Many people ask me why I became interested in natural medicine, and although there are many reasons, I suppose the roots of this started with my own family. My mother, Alice was a big part of it, but at 13, I lived with my health enthusiast aunt and uncle for one year just outside of Los Angeles, California. Paula and Walt introduced me to many kinds of home-made green drinks, colourful and tasty vegetarian eating, and I thrived... Paula had been working in administration at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, and noticed that so many people didn't get better as they had thought, but died in the care of the hospital. This may have been her own belief, but she expressed it frequently, and it became a frequent topic of conversation during my visit as a young teen. It's a thought which stayed with me for a lifetime, and influenced me towards natural medicine, and prevention.

Both Paula and Walter have now passed away. Walter in 2006, and Paula in 2009. I will miss them greatly, and always appreciated their beneficial influence on me.