It is December 2005. I just tucked my little Tiki (16 Year old Chihuahua) in bed for the night. Pretty good for a dead Chihuahua. At least according to the three different veterinarians.

Our story begins one Friday evening in June of 2005. Tiki began coughing uncontrollably that Friday evening. It was strange because she didn’t have any other symptoms. She continued all night. Saturday morning we took Tiki to the Doctor and to my surprise the Doctor said Tiki was in congestive heart failure (CHF) and had fluid in her lungs. I was told she needed heart medication and a fluid pill.

If there was one thing I learned in the medical field, once on medication, you could be sure there would be other medications to follow because of side effects. We would have patients come in with grocery bags filled with medications. I knew I didn’t want my little Tiki to eventually end up with tons of medications and more problems. I started Tiki on the medications immediately becuase the doctors told me if I didn’t she would die. But… When I got home I started researching CHF and found Canine Heart Health. I called and spoke with Amanda and decided to get the whole system. It all made sense to me. I figured I could give Tiki the drugs until the herbs got here.

Within 4-5 days of taking the drugs, Tiki began to refuse the medications, became lethargic, stopped eating and was doing some kind of swallowing thing. I took her back to the Doctor that day. The Doctor was quite upset when he gave me the lab results. With tears in his eyes he said Tiki was in kidney failure now. This was due to the side effects of the medication. He said we were in a lose/lose situation. She could not take the heart medication because it affected her kidneys and she couldn’t take the kidney medication because it affected her heart. And… she had to have both or she would die within days.

He left me in the room to decide if I wanted to euthanize Tiki right then or let her die naturally. I began to grasp at straws. Tiki is not just a dog to me. She is part of my family. I called two other vets, one a Chinese Herbalist. The only one I knew of in my area. They both asked for her lab results. Both said they would recommend the same, euthanasia. I was sick. I decided to call Amanda and let her know what happened. She told me to pick up my little girl and run out of the Doctors office. She said she was sending the system overnight.

The next morning at 9am Tiki’s life saving system arrived. I called Amanda and she walked me through everything. By that afternoon Tiki was coming around. Within a couple of days she was eating again, interacting with us and her sisters. Everyday she got better and better and better. Approximately one week after her death diagnosis the Doctor called to check on her. Ironically enough Tiki was outside flopping upside down in the grass like she used to do. When I told the Doctor, he was completely confused. Happy but confused. I must admit I took and still do take one day at a time. This system is not like a medical take a pill and you are better. It’s a lifestyle change. My husband’s and my life have also changed. We had to change eating habits, recreational habits and this also bled into my business. We started giving Tiki 10-15 herbs a day, two or more hydrotherapy treatments on her heart, and constantly monitering her heart rate, her water intake, how much she was urinating, how many bowel movements she was having and completely changed her diet. She improved dramatically everyday. She even had constipation problems that were now completely cleared up.

After three months, I took her back to the Doctor. First of all he was amazed she was alive and looking great!!! They ran the labs and it was amazing. The two labs that were imperative were the BUN and Creatinine levels. The BUN level back in June should have been no more than 24 hers was 144. The normal Creatinine level should have been no more than 1.8 hers was 4.2. When we went back to the Doctor in September her BUN was 44 and the most important, the Creatinine was 1.7. The Doctor was amazed. He said he had never seen anything like it. Absolutely no drugs touched her body! The Doctor said it was probably just a miracle. Sad Huh?!

I showed him the treatment schedule and gave him all of the information on the Canine Heart Health system. His reaction was, “I just don’t have the energy to learn anything more.”. I was sad for him and his patients. He had an avenue that could have saved someone else’s family member and decided it was too much work for him. How many other doctors feel this way. How many alternatives remedies are out there but they just don’t want to listen. I told him I would take the place of the liason and get them to Amanda and he still said no. I then contacted the Chinese Herbalist Doctor that agreed with him to euthanize Tiki. Someone had to believe in this program and incorporate it into their practice. This Doctor also said it was probably a miracle because she had most of the herbs I told her I was giving Tiki and said they could not have done what I said.

That made it even more clear that you can’t just give one herb, it is a system that works together. The medical profession sees each organ separately and each symptom as a separate entity. They try to address the symptom and never get to the root of the problem. Amanda’s system addressed the whole body, not just the heart. I believe that’s why it worked for Tiki.

About five months into her healing treatment, I decided to try to put her back on regular dog food. I called the companies to check on the sodium levels. Avoiding sodium is imperative. I learned everything from Amanda. I found a “high grade, all natural” commercial dog food and gave it to her for one week. In one week she spiraled downhill. Thank goodness for Amanda, she has taught me well. I began to do all of the things again such as feeding watermelon (an excellent natural diuretic), increasing her doses of Rena-Cleanse formula (which I continue to use for it's diuretic properties) and Cayenne pepper and Ginger. Adding more hydrotherapy and changing her food back to homemade. Within two days she was back to normal.

It’s been six months now. She is down to six herbs a day and two hydrotherapy treatments a day. She plays more now than she did before she got sick. She is much healthier than she has ever been. Her heart sounds better. I still have to be careful with sodium intake period, too much and her blood pressure and heart rate will increase and if the heart can’t keep up with the blood flow it will start backing up into her lungs again and cause more problems. I learned all this from Amanda. There was not a Doctor around that would take the time to teach me and that had a solution to the problem. They had plently of drugs with plenty of side effects, but Amanda used everyday whole foods, herbs and a love for my Tiki to deal with each challenge. I am so thankful I met her. She has truly changed my life.

Since meeting Amanda, my little girl has had six months of life she would not have had, our eating habits and own healing habits have changed dramatically. I have become a vegetarian. I own a small hair salon and have completely changed all of the chemicals I used to natural Organic products. All of the products I sell are Organic. Now people know me as the “Herb Chick”. Most of my appointments entail answering questions for people about what herbs help what ailments. I have also contemplated going to school to become a Master Herbalist like Amanda. She has so much knowledge it’s amazing. I don’t know what I did to deserve meeting someone like her.

I took a big leap of faith when I ordered this whole system but I thought what do I have to lose. It’s only money. It has been the best decision of my life. I still have not met Amanda in person, but I trust her completely. When one of the girls is not feeling well, I call her. She seems to know more than the Doctors. Is the money I paid worth it? What would I pay for the health of my family? They money I paid is nothing compared to having my family here with me and healthy. I am so glad I took that leap of faith. Not only have I met someone that helps me with my girls health but has a heart of gold and I just love to be around someone with that kind of love in their heart.

Thank you so much Amanda for being the person you are !!!!

Aida Burt
Goose Creek, South Carolina