Choosing Alternatives: A Novel About Alternatives To Cure Chronic Illness

By Jerry Sears

Choosing Alternatives, is the remarkable story of a U.S. Coast Guard Medic aboard the Coastguard Cutter Dulles who strongly believes in Alternative Medical Treatments, but who faces strong conservative resistance from the ship’s Executive Officer. From a goodwill voyage to Cuba to a training mission with the Italian Coastguard we learn of the discovery of an ancient Muslim manuscript describing new approaches based on amazing ancient natural health treatments. Against seemingly overwhelming odds, and with the aid of an Italian Pharmacist and a Libyan Sufi, our protagonist fights to bring the treatments from The Book of Ali to the modern medical community. Through dramatic sea rescues, terrorist hijackers and hostile agents we are lead to a shocking conclusion which shows us the vast powers controlling the use of Alternative Medicine today.

This medical thriller is about the clash between traditional and alternative medicine and is a must read for those interested in recovery and chronic illness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jerry Sears
• Release date: Jan 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370374700

Jerry Sears

About 25 years ago I started representing law firms and companies in acquiring law firm practice groups and in-house general counsel. Merging law firms became part of my practice. This book is from my close experience with hundreds, if not thousands, of attorneys over many years. Both the public's and the movie's perception of lawyers is of aggressive, combative, no restraint fighters. But that is actually only a small percentage of attorneys ... mostly the litigators. Those litigators seldom have their own client base, most work temporarily with clients with disputes; which clients are referred to them by the "other" lawyers. These "other lawyers" understand how to develop a recurring client base. That understanding is the subject of this novel. My BA is from Queens College, a good school and the only one I could afford to attend. My MBA is from New York University, a far more expensive school than I could afford at that time. I went into the military like most men of my generation, at the time of Vietnam. My first post military job was with Chemical Bank NY Trust Company, who graciously paid for my MBA at expensive NYU. I had various financial positions there and in the Investment banking world, until I focused on law practice, as an industry. Its been a challenging, and rewarding, field...a field in which the critical nature of a strong client base cannot be over-stressed.

Book preview

Preface

I wrote Choosing Alternatives for many reasons. It is, first, a tribute to the United States Coast Guard. I have never risked my life more often, either before or since my service, than when I was in the U.S. Coast Guard. I also have never met a more noble band of people. Most military organizations, [i.e. Army, Navy, Air Force] are combat ready so that they can act in times of combat with other countries. Only the U.S. Coast Guard does this and is engaged daily with its own citizens. The Coast Guard has so many duties that it’s a challenge to remember all of the oaths of office, of various federal agencies, to which each newly minted Coast Guard officer has to pledge when commissioned. As a result, every one of the many Coast Guard stations I have been in had the same plaque on the wall. It was always placed very near to or over the exit to the station’s water side. I have personally been involved in and observed so many dangerous Coast Guard missions that I know this message by heart:

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT

BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO COME BACK

BE CAREFUL

My second reason for writing this novel is the critical need in many parts of the world, including the U.S., to stop demonizing alternative medicine and therapies. There are quacks in alternative medicine, but there are also quacks in traditional medicine. We seem to believe, as a people, that somehow whatever our current understanding is of science, that understanding has finally tapped into the ultimate secrets necessary for our healthy existence. This novel shows that we are still learning. It shows how difficult it is, when faced with the huge power of special interests, to maintain a democracy. That challenge exists even in a country like the U.S., which proclaims itself as the world’s leading democracy. So finally, this novel is about man’s irrational ability to justify evil. We do this most successfully in politics. The desire to be elected to high political office often seems to replace honor and thus candidates tend to surrender to deception to hold that office.

Many thanks to Ken Knudsen, Ron Marrocco and Pat Talbot for their valuable suggestions in their critical roles as Beta readers. My appreciation to my men’s group and my fellow church members who were patient with me through the writing of this novel. No amount of thanks would be complete without giving a heartfelt bow to my many friends in the U.S. Coast Guard and the other less well-known U.S. military services. Without your encouragement and support this book would not have been possible.

The reader can find a glossary of terms at the end of this book.

Chapter One

Captain Paulo Torres, United States Coast Guard, had been given command of the Coast Guard High Endurance Cutter Dulles a year earlier. All trim, ramrod-straight five feet six inches of him stood on the wing of the Dulles bridge. The captain looked aft, to the rear of his ship’s trim white lines. What a beauty, he thought. She had just come from a complete overhaul and looked spanking new, glistening with white paint, a powerful weapons system—so beautiful, every one of the 378 feet of her. He was deeply moved by his ship, much as lovers are moved by gazing at the objects of their love.

He looked forward over his Mark 75 antiaircraft gun and aft at his new 20-millimeter machine guns. The ship’s revamped telescoping helicopter hangar had its own chopper, ready to go. Christ, he thought. I’m one lucky guy. I just plain love this ... stopping drug networks, search and rescue, law enforcement, safety at sea, I love it all.

As the hurricane winds got worse, the captain stepped into the bridge and tried to pull the door shut behind him. He even braced his feet on the deck and pulled with all his might. But they were three decks up on the ship’s bridge, where the wind was the strongest.

The quartermaster shouted to the bridge crew. Lend a hand there.

Three sailors rushed to the captain’s side. The four of them finally got the door shut and secured.

Captain Torres glanced out the forward windows at the huge waves. He saw the ship’s bow rise forty feet in less than a minute and then drop back into the ocean with a thud, only to rise and drop again and again. He gripped the safety handrail, shouting, OD, what’s the weather prediction.

This hurricane will probably not grow any worse, sir, our winds are now up to about a hundred miles an hour. We’ll have about another two hours of it, if we hold this course.

We’re going to hold this course, Mister. I don’t think we can get out of this by any course changes and we’re due in Cuba in six hours.

They were interrupted by the radar man shouting, I’ve picked up a boat sir, about ten miles ahead ... bearing 170. I don’t think she’s underway.

The emergency radio band came alive. Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is the motor yacht ‘Madeline’, we are 24, 30, 8, 0 North, 82, 23, 0, 5 West. One of our engines is out. We have only one engine and that one is failing ... we’re taking on water ... Mayday.

The captain shouted Radio, switch that transmission to all the speakers on the ship. I want everyone to know what’s happening out there ... then answer his call.

"Aye sir, Madeline ... This is the United States Coast Guard Cutter Dulles. We are on course 170, about five miles north of you. We can only make about 10 knots in this wind. That makes it about 30 minutes before we reach you. Switch now to the Coast Guard emergency radio band 2182. Tell us your condition and your number of people and their condition, Dulles over to 2182."

"Dulles ... Madeline, on 2182. The wind and waves are awful. I estimate 80 knot winds and 40-foot waves. Our engine compartment is taking on water. I don’t know if we can last, over."

Madeline, do your best to last as long as possible ... there are no other rescue vessels in this area. We have a helicopter, but it can’t fly in this wind. How many people are aboard your vessel and what is their condition, over.

We are a 50-foot motor boat. We had eight people, but two have already been washed overboard. I’m Tom Ricardo. I’m both the captain and the crew. I own this boat. The other four people are here in the main cabin listening to us.

The radioman looked at the OD and captain for directions.

Torres said, Tell him if he’s maneuverable to keep his bow into the waves and ride it out as best he can. Make sure they all are wearing life vests with their vest emergency lights on. Ask him if they have a Ship’s Emergency Transmitter. If so, turn it on. Tell him we’ll get there as quick as we can and to keep this radio contact on. OD, alert our emergency rescue crew.

The OD interrupted the ship wide radioman’s broadcast. This is the Officer of the Deck. Emergency Rescue Crew prepare for a ship rescue ... five people ... 50-foot motor launch ... she’s foundering in these heavy seas ... ETA 30 minutes.

Ricardo came on the radio again, All four others aboard this vessel are sick and weak. They probably can’t last a half hour.

"Madeline ... Dulles, why and how bad are your sick and weak?"

They’d have trouble helping themselves in these seas. The other two were the same. That’s why they got washed overboard. They’re real sick ... over.

"Madeline ... Dulles ... acknowledge your last transmission. We are underway to you ... stand by."

The captain shouted into the microphone, This is the Captain speaking. Now, Commander Little and Chief McClure to the bridge.

The OD announced, Now, all hands ... we have ropes well secured all over the ship where there are no hand rails. Use them. You may have noticed, we have 100-mile winds and 40-foot seas. Do not ... I repeat, do not, go to the outside of the ship, unless you use the rope rails.

Switching off the ship’s loudspeakers, the captain said, Give the Madeline a standby every few minutes. I want them to know we’re on our way.

"Aye, sir. Madeline ... Dulles. We have you on our radar and are proceeding as fast as we can ... stand by."

A few minutes later, the XO and Chief McClure burst into the bridge.

The captain said, Chief, you’re our senior medical specialist; query that boat on what’s wrong with his four people.

"Madeline ... I am the Medical Specialist on the Dulles. Are your passengers seasick?"

Yes, they are. They were weak when they boarded in Key West ... over.

Is it anything communicable? ... over.

Definitely not ... When we casted off from Key West three hours ago the weather prediction was for this storm to be out of this area ... but it fooled us by turning south instead of north. Otherwise it would have been a smooth voyage ... over.

"Mr. Ricardo, this is the Captain of the Dulles speaking. Do you have life boats or rafts? Over."

We have rafts, Captain. But I don’t think they will survive in these seas ... over.

Madeline, standby. Mr. Little, relieve the OD. He’s had the conn for four hours. Chief, take the seat next to the radio. If we’re going to be an ambulance I want you to be the medic in charge. Rescue crew, this is the Captain ... prepare to use the Lyle line guns. We have injured on board the distressed vessel.

The radar man shouted, Captain, we’re closing on them much faster. This wind must have blown them toward us. I estimate ETA ... ten more minutes.

Very well ... Mr. Little, bring this ship up to them on our starboard side ... order your rescue team to our starboard ... with their Lyle line propelling guns ... and turn on the searchlight.

"Dulles ... Madeline. We’re sinking. I’m ordering ‘abandon ship.’ We can see your light ... it just went on. I guess you’re about a half mile away. Each person will be in their own life vest. We can’t get the rafts out. I will have a hand-held radio. There are five of us ... over."

Madeline ... roger that ... five survivors ... our radar confirms your distance ... over.

But there was just silence as the minutes ticked by.

Every thirty seconds the radioman said, "Madeline ... Dulles ... do you read me ... over."

About five minutes later, a faint signal could be heard, "Dulles, Ricardo here ... I am in the water on my handheld emergency radio. We lost one more person during the abandon ship. Another one looks like she’s near dead. She’s in her life jacket OK ... but looks like she’s unconscious ... Oh my God! A big wave just took her ... she’s gone. There are three of us now. We can see your ship ... you’re about 300 yards away ... can you see our vest lights? ... over."

"Mr. Ricardo ... Dulles ... we have a lookout posted forward. His only job is to see you. He’s said he can see only two lights ... where is the third? Over."

You’re right ... it’s gone.

We’re coming up to you now ... but we won’t get too close in these terrible seas ... we will use Lyle guns to shoot a separate line to each light ... grab it and secure it under your arms ... Mr. Ricardo, you do it first ... so, the other person can see how it’s done. We will use the ship’s boom hoist to bring you aboard, one at a time.

Ricardo here ... roger that. My God! My boat, the Madeline, just sank.

Once aboard the Dulles, both survivors were put on stretchers and hustled inside to a warm compartment. A few minutes later, the captain and the chief corpsman came into the compartment. The crew had already removed both men’s wet clothes, wrapped their bodies in warm blankets and given them warm tea.

The captain left the compartment. The chief put on his stethoscope and listened to both men’s hearts. Tom, your heart sounds fine. But the other man ... what is your name, sir? ... is barely breathing.

The man whispered, My name is Irving Plotnick. Just call me Irv. My breathing’s shallow because I was diagnosed with lung cancer seven years ago. After chemotherapy and radiation treatment, my cancer went into remission. But it returned less than a year later. I did another round of chemotherapy.

How’s your health now?

The M.D.’s guess was that I would only live about six months to a year. That was about seven years ago. I started on a drug called CimaVax because chemo was ruining my life. Worse than that, my cancer returned even with all my chemo grief.

Chief McClure asked, Irv, if you’re so sick why were you in the Caribbean on the Madeline?

Irv shrugged as he looked at Tom Ricardo. So, you tell him, Tom. Chief, my story is that I was down here on a vacation.

Then there was a long, dead silence in the compartment.

Finally, Tom said Well, the Madeline is gone, so I guess my business is too. All right, chief, here it is.

The chief held up his hand saying, Wait, don’t say anything more. Is this going to be a true confession? If so, I want a witness in here with us. I’m a medic, not a law enforcer.

Again, there was just dead silence.

The chief picked up the intercom telephone, put in two numbers and said, Commander, since I report to you and you are the Executive Officer of this ship, I think it’s important that you be here now. I’m going to get their story of what this is all about, sir.

A few minutes later, the commander came into the compartment, the chief said, Go ahead, Tom.

Well, you saved our lives so I guess we owe your something. Do you remember when the Coast Guard was arresting endless escaping refugees from Cuba in these waters? Sure, you do. I guess what I want to tell you is that the refugee flow is the other way now.

The other way ... what does that mean?

It means Americans are sneaking into Cuba.

The commander said, You’ve got to be kidding. Who would do that? They’d leave the U.S. to go to Cuba? That’s impossible.

Tom smiled saying, Not as impossible as you think. In fact, there’s one of them right here in this compartment.

Tom pointed to Irv, as all four men looked at Irv.

Irv, it’s your story ... you tell them.

I guess I don’t have any choice. A year ago, I came to Cuba and started taking their invention, CimaVax, and my cancer really went into remission. After that I took the CimaVax for another month. I’ve been cancer-free ever since. This is my third trip to Cuba to get follow-up treatment for my cancer and it’s working. They have this Cuban vaccine, CimaVax. They developed it in Cuba and have been using it for years.

But why would you take a private boat to get there? You could have just flown in.

That’s not as easy as you think. There are all kinds of rules and they keep changing. Besides which there’s currency rules. Each month I’m there costs me about five thousand dollars and I’m there for about two months each time.

The XO said, "Tom, you were taking passengers for hire. Are you a U.S.-licensed captain to take passengers?

Tom said, No, I’m not in the U.S., but I have a Cuban license.

Is your boat licensed and equipped to do that?

No sir, it isn’t, not in the U.S., But it is in Cuba.

A Cuban license doesn’t cut it, Tom. You were taking on Americans at Key West, a U.S. port.

Nobody much cared. The Americans ignored us, and The Cubans are glad to do it, Mr. Little. I have two more boats, like the Madeline, with paid skippers. All three boats are about fifty feet long and comfortable. Together we usually make about three trips every day. Havana is less than a hundred miles from Key West. We average about ten passengers each trip. My boats are fast, too. They can make about twenty knots. That’s five hours to Havana, when there isn’t a storm.

Tom, I’m not going to lecture you about why the Coast Guard has those rules, you probably already know. One reason is just what happened to you. You lost six people in that storm. How long have you been doing this?

I was a cancer victim myself, about two years ago, living in Key West, before I found out about CimaVax. It saved my life and it costs only a small fraction of what chemo costs in the U.S., We don’t get sick like being on chemo and it works much better than chemo.

How did you get the Cubans to license you?

The Cubans are glad to have us. Figure it out, commander. We carry about ten cancer victims on each trip. We make three trips a day to bring in about thirty people every day. That’s about nine hundred cancer victims a month. They each spend about five thousand dollars a month in Cuba. That’s about five million dollars a month. So, that’s about sixty million dollars a year for the Cuban economy. They love us.

There was a long, absolute silence in the compartment. Finally, Tom spoke again.

You’ve been asking me questions, commander. Now can I ask you one? The only thing I’d ask you is how come this island that’s smaller than Tennessee with a population of only about three percent of the U.S. and personal income of less than one tenth of the U.S. makes this discovery to cure one of the world’s worst diseases, after the U.S. has been trying for over fifty years?

I don’t have an answer for that Tom. I’m sorry, Tom, I have to place you under arrest.

The commander picked up the intercom telephone and said, OD, this is the XO. I want an armed sailor in this compartment, quickly.

He turned to Tom and said, I’m going to have a meeting with the captain about how to handle this situation. I’m going to order the armed sailor to stay with you until I return.

It was a sleeping captain, in his cabin, who said, Enter when the commander knocked on his door.

The captain listened and then asked, What do you suggest we do, Larry? You’re the XO.

"If it were up to me, Paulo, I’d let Plotnick go when we get to Cuba. He’s an American citizen. He hasn’t done