CRESTVIEW — As an alternative to chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Cliff Larson is currently undergoing Gerson therapy in his fight against cancer.

Larson and his wife, Wanda, are currently starting the natural-based therapy at a Gerson clinic in Mexico.

Gerson therapy is used to boost a body’s immune system in order to treat cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and other ailments.

Larson opted to try the therapy following his second cancer diagnosis in July. He previously underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments in 2011 for pancreatic cancer.

Cliff, who served as the minister of Clear Springs Assembly of God church in Crestview, said the common cancer treatments took a physical toll.

“The ill effects were too debilitating to bear,” Cliff stated in an email.

After recently testing positive for cancer in his abdomen, Larson opted to stop chemotherapy after doctors advised chemotherapy treatments would only give him a few extra months to live.

Cliff originally heard about Gerson therapy from friends in Massachusetts, but originally dismissed the idea. However, after traveling with Wanda to Texas with to tell their daughter, Christina Campbell, that Cliff would stop chemotherapy −the couple gave Gerson therapy another look.

While in Texas, the couple watched the documentary, “The Gerson Miracle,” which changed their perspective.

 “That was the catalyst that drove our decision to do Gerson (therapy),” Cliff said. “We did a lot of research about Gerson and the more we read, the more it became obvious that's what I should do.”

In addition to having a strict organic, plant-based diet, Gerson therapy also involves taking natural supplements, raw juices and coffee enemas.

In addition to the dietary change, Larson said the alternative therapy is expensive. The couple’s family started an online fundraising campaign, via gofundme.com, which has raised more than $17,000.

Contributions from friends and family have provided the couple with an extra refrigerator, a water purification system, a juicer and travel expenses to the Mexico facility.

According to the American Cancer Society website, Gerson therapy is not approved for use in the United States. In addition, the therapy is not covered by most health insurance policies, Larson said.

 Regardless, Larson said he prefers Gerson therapy over chemotherapy.

“Chemo was so bad that it actually serves to motivate me through the new course,” he said. “When I raise an (unappealing) cup of juice to my mouth I say, ‘It's better than chemo; it's better than chemo….’”

Larson said he and his wife are very thankful for the financial support they have received thus far.

 “Wanda and I are stunned to tears at the profound showing of love, generosity and support,” he said. “It may well have been an impossible dream without our community.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview couple battles cancer through Gerson therapy

Editor's Note: Public documents support this story's facts, but we've changed some of the names to protect the survivor's privacy.

CRESTVIEW — Kayla Strong will always remember June 30, 2008: the day she decided enough was enough.

She was 17 or 18 years old, still in high school and dating Jacob, her future husband, when she realized how difficult it was to live a double life.

The couple had been together six months, and she was keeping a secret: her father sexually molests her, and he'd been doing it for as long as she could remember.

Read "EDITOR'S DESK: I've just met the strongest woman in Crestview," the story behind this story>>

It started with him patting her buttocks when she was at least 5 years old, and escalated to him exposing himself and performing oral sex on her as a teenager, she said.

"Mom did a lot of traveling for work," Kayla said. "The more she traveled, the more we were left at home every day. My sister (Rose) would go to bed, and he would expect me to sleep in the bed with him."

Kayla's relationship with Jacob was becoming intimate, which complicated matters.

"I just kept feeling guilty and self-conscious, like I was cheating on my boyfriend," the 24-year-old digital media specialist said. 

Explaining the situation was challenging.

"I lied to him at first," Kayla said, adding she initially told Jacob that the abuse "used to happen."

That broke more than a decade of silence, but Jacob could tell there was more to the story.

AN ULTIMATUM

"At first I didn't come forward and tell him it was my father," Kayla said. "But he kind of got it out of me and gave me an ultimatum: either you tell your mother or I'm going to tell her."

Kayla told her mother, Tammy, the truth on July 1, 2008.

"It's kind of odd, the emotion I got from her," Kayla said. "At first, it was disbelief and then it was pain. But there was an instance when I thought that she didn't believe me."

Despite this, Kayla said, she received "just an overwhelming amount of support from my mom."

It was the last day Kayla saw her father.

Stephen Peter Fairbanks Jr., a registered sexual offender, is still in a Bristol, Fla., prison for lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim 12-15 years old, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's website.

DR. JEKYLL, MR. HYDE

Living with Fairbankswas unpredictable for Kayla and Rose.

"It was like living with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Kayla said. "There were many times he took my sister and I to school almost every single day, he packed us lunches every day, he cooked more than my mom did.

"In the morning, he'd be this pleasant person … then one of us would ask to have dinner at a friend's house and it'd be just a 180. Have you seen someone get so angry that they just turn into a different person? His eyes and face would get really red. He would just get really loud and towering.

"It was like, 'Where did this come from?'"

As for boys,Fairbankshated whoever interested Kayla.

"He almost started acting like a jealous boyfriend," she said. "Boys call the house, he would answer and would be like, 'Who the hell is that?'  It's this guy I'm talking to at church."

Rose noticed how protective her father was of Kayla, and questioned her worth.

"She asked my mom, "Does daddy love me?" Kayla said. "Because he would always be doing stuff with me and watch cartoons with me and play outside in the pool with me. Whenever Rose came around, it would always be, 'Go to your room.'"

SEARCHING FOR NORMAL

Kayla started to realize the relationship with Fairbankswasn't normal.

"Other kids' dads gave them high-fives; mine gave me a pat on the butt," she said.

Still, she didn't feel right about exposing her father's secret side.

"I think in my mind for the longest time I was letting it happen almost," she said. "I think partially it's because my mom wouldn't have a husband anymore, my sister wouldn't have a dad … for my whole life, I felt that it was more important for my family to stay in a normal household."

Her point of view changed three years later, after authorities hauled Fairbanksoff, and after family members found several binders of pornography — countless images of women printed and preserved from the Internet — stashed in his man cave.

"I was the least upset to see him go," Kayla said, recalling the Fourth of July in 2008. "Everyone's really upset and I'm out with my boyfriend, watching fireworks, having the best day of my life."

TALKING IT OUT

"I think my biggest help has been talking about it with people I know," Kayla said.

She bonded with her University of North Florida sorority sisters during "firesides"  — they're "basically a big cry-fest amongst 120 girls," she'll tell you. 

She also found strength in UNF's Take Back the Night ceremony, an international rally and candlelight vigil that raises awareness about violence against women.

Today, Kayla has not just survived; she also seems to thrive. She has a baby boy on the way and the career she loves after bouncing between odd jobs due to the recession.

She credits Jacob's persistence six years ago for some of that.

"I always tell him that he saved my life," she said. "If I hadn't told him (about the violence), who would I have told and where would I be now?"

Support from Tammy, and a certain furry friend, also have been invaluable, she said.

"Three or four days after my dad went to prison, we bought a puppy," she said, referring to Cupcake, her cocker spaniel poodle mix. "I think just having that non-person thing to connect to helps a lot."

REMINDERS OF VIOLENCE

Sometimes, certain events and circumstances remind people of traumatic experiences, whichcan send cortisol through the body and triggerthe "fight-or-flight" response, according to Psychology Today.

Kayla said she occasionally experiences such feelings during sexual situations with her husband.

Occasionally, even caressing is stressful, as is a rare fight, she said.

"We don't fight at all, but (when we do), the way that he gets loud kind of reminds me of how my dad used to get," she said. "I get really shaky and crying … I revert back into that (mindset), like 'I'm always wrong and I shouldn't have said anything and I'm so sorry that I even brought this up and I'm so sorry for even feeling this way."

FINDING CLOSURE

Soon, Kayla will face the next challenge: Fairbanks'prison sentence ends in April.

"It's a little nerve-wracking," she said. "I think, with us, we're due (to have the baby) in February. He'll be living over on the east side of Florida. We're five hours away from home so there's really not the chance of running into him."

Still, a part of her wants closure.

"I wanted to reach out and visit him in prison about six months ago … they said victims are not allowed to see their abusers," she said. 

Kayla hopes that Fairbanks has reflected on the consequences of his actions.

"I have a very big feeling that he has changed," she said.

Still, after all the confusion, pain and deception, she is certain that they can't start over.

"Having any sort of father-daughter relationship is not going to be possible at this point," she said. 

—

Need help? 

Shelter House is a state-certified domestic and sexual violence shelter serving Okaloosa and Walton counties.

Need help? Call 1-800-44-ABUSE or 850-863-4777 if a family member or intimate partner is endangering your physical or emotional safety.

Email Thomas Boni, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'HE SAVED MY LIFE': Love, support help woman overcome 12 years of sexual violence

CRESTVIEW — Syn, a 9-year-old Maine Coon mixed-breed cat, is another family member for Chris Gearhart, his wife, Katie, and their three children.

And three other cats and one dog. It's a full house.

With so much love, it came as a shock when a pit bull entered their front yard Sept. 28 and fought with the beloved feline.

Especially when they learned Syn received a broken jaw, broken floating ribs, a concussion and injuries to the heart and lungs.

Chris, who was at home during the incident, separated the two animals upon hearing the outside commotion.

He had Syn since she was a kitten, even before Katie and he had married; seeing the injured animal was tough, and the couple thought the cat might die.

“When (Syn) started to come to, we went down to the Niceville emergency vet; they gave us a quote of $1,054," Katie said. "It basically maxed out everything we had.”

Despite the injuries, the saying about cats having nine lives almost seemed true.

“(Syn’s) prognosis was really good; it seemed a shame to put her down because of the bill being so high.” Katie said.

Now, Syn can eat on her own, Chris said.

A wire placed inside the cat’s mouth by a veterinarian will soon need to come out, which leads to another bill, the couple said.

The pit bull's owner offered to help pay Syn’s vet bills, but would have difficulty doing so, Chris said, so Katie started a fundraising account, which has collected $100.  

In the meantime, Katie said she's amazed by Syn's progress.

“She is very lucky little kitty,” Katie said. “A lot of cats would not have come out so well against a pit bull.”

ONLINE

Follow Syn's recovery at www.gofundme.com/fffbzk

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fight with dog tests cat's 9 lives — but Syn's all right

FORT WALTON BEACH — In light of recent before and after-school program services being affected by the closure announcement from the YMCA of Florida’s Emerald Coast, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Board of Directors has decided to expand services in Okaloosa County.

BGCEM Chief Executive Officer Shervin Rassa said, “As youth development professionals, we felt it was necessary to expand our programming to assist those families and youth of Okaloosa County affected by the recent suspension of before and after-school services.”

The organization will reinstate services in the Crestview area by offering before and after-school programming at Walker Elementary School and expand their youth development services in Fort Walton Beach by offering before and after-school programming at Kenwood Elementary. BGCEM is working closely with Okaloosa County School District, school principals and administrators throughout this process.

For more information on its programs, visit www.bgcec.com. Updates will posted as more information is available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Boys & Girls Clubs expands services to meet gaps caused by YMCA closures

CRESTVIEW — A Christ-centered program created as an alternative to Boy Scouts of America hasn't affected local BSA membership, officials said.

Trail Life USA Troop 77 — formed in May and chartered to Woodlawn Baptist Church — now has about 25 Woodland Trails members, the equivalent of Cub Scouts, and eight Navigators and Adventurers, similar to Boy Scouts, troop master Rob Rankin said.

The group “spawned from recent decisions made by the Boy Scouts,” Rankin said, referring to a May 2013 BSA membership standards revision allowing gay boys to join scouting.

OPEN TO ALL FAITHS

“We’re not by any stretch trying to besmirch Boy Scouts,” Rankin said. “We want to honor Boy Scouts but ratchet up the moral standards.”

Rankin, an Eagle Scout, said Troop 77 is open to “all religions and all boys,” with a focus, like Boy Scouts, on character and leadership and “to guide young men to honor God.”

However, Trailmen, as its members are called, don’t recognize homosexuality, Rankin said.

“We don’t put labels on a boy,” he said. “These types of labels don’t belong on young men.” 

While Trail Life USA is faith-based, “it’s not a Bible study,” Rankin said. “It’s a masculine, outdoor program. The vision of our organization is to be the premier, national organization for young men that produces Godly husbands, fathers and leaders.”

Boy Scout merit badges and ranks transfer to Trailmen, he said, adding, “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

CO-EXISTING OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

Local BSA leaders said they've noticed no loss of scouts to the Trail Life troop, and noted scouts already serve alongside faith-based boys’ outdoor programs. 

“We have coexisted with the Royal Rangers for years and years with no problems,” Boy Scouts Unit Commissioner Rae Schwartz said, referring to the small-group activity ministry with outposts, or troops, in Crestview, Baker and Milligan. 

“We are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient and cheerful, so I think if we follow all that we can get along well with the newcomers,” Schwartz said, paraphrasing the Scout Law.

“Obviously it’s competition for kids, but we wish them well in their mission,” Boy Scouts Gulf Council Executive Director Spencer Page said. “They will certainly fill a niche for folks who don’t think scouting meets their needs. It’s another choice that parents have in a community." 

Still, there is a misunderstanding about Boy Scouting’s membership changes, Page said. 

“I think a lot of people have a misconception about what our position is,” he said. “Sexual orientation and sexual behavior and sexual discussions have no place in scouting. We leave sexual discussions to church and family.”

‘IT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE’

Being gay and attaining Boy Scouts of America's highest rank before membership standards changed — to formally allow homosexual boys in May 2013 — was no concern for one Crestview Eagle Scout.

“It was never even an issue,” the Eagle, who requested anonymity, said. “We were just friends. We were just hanging out and having a good time. The only time it got awkward is when other guys started talking about their girlfriends, and you couldn’t really say much.”

However, the Eagle Scout said, he would have liked to have been more open with fellow scouts. 

“It would’ve been nice,” he said. “But it’s one of those Catch-22s. You come out and people start treating you different. If they don’t know, they treat you the same way they always do.”

While being gay didn’t affect his success as a Boy Scout, it would work against him if he wanted to continue in scouting as an adult leader. Gay men aren’t allowed to serve in advisory roles. 

“Being an adult now, I can’t really participate anymore because there’s an issue there, but what I do in my personal life wouldn’t carry over to scouts,” the Eagle said.

Fallout after the change in Boy Scouts membership standards is "pretty silly," he said. 

“It is one of those things where people say, ‘Oh the youth are vulnerable,’ but we’re at a point now where youth have grown up with gay friends and it’s normal,” the Eagle said. “Now kids are like, ‘Oh, you’re gay? So what.’”

INTERESTED? 

Crestview’s Trail Life USA Troop 0077 meets 6-7:30 p.m. Fridays at Woodlawn Baptist Church Life Center, 824 Ferdon Boulevard N. Call 682-2924 for more details.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Boy Scout, Trail Life leaders: Groups can co-exist despite different membership standards

CRESTVIEW — Officials in Crestview and Fort Walton Beach have expressed interest in being allowed to operate their YMCAs independently from the YMCA of Florida’s Emerald Coast.

However, the Emerald Coast association must turn in its charter to the YMCA of the USA before anyone can contemplate independent operations, according to Jessica Wylie, a YMCA USA spokesperson.

“The Emerald Coast association’s board of directors is the decision-making authority for the association,” she said in an email. “The board’s decision to cease operations means all three branches must cease operations as YMCAs. The branches cannot continue independently.”

All YMCA offices in Okaloosa County permanently closed on Friday.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast committed to take over two after-school programs that stood to be affected by the closing of Okaloosa County’s YMCAs.

The decision prevents parents of about 100 children at Walker Elementary in Crestview and Kenwood Elementary in Fort Walton Beach from worrying about the after-school program's future.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: National YMCA weighs in on closures

PENSACOLA — The West Florida Regional Planning Council is celebrating 50 years of providing professional planning, coordinating and advisory services.

An open house will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at council offices, 4081 E. Olive Road, Ste. A in Pensacola. Guests can learn more about the council during a free tour; call 332-7976 to RSVP. The council's board meeting will be held on-site immediately following festivities.

While serving as staffers to local transportation planning organizations, the council has been involved in a variety of planning projects over the years. Examples include economic development; land use studies; brownfields assessment, clean-up and reuse; resource management; hurricane studies; ride-sharing, bicycle and pedestrian programs; air quality; block grants; housing assistance; hazardous materials and hazardous waste programs; and preparation of comprehensive plans.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Regional planners celebrate 50 years with open house

CRESTVIEW — Anyone age 4 and up can paint pumpkins Oct. 28 at the Crestview Community Center.

Attendees should register before the event at the Crestview Public Library's front desk. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. The event ends by 7:15 p.m.

"When you visit the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin, keep in mind that it will be wet with paint when you leave," an event spokesperson said, adding that guests should wear old clothes that can take spills. "We recommend a small pie pumpkin because they are cost-effective and easier to handle, especially when wet."

Friends of the Library provided funds for the paint.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pumpkin painting scheduled in Crestview