Mineral Wells Area News

By Gary Norman / Special to Mineral Wells Area News /~ A Four Part Series~ Part 3

Previous Part 2 The Medical Mystery Click Here to Read the Story

Part 3: Seeking Alternative Treatments

One of his Russell’s contacts suggested magnetic therapy, where magnets are placed at strategic points around the body to relieve pain.

“At this point, we were done and ready to head in a different direction after hearing from eight doctors with no diagnosis,” said Russell.

Brooke was able to experience some limited relief from the magnetic therapy.

In June of 2024, Russell received a message from an individual who was an old high school friend of Brooke’s and had seen an update Russell had posted on social media regarding Brooke’s condition.

The individual was taking Kambo treatments for a health condition, had experienced relief, was certified to administer the treatment, and suggested it as a possible treatment for Brooke.

The Kambo Treatment

Russell did his research and learned that Kambo is a South and Central American healing and detox treatment used by indigenous peoples for centuries.

It involves applying the skin secretions of the giant monkey frog to a blistered portion of the skin, usually on the shoulder, to introduce the substance into the body and reap the health benefits.

As he and Brooke read the testimonials, and talked more with Brooke’s friend, their comfort level rose, and Brooke decided to give Kambo a try.

Brooke began to take the treatments every two weeks in addition to the magnetic therapy.

“I was concerned. Brooke was already in a fragile state, and now she wanted to introduce a frog poison. At this point we were desperate,” said Russell.

A Breaking Point

“I was missing my son’s seven-on-seven football games. I had spent a lot of time alone with God praying there was a lesson in this, and it was a blessing in disguise. But I was defeated and depleted and I just wanted to be able to function,” said Brooke.

Through July of 2024, Brooke continued the magnetic, Kambo, and other homeopathic treatments and experienced limited relief.

Her stutter improved some and she would get relief from the seizure-like episodes for few days between the treatments, but she was still unable to function normally, and the symptoms always returned.

The family had planned to attempt a vacation to Port Aransas for a few days between treatments.

“I had already made up my mind that when we got back from Port Aransas I was going to write good-by letters to my family. I knew in my heart it was going to take me at some point. Some episodes it took me forever to come out of,” said Brooke.

While Russell was encouraged that Brooke was getting at least some temporary relief, he also saw an overall downward trajectory.

“She never fully came back each time,” said Russell.

Financial Strain

As Brooke’s condition continued to deteriorate, there were increased impacts on Russell and the family.

The treatments cost approximately $2,000 per month and taking out-of-town jobs, which previously had been a large source of Russell’s income, became impossible.

As he had to be available on an emergency basis to assist in Brooke’s care, he could only take jobs within an hours drive to ensure he was able to get home quickly.

“There were many days I could not go to work. Multiple times I would get a call and have to stop what I was doing and go to the house,” said Russell.

Brooke tried substitute teaching when she felt up to it, but she never knew when the episodes would return, and the stutter made communication difficult.

The Turning Point

Saturday, October 12, 2024 was a mild, nice day in Mineral Wells, Texas. It would prove to be a turning point in Brooke and Russell’s journey.

While Brooke was continuing to suffer from seizures, mainly in the morning, she was anxious to put some normal back into her and her family’s routine.

Later in the morning, Brooke and Russell decided to visit the Crazy Water Festival and get out of the house for a while.

Brooke felt well while enjoying the sights and sounds of the festival, but had some weakness and dizziness from the morning’s seizures, so she held to Russell’s hand as they made their way through the festival grounds.

After a couple of hours of enjoying the festival, Brooke and Russell made their way back home for Brooke to rest.

Although Brooke was very tired from the exertion, their oldest son was visiting and they wanted to spend time with him listening to a band in the covered patio section of Coffee and Cocktails, a local bar and restaurant.

The Final Straw

As they were enjoying the music, Brooke felt the tell-tale stinging of an oncoming episode.

As she was applying ice to her head in an attempt to ward off the attack, she felt the burning and stinging in her brain, the numbness in the left side of her face, and felt her left arm and hand begin to draw up and turn inward.

Today, all she remembers of the evening is the excruciating pain, being carried to the truck, and then being put to bed.

“It was like two steps forward and three steps back,” said Brooke.

After having witnessed this latest, brutal episode, Russell was ready to move forward and thought to himself, “Something has got to be done.”

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Tomorrow: Part 4 – Hope in Mexico – A desperate journey across the border leads to unexpected answers and healing.