Personal Testimonials
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that brings roses.’‘
Andy ‘Ann D’ Ewton
January 23, 2003
Mr. Roger LaBorde
Alamosa, CO 81101
Dear Roger:
This letter has been too long coming to you, due to my relocation to Washington State and simply living my life, in the meantime. Additionally, I have not talked about Merle very much until the last year or so. Everything is just so personal, however, I am now able to share his ‘light’ with the rest of the world. As you know, he was the light of my life and I will never stop missing him.
Below is the information I would like to see posted on your website:
My husband, Merle had a cranial resection in March 1993 and (unbeknownst to us, he was suffering terminal sphenoid/ethmoid cancer) in his expected manner, he remained the most positive person I have known in this lifetime. Yet, a certain peace (within) was missing from his life. Pain management was paramount and necessary, however, was unwanted in the form of narcotics, as it clouded his thinking. Roger walked into our lives in early 1993, at the behest of our daughters’ in-laws, much like a white knight arriving on a great, white steed, wearing jeans and a bright smile. Roger & Merle spent much time, privately, in meditation, and gradually, Merles pain was lessened, even though medication was still required, albeit not as often.
I admit my skepticism at the outset, as what Roger does defies everything I grew up believing. If memory serves correctly, Roger was with us a week or ten days, the first visit. Initially, Merle was reserved, but trusted in the wisdom Roger imparted and rapidly grew more comfortable with his presence and his ministrations. He was able to trust his feelings to Roger and his laughter echoed through our home, once again. We sat on the porch, drinking scotch and watching the rain on many evenings, while we swapped stories; allowing our attachment to Roger to deepen and grow.
Rogers’ visit improved Merle's mental attitude to the point he attended his 47th annual high school reunion in Canyon, TX that summer, with no hair, having been shaven for his surgery; and his scars, red and angry. Merle was less embarrassed than his classmates, as he was just so grateful to be alive. Many classmates walked away in tears, as did Coach Buff Morris, who was to follow Merle in death in December 1995.
Merle had been one of Coach Morris’ ‘star’ athletes all through high school and was highly instrumental in persuading Merle to attend dental school after four years in the Navy.
We sold our dental practice in May 1993 and as soon as health permitted, left for a four month trip to the Northwest and Canada, playing golf, as often as energy allowed. It was the greatest trip we ever experienced other than our honeymoon, many years earlier.
Merle kept in touch with Roger and was always cheered after any conversation with him. I believe the remaining two years of Merles’ life were impacted by Rogers’ willingness to be available, attentive and loving, anytime he was needed. He was to visit us, yet again, upon the return from our trip and as usual, Merle seemed to improve before our eyes.
In March 1995, we were informed that the cancer had recurred and there was nothing to be done. Within a few days and very surprisingly, our doorbell rang and there stood Roger, wearing jeans and that same glorious smile! He had trekked to Texas from Colorado, simply because he felt the energy pull; as if some cosmic force had told him that Merle needed him, one final time. Merle was so happy to see him and they spent many hours contemplating the many mysteries of life and death.
Of course, we were devastated, however, Merle set about arranging his own memorial service, as the outcome was inevitable. His respect and love of family would not allow him to let one of us go through the emotional torment of arranging the events following his death.
Just two weeks before he died, we were watching Anne Murray sing ‘Could I Have This Dance’ on television; he rose from his chair and asked me to dance. We cried; we laughed, we danced, we held each other, we loved each other…
Then August 2, 1995, Merle danced, quietly, with acceptance, from this life into a dimension beyond our understanding, all the while telling the children and me how much he loved us and encouraged us to get on with our lives. His thoughts were lucid, until he slipped into a coma for the last five hours. He has been gone in body for a long time now, but his spirit is vivid in each of us and he lives in our hearts and minds; and in the hearts and minds of everyone who was lucky enough to know him.
Roger did not bring him from the brink of death to life (We never expected that…), however, he was largely responsible for the remaining two years of Merles’ life being lived fully and happily and we are eternally grateful to him! Bless you, Roger!
HUGS…
Andy Ewton
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Aki's Story
My father-in-law was diagnosed in May, 2001 with a malignant brain tumor called a glioblastoma which is particularly aggressive and always fatal. In the space of what seemed like weeks, Aki went from a cantankerous, no-nonsense, independent spirit to a comatose, non-responsive shell of a person following unsuccessful brain surgery. It was devastating to the family and particularly for my husband who blamed himself for the decision to undergo the experimental surgery. In reality, Aki had decided for himself that he was willing to take the chance with the tumor specialists at UCLA.
I was desperate to help my husband deal with the guilt and the difficulty he had in expressing his emotions for his father. I knew that we would lose him soon and I wanted my husband to have some level of emotional connection with his father before it was too late.
Then I learned about Roger through a friend whose family had been helped by Roger’s healing. I asked Roger to help us, but didn’t really know what to expect. When he said that healing is sometimes not about the person who is sick, but for those who love them, I knew it was right to bring Roger to us.
The time Roger spent with my family was the only time Aki responded and seemed to come out of his coma. Prior to Roger’s visit, there were only very weak responses and only to the grandchildren, especially the youngest ones. Roger explained that the kids came to Aki with an open heart. When Roger introduced himself to Aki, it was not as a stranger, but the look in Aki’s eyes was as if he was greeting a long-lost friend. In the days Roger was with us, we all had the precious gift of actually being with my father-in-law. It was as if Aki summoned the last of his life force during that time to reassure us that he was O.K. with passing on to the freedom and respite death offered.
When Roger left, Aki lapsed back into the coma and shortly afterwards passed away. It’s been six months since his death and I continue to ponder how Roger touched our lives. My eyes have been opened to new possibilities for spiritual and personal growth and Roger’s words and examples are encouragement to follow the path that is meant for me.
Diane Tasaka Hamachi
Torrance, California
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JOSH'S STORY
In 2002 , my 15 year old son Josh was struck by a car going 45 mph and sustained a multitude of serious injuries, the worst being a severe traumatic brain injury.
When I arrived at the hospital, I was greeted by the chaplain who didn't say much, but just sat with me. After what seemed like an eternity, the doctors finally informed me of the severity of Josh's injuries. He suffered what is known as a 'Brain Shearing', which in the world of traumatic brain injuries, is the worst kind. The prognosis was grim. No one actually came out and told me and I tried not to let my mind to go there, but I knew the chance of survival was slim. That night in the ICU was a blur of nurses and doctors trying to stabilize him.
The next few days in the ICU were rocky, but they were finally able to stabilize him. Josh at this point was in a coma and was non-responsive to any type of stimulus. In addition to the brain injury he suffered a broken leg, collapsed lung, broken collarbone and a multitude of other injuries. It was actually easier to list the things on his body that were not injured than to list the ones that were.
Within the first few days, while in the ICU, I contacted an acquaintance of mine who put me in contact with, who she referred to as a 'healer'...Roger La Borde. I called him that night. He drove down the next day. Immediately, when I met him, it felt as if an angel had entered the room. There was a calmness and kindness about him. His presence itself was comforting. Over the next 6 months the Dr's and nurses would continue to tell me that Josh's prognosis was grim and that he would most likely never recover. Roger never let me succumb to their negativity.
I told the nurses in the ICU that Roger was to be given full access to Josh, and Roger started working with him that very day. I know it sounds crazy, but my family and I could notice a difference in Josh even after the first day that Roger visited him. Because Josh was in a coma and non-responsive, it was difficult at this point to actually "see" any type of improvement but, we could feel it. My cousin put it best, it was like the "life light", or "life force" came back into Josh. It seemed that for awhile, Josh's body was there but his 'presence' wasn't but that soon changed. We spent one month in the ICU, and Roger came and worked with Josh on and off during that time. Josh slowly but steadily improved and began responding to stimulus like pain, sound, etc. but was still in a comatose state.
After a month in the ICU, Josh was moved to Children's Hospital. We spent 2 months there, and again Roger worked with Josh on and off during that time, and again, Josh slowly but steadily improved. It was during this time at Children's Hospital that Josh slowly began to emerge from his coma. It was here that he began to 'wake up'. Although he was still not talking, I began to notice that every time Roger worked with Josh, he made some sort of progress within a short period of time. After every visit with Roger, Josh seemed to 'lighten up'.
Two months passed and Josh was then moved to Craig hospital. He was still not talking, but he could now eat on his own, take steps with assistance, and follow basic commands. It was here where Josh began to make more rapid progress over the next 2 months, and it was evident, that every time Roger worked with Josh, he made substantial progress within days. The most memorable was one evening after Roger had worked with Josh during that day, Josh began to talk. I remember calling Roger from the patio, asking him what he did that day, and informing him that Josh was now talking.
Over the next 4 years, Josh has continued to recover and is back 100%. He graduated from High School on schedule, and is now living at home, attending Red Rocks community college and enjoying life in a new and profound way.
We can never even begin to thank you Roger, for all your help, love and support. I truly believe that you contributed more than we will ever know to Josh's recovery but even more than that, you gave me the hope, comfort and strength to carry on and have faith during a time when I needed it most.
We will always be eternally grateful!
With love and our eternal gratitude,
Aileen, Josh & Connor Rumsey
Denver, Colorado
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