have created a new model of education and rejuvenation. In addition to lectures, there will be workshops on stress management, whole food cooking and yoga. Healthy organic meals will be served. Massage will be provided, HBOT will be available and there will be a lakeside wine reception. Parents and clincicians should take this opportunity to care for themselves so that they can continue to care for the children.
Thank you Maureen and all for putting something like this together! I am so excited to come with my husband, learn, AND relax a little! Can't wait!!!
Posted by: Jill | May 18, 2011 at 05:30 PM
Why can't we have something like this on the west coast. I would love to attend, but can't afford everything that would be involved for me to attend. And boy, do I need something like this. But it would be more heartache than a retreat.
Posted by: lisa danskin | May 17, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Any parent who needs financial assistance to attend this program that includes 2 nights lodging in a 100 year old cottage with a fireplace, 6 organic meals, a lakeside wine reception, yoga, massage, lectures by 4 of the best docs in the biomedical field, whole food cooking classes, sessions on stress management and meditation, contact me and we'll work something out. Go to www.YourHealingRetreat.com, and then contact us and I'll get right back to you. Thanks to our Healing Sponsors we can help parents enjoy this one of a kind experience. best, Maureen McDonnell, RN Your Healing Retreat Coordinator
Posted by: Maureen H. McDonnell, RN | May 16, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Doctors can't keep going without hitting the "REFRESH" button also. Treating autistic kids, essentially thru their devoted parents, is one of the most rewarding and yet complex and taxing aspects of my medical practice. Thanks Maureen for an opportunity to both learn and rejuvenate!
James Biddle MD www.docbiddle.com
Asheville Integrative Medicine
Posted by: James Biddle MD | May 16, 2011 at 08:52 AM
We have worked hard to get sponsors to cover many of the costs of the retreat and are very grateful for the generosity of Our Healing Sponsors. For Tara, who mentioned it was way above her price range, please understand that the fee for parents covers lodging, 6 organic gluten free and casein free meals, as well as all of the weekend events and lectures. If cost is the only thing that is standing in the way of your attendance, please contact us and we will find a sponsor to defray some more of the cost. We intend for this weekend to be transformative and fun for all involved!
Posted by: Elizabeth Mumper, MD | May 15, 2011 at 01:07 PM
As a doctor of psychology I am excited to hear that the body and spirit will feel welcome and cared for along with all of the work our minds want to do to in the learning process. You have a brilliant concept, and I look forward to experiencing it, learning, meeting people and rejuvenating.
Posted by: Tayria Ward, Ph.D. | May 15, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Too bad it's way above my price range!
Posted by: Tara McMillan | May 14, 2011 at 08:09 PM
That sounds really terrific. I hope you do this in future years as well. I'd love to be able to participate. The husband and I are going to AO/GR in chicago this year and I don't think I could swing the two weekends in a row. Bummer because I just live a short drive from Henderson! Hope those who attend have a fun, relaxing time.
Posted by: Kristine | May 14, 2011 at 02:23 PM