Fred Davis (@Freddd) 1948-2024

aturtles

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Fred Davis (@Freddd) 1948-2024

It is with grief and sorrow that I bear the news that @Freddd left our physical world on May 11th, about 8pm Mountain Time.

His companion of twenty years wanted me to tell you, and to pass on whatever details I thought might be appropriate.

Fred was my close friend and mentor for ten years. Like many here, I gratefully followed his protocol, his insights, his updates. I owe him my recovery from chronic fatigue and other ills. I owe him my good health.

Fred's wisdom and care--his attention to detail, and his remarkable ability to remain unbiased, to listen without judgment--influenced many of us, not only in what we talk about here, but how.

Fred faced serious health issues across many decades. He had, through study, research, and trial, repeatedly regained his metabolic balance and health.

But when a person has a series of long, debilitating chronic conditions, they can, over time, become so weakened that any hit--even a small nudge--can tip them into a dysfunction from which they cannot recover.

That's what I think happened: he had one too many hits.

I assure you that he never gave up. He just couldn't stay in the game.

I'll offer you my view on what some of those tipping points were, based on conversations I had with him over the years, and with those who were present with him physically at the end, which I was not.

As you may know, in 2021 Fred was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was studying, trialing, and working hard to survive the cancer. He was trying various approaches, some alternative medical, and some mainstream.

Fred struggled to balance mainstream medical therapies with his own sense of what would work based on his unusual metabolism. He knew that with every choice he made, he was betting his life. It was about trade-offs: feed the cancer or feed his healing? Which path might lead to more years of quality life?

When his testosterone went to zero (which he's written about), that was a big hit to his healing and function.

The next hit was radiation therapy. In Oct '23, Fred had the first of 45 planned radiation sessions for his prostate cancer. That single session left him unexpectedly damaged. He was nearly unable to walk, his nerves not working right, and with biochemical degeneration he could feel but not identify. He was dizzy. He felt bad a lot of the time. Based on this extreme response, the oncologist decided no more radiation treatments.

Any post you saw from Freddd in the last half year was likely written despite high levels of pain and feeling "clobbered". I think it helped him to help others. If you were someone he helped, know that you were part of his work, work he was glad to be doing.

Fred was also sick over the holidays. He remarked to me in December that it was the first time he'd been sick since 2003. Was that illness another hit? Was it cause or effect or some of both? I don't know.

In mid-March, something else happened. Perhaps a stroke. Fred suddenly stopped being able to communicate. Days passed, and he was not right. He recovered a bit, but not very much.

After that, he was put on palliative/hospice medications for the intense pain he was also experiencing.

I last spoke to him on Mon, May 5. He had a hard time finishing sentences. But even then, he was curious about what was going on. Mystified, but curious.

Here's my take:

Each of our bodies has some amount of physical resilience, a buffer to deal with the taxes of life--the toxins, pollution, genetics, disease, stress, diet, drugs, age-related issues, and so on. I think that over the last two years, with each hit, Fred's resilience lessened. Yes, he was also making gains through this time, but they weren't as big as the losses.

The radiation treatment took a significant toll. The stroke, if it was that, was likely the final hit.

And yet, what Fred had already accomplished by then was tremendous.

Fred survived for 76 years, most of them with improving health and impressive clarity of thought--you've seen his posts. According to his doctors many years back, Fred was supposed to be dead decades ago from inexplicable illnesses. He was repeatedly told he had six months to live.

He lived--and lived well--for a significant span longer than he would have had he not been able to make breakthroughs in understanding his metabolism in particular and human metabolism in general. It's a profound and inspiring achievement, a testament to Fred's metabolic knowledge and his fierce determination to make sense of mysteries.

As you know, Fred was generous with his knowledge. He was passionate about sharing what he had figured out with the rest of us. Here at Phoenix Rising he made over 5,000 posts.

What you might not know is that he believed in love as a powerful motive force--that's "Love" capitalized. Or maybe all caps: LOVE. He believed love was a fuel, a channel like a river, a force and that if we each could move into it, we could become more alive and whole and connected.

So if you find yourself wanting to do something in his honor, or give something back, maybe consider this:

Offer your care, knowledge, and love to those who might need it. Listen to others, with less judgment. Be the bridge for people to take a path forward into health. Act with kindness.

Also, if you feel moved to say something here or privately to me about how he helped you, go ahead. I’ll pass it on to the family.

For me personally, Fred's care over the last ten years made my impressive return to health possible. I don't know if I'd be alive now without him.

My gratitude is great. My sorrow likewise.

Stay kind.
 

Tammy

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What you might not know is that he believed in love as a powerful motive force--that's "Love" capitalized. Or maybe all caps: LOVE. He believed love was a fuel, a channel like a river, a force and that if we each could move into it, we could become more alive and whole and connected.

So if you find yourself wanting to do something in his honor, or give something back, maybe consider this:

Offer your care, knowledge, and love to those who might need it. Listen to others, with less judgment. Be the bridge for people to take a path forward into health. Act with kindness.


Beautiful
 

Mary

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I am so sorry to hear this! Thanks for letting us know @aturtles . Freddd will be missed!

Also, if you feel moved to say something here or privately to me about how he helped you, go ahead. I’ll pass it on to the family.

Freddd helped me a lot, most notably in regard to methyation and potassium. Without his posts, I don't think I would have learned about the connection between one's potassium tanking and starting methylfolate or B12 (which happened to me), and being able to take methylfolate (once I learned I needed to supplement with potassium) has been huge for me - a game changer. And I've passed this knowledge on to others here, so he keeps on giving.
 

almost

Senior Member
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168
Thank you for letting us know, @aturtles. He will surely be missed. I am sorry for the loss to the immediate family, and the MECFS family at large.

He was largely before my time here, but I have read many of his posts, and learned much from him and his discussions with Rich V. His method is something I am inspired to emulate.

Fred struggled to balance mainstream medical therapies with his own sense of what would work based on his unusual metabolism. He knew that with every choice he made, he was betting his life. It was about trade-offs
He lived--and lived well--for a significant span longer than he would have had he not been able to make breakthroughs in understanding his metabolism in particular and human metabolism in general.
This is my current goal. I posthumously thank Fred for his example, and hope to do half as well.
🙏
 

Sophiedw

Senior Member
Messages
384
He saved my life also. What a titan. And a sadness, I was hoping to discuss these things more with him one day. Such an impact for a single person to have in the community. A personal inspiration to me, hope he resides out in the universe somewhere. ❤️
 

Jyoti

Senior Member
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3,427
Although I didn't have any luck with his protocol, it was through a Google search for hypokalemia which took me to a post of his here on PR, and which then led to the recognition that what had been making me dreadfully sick for 6 years was ME. Having a name for it, and a community of fearless explorers, like Freddd, whose experiments and observations, brilliant thinking and great camaraderie have all improved my life.

For that, I will always be in his debt.
 

cph13

Senior Member
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USA
Tragic. He taught US so much. I'm beyond sad. Grateful though to have been a part of "HIS" expertise. I was a very fortunate person to have found this site and FREDDD. Eternal Memory, Eternal Memory Blessed repose and ETERNAL MEMORY!
 

helen1

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Canada
Fred was so helpful to me. I admired his calm analytical attitude and when I was feeling sorry for myself I would say to myself “Be more like Freddd! Analyze this puzzle and be not a victim!”

Plus I’ve had improvements using his methylation and nutrient repletion plans.

Thank you Freddd, you were one of the best!!
 

datadragon

Senior Member
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Location
USA
My condolences as Fredd was very helpful to many here and others who have also mentioned a loss of a loved one recently. I lost my dad as well as two grandparents around the same time.

It is said that people die twice. First, they die when their bodies give out, but they only truly die finally after the very last person that knew them and holds memories of them are also gone. Therefore, they are not gone, as they are, and will not be...forgotten anytime soon by those who cared about them as shown here by many who knew him. I hope you will cherish their memories within you as you now carry their legacy on.
 
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So very sad to read this thread 😟

I joined this forum today to help another member find a supplier for dibencozide.

I have been immensely grateful for many years to Freddd for his willingness to share his knowledge, that has made a massive difference to my life! For that Freddd, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

My sincerest condolences to Freddd's family, he has left an invaluable legacy 🥹
 
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