It really does not matter how old “Mom” is. It is her lot in life to worry about her kids, regardless of their ages. It is what mothers do. It is what Shirley Desautels, an AIM Director from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, does.
In July of 2006 Shirley received a call from her daughter, Amy Jones, mother of two sons. Amy was nearsighted as a child and did not grow out of it as an adult. “As a child,” says Shirley, “Amy wore ‘coke bottle’ eyeglasses. When she was 20 years old, she got soft contact lenses and had worn them successfully for 19 years.” Then came the phone call.
Amy said she was having a bit of trouble reading and thought she might need a prescription change. She asked her parents to drive her to the appointment because the optometrist would be dilating her eyes for the exam. What was thought to be a routine exam turned into a two-hour nightmare. Amy came out of the exam, supported by an assistant and accompanied by a shaken optometrist. “He told us he had made an appointment with an eye specialist/surgeon and we needed to go right away,” recalls Shirley.
The specialist confirmed the bad news. “Amy’s right eye had cracked in several places and these cracks were bleeding,” says Shirley. “The retina in the left eye had already cracked and healed, leaving scars. Amy had very little vision left in that eye, but she did not notice because the ‘good’ eye had taken over all tasks.” Now it was cracked and bleeding. “We were told this was very serious. Amy would need a few laser treatments to stop the bleeding, and the scar tissue left after the cracks healed could mean loss of mid-range vision in that eye also. We were encouraged to agree to a series of shots (one every few months for an undetermined length of time) of a yet unapproved drug to try to strengthen the retina. We were told that the procedures had to be done within 10 days.”
Amy remembers her vision challenge prior to the procedure. “It was like looking through a steamed-up shower door. When reading, letters were missing, blurred, and distorted. When riding in a car, the lines on the road were missing sections and were wavy.” She had difficulty doing the smallest task. Understandably, she was irritable and despondent. One day she was fine; the next day she was told you may soon be legally blind.
Amy had been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration at age 39.
Then came the procedures. A shot was given to the right eye, then a dye was injected into her veins so the surgeon could see where to laser. Due to the dye in her system, any skin exposed to light would be badly burned, so Amy left the hospital with every inch of her skin completely covered. The house had to be darkened for another three days.
Recalls Shirley: “My husband, Norm, and I told Amy that it was wonderful what the doctors could do to try to save as much sight as possible. Maybe she should help their efforts with some nutrition from the AIM products so the healing might be faster. We got nowhere with our plea.”
Two weeks later, the doctor checked her progress. There was still a little bleeding and an appointment was made to do the procedures again in December. The doctors told Amy that with corrective lenses, they might be able to get her vision to 20/70 – but 20/90 would be more realistic. Would her ability to read printed material return? Probably not completely. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind became involved. It showed her videos about age-related macular degeneration. She was told she would probably never drive again because one must have correction to 20/50 for that. She was advised to seek counseling. Amy became extremely depressed and could think of nothing but her situation.
“One evening,” says Shirley, “we mixed one tablespoon of AIM Just Carrots® in a glass of orange juice and asked her to try it. We again explained that a better nutritional profile could help the healing process. If the retina were stronger, maybe it would not continue to crack. She finally agreed. She also tried the AIM BarleyLife® powder – and gagged. She agreed to take 12 AIM BarleyLife® capsules a day along with the AIM Just Carrots® drink.”
Time for the September checkup; Amy’s vision was at 20/90. “We continued the regimen of nutrition,” says Shirley. “She began to feel better and to have a more positive outlook. Amy agreed to add four capsules of AIMega® and two capsules of AIM GinkgoSense™ to her daily regimen.
Now the October checkup. Amy’s vision was at 20/70. New glasses were prescribed. “This would be as good as it gets,” thought Shirley.
Then in November, even better. The right eye was looking very healthy, with just a bit of bleeding.
In December, another laser treatment. Amy did not need another shot because the retina looked so healthy.
February 2007 – Amy tested a strong 20/50. The doctor was amazed at the health of her eye. Back to wearing soft contact lenses, Amy could read the telephone book, and could even drive again. In subsequent months, the doctor was still amazed at the health of her right eye, and said the health of her left (or bad) eye was remarkable. How could that be? No procedures had been done on that eye. “Could it be the result of improved nutrition?” wonders Shirley.
“For 18 years we have told Amy the many health benefits we and others have received from taking AIM products. She felt she was healthy and did not need any. Now she will tell you that it is never too late to begin or too early for preventive measures. Norm and I knew that AIM products would help Amy but even we were astonished by the small amounts that provided such huge rewards for her.”
Amy now mixes one tablespoon of AIM BarleyLife® powder in her one tablespoon of AIM Just Carrots® drink. She says she does not mind the taste anymore. “Even if my eyes were 100 percent, I would still take the AIM products. I am feeling so good.”
♦Success: Dr. John, as Members commonly refer to him, is a member of the Chairman’s Club, AIM’s highest-level of achievement. “There really is no limit to the financial rewards one can receive through a successful AIM business. I have seen many people reach Director level and have their mortgages paid every month with a year of solid effort and energy expended. The key is signing up Members who become daily consumers of the AIM products, and helping them reach out and sign up others who do the same. Retirement income that far outweighs the 9-to-5 company pension is much more than a possibility when Chairman’s Club is the goal.”
While Dr. John is emblematic of Nutrition, Opportunity, Success, his image among AIM Members is clear: He is a keeper of the AIM message of health and wealth. He has remained steadfast to the company through good times and bad. Looking for someone to spread the word about the products, talk up the business plan, or provide that all-important motivational message? Dr. John is always a popular choice.
Motivational author Zig Ziglar provides Dr. John with a quote that is often part of one of John’s motivational presentations: “If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” Dr. John feels AIM Members have dreams, but sometimes don’t believe in themselves, so he offers his background as a certified consultant/life coach through AIM presentations to help them. He also issues a challenge: “I believe that many AIM Members need to step out of their comfort zones, start planning meetings so they can begin to reach people with health challenges and show them that they can help themselves with the Healthy Cell Concept® and the AIM products.”
When people are comfortable they are more likely to open up to ask questions, share testimonies, and exchange ideas. Some AIM Members have incorporated healthy cooking classes, exchanging healthy recipes, or sharing healthy meals with each other during these home meeting learning times. AIM products as door prizes are always popular. There are a number of AIM videos that can be viewed to introduce guests to the AIM story. Find one or two you like and let AIM’s professional videos tell their story. Whatever you do, be sure to keep it simple, relaxed, and pressure-free. Being too pushy or providing too much detailed information is overload for many people. AIM products will sell themselves if you give them a chance to do so. Always include your name, contact information, and your AIM identification number on all literature and materials distributed. You are the face of AIM to your guests.
How do I do this? Judy stresses the basic AIM products that will change a body the quickest. Water is the foundation of every cell and is important in getting the most from the AIM products. AIM products are best transported through the body with water for optimum delivery to the cells. Water, water everywhere … but here is a chance to talk about AIM water. While guests’ feet are soaking in AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™, AIM Prill™ water sprayers are being passed around to mist the face, hands, and arms. Guests are now “feeling” renewed. They are truly “experiencing” it.