Hear from one of our functional medicine patients, Bob copeland

Farmer Bob Copeland, R+R functional medicine patient.

Here’s what farmer bob copeland had to say about his experience working with our functional medicine team*

“I haven’t been sick since tonsillitis inflamed me when I was six years old. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen my share of doctors and hospitals, but an ambulance ride was always involved. Accidents happened, but I haven’t been sick sick, ever. Until now.

“The early spring of 2023, I was out on my farm battling brush and mesquites with a chainsaw and long handle shears, when my helper and friend says ‘Hey, your speech sounds weird.’ I already knew it was off, but thought it was related to recent dental work. Wrong. My tongue was also getting swollen, and I knew it was time to see a doctor, but I didn’t really have a PCP— mine had recently retired. One more high hurdle, this year of all years, I had to get my health insurance policy from United Healthcare. You’ve heard of them?

“UH website was loaded with doctors and other providers they claimed were ‘in-network’ which were in fact not, because none of them would accept the UH policy. They knew better. It took five months to locate a clinic and doctor in Fort Worth, who promptly sent me for X-rays, called me back in to say it was ‘all clear’ and sent me home.

“Thankfully, I was already in the right place at the right time, with a little bit different brand of doctors: Restore and Revive Wellness Center. We had started the R+R Farm Co-op a couple of years ago, so I knew the wellness center’s owner Dabney Poorter, FNP, and one of the doctors on staff, Brighton Miller, DO. They both bought pasture raised meats, raw milk, and organic vegetables from our co-op of farmers on a regular basis. Dabney knew I had an ongoing problem. Dr. Miller overheard me talking to my assistant Amelia one day in our offices at The Homestead,” and asked to talk to me in private. I’ll never forget it; she said ‘Bob this is something in your head.’ Then her and Dabney ordered some bloodwork on me, and eventually after wrestling UH over it, I had an MRI, CT- Scan, and Ultrasound done.

“Dr. Miller was right. I had a tumor in my head, in a bad spot located right on my brain stem. Ouch.

“Dr. Miller gave me the diagnosis, we talked about the many options for treatment including removal of the tumor, and Dr. Miller knew my eventual surgeon from medical school, whom she highly recommended— Dr. Christopher Shank. Then Dabney asked me to try the High Dose, Intravenous Vitamin C therapy, and folks, it was the best piece of advise I have ever had, bar none. Dabney, Dr. Miller, and the nurses there at the wellness center saved my life. The surgeon and oncologist had initially said I would most likely need radiation therapy and possibly chemotherapy. That old school of thought persisted throughout my ordeal, but I was never sold on chemo, and was very hesitant of the radiation, especially since the tumor had been in such a bad place— right on the ‘motherboard’ as one doctor described it.

“I jumped at the Vitamin C therapy having done research of numerous homeopathic options, and trusting Dabney and Dr. B (Miller) as I did. I had 12 doses of 50 ml Vitamin C prior to my brain surgery. Most fortuitous for me, all the doctors and nurses, my surgeon Dr. Shank, Harris Methodist hospital, and the rehab centers to follow, I switched from UH to Blue Cross for my health insurance policy in January of this year (2025). Dr. Shank performed a craniotomy on me January 14, and my uninvited guest was evicted. To date, Blue Cross has paid every claim. Still waiting on a few from UH.

“‘I was able to get the whole tumor out,’ said Dr. Shank when he saw me the following day on his rounds. ‘Everything went great.’ I was just barely functioning at about 50%, but I understood that great news, and thanked him immensely.

“Recovery has taken quite some time (if you’re an impatient busybody like me) but I am still on the mend. Three weeks of inpatient physical therapy, and speech therapy, then more of both therapies twice a week since. I lost 50 pounds in the year of my discontent, I still have speech issues, and an overactive salivary gland, which has made it difficult to gain weight, but have I added 25 pounds back on. My speech therapist is very knowledgeable and committed to seeing me get thru this, and she comes to the rehab center in my hometown. Looks like I’m gonna be around to grill a few more steaks!

“I have no scientific knowledge of how high doses of Vitamin C attack the cancer cells, but I have proof that it does— Me. Just a couple weeks ago I went back to the imaging lab for yet another MRI of my head, and a procedure which sounds scary but wasn’t all that bad, a lumbar puncture, to see if my brain and spine were both clear of any more tumors. When I went to the oncologists office, the PA was there to deliver the news: All Clear. And this time they were right. In five months, I went from a cancerous tumor in my head, to all clear and not needing radiation or chemotherapy. YAHOOO!

“The only thing left for me to do now is continue my speech therapy (Try This: Stick out your tongue, bit down on it lightly to hold it out, then try to swallow. Extremely difficult and virtually impossible for me to do two months ago, but now I can make it happen, and it’s an important hurdle to clear in my therapy.)

“Also on my To-Do List: Thank the knowledge, forward- thinking, and expertise of Dabney Poorter, Dr. Brighton Miller, the nurses and staff at Restore and Revive Wellness Center for saving my bacon! Had it not been for their courage and dedication to providing functional, alternative medicine for me and all their patients, I would probably be wallowing in an unhealthy cycle of toxic chemical treatments, ongoing medical bills, and further loss of my once good health.

“Vitamin C therapy worked for me, and should you be unfortunate enough to find yourself in the same situation, I would recommend you try it before going the traditional medicine route most cancer patients take. But of course, that’s just my opinion! (And I’m not a doctor.)

“Thank you Restore and Revive Wellness Center for giving me back my life. You are the best of the best in healthcare.

“It’s time for Farmer Bob Copeland to go back to work feeding you all.” — Farmer Robert “Bob” Copeland

If you or a loved one is navigating a chronic health condition, our functional medicine team would be happy to sit down and learn about your experience. Then, we can put together a highly tailored, personalized plan for health and healing. Learn more about our functional medicine practice or call (817) 720-6220 ext 2 today.

*Please note that this is not medical advice. This is merely a personal testimony written by one of our functional medicine patients recounting his own, very personal experience. Always speak to your healthcare provider before adding to, retracting from, or making changes of any kind to your treatment plan. High-dose vitamin C is not beneficial for everyone, and you should speak with your healthcare provider before taking it.