Dr Ziona Venter

From birth I had various issues. chronic problems that resulted in me been immune compromised and structurally compromised at birth.

By the time I was ten, my physical and emotional trauma had reached a point where I could barely use my hands, holding anything even a pen in class, was becoming a laboured task, the pain I felt , was indescribable and not even understandable to a young child. Many years past without a diagnosis.

Finally, at the age of 17 a hand specialist diagnosed me with Thoracic outlet Syndrome (meaning the primary supply of nerves to my arms were damaged on both left and right sides)

After a year of physical exercise and posture improvement, I was referred to a cardio thoracic surgeon, Who admitted me the same day as my consultation, for an emergency First Rib resection surgery which in itself was severely traumatic and  I was diagnosed with PTSD after the second, 1^st rib resection surgery, none the less I recovered well and had a lot to look forward to with new life in my arms and hands

About a year after those major surgeries, my stationary car was  rear ended. This accident changed my structural integrity and caused many ribs and my shoulder blades to sift into unnatural state,  after many attempts to correct the structural defects  with painful physical therapy, The only solution surgically was to removed bones from my thoracic cavity, 6 pairs of ribs and parts of my shoulder blades were removed,  I was further diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and polymyalgia and had developed a sever opioid addiction.

I probably would have been diagnosed with more conditions if it wasn’t for my surgeon who recommended that I start smoking Dagga. This was a shock, I couldn’t believe that I was out of options and that an illegal substance was my last resort, nothing more could be done for me, and the prognosis wasn’t hopeful at all.

With much hesitation and fear of ridicule I managed to source cannabis flower and try that which I had no belief could even offer me any relief of pain. However, within 10 minutes of smoking my first Joint, I had minimal pain and i was laughing for the first time from my heart in, many years. It was at this point that my cannabis journey began, with the need to understand how no other prescription pain medication could offer me what cannabis has, and still continues to do for me on a daily basis. Cannabis has been the greatest healing adventure of my live.

I am truly honoured  and privileged to work with the cannabis plant and her energy.