Dr. VANESSA EDWARDS

As a child, growing up in Chattanooga, TN, I was asked by my Aunt Jean, what do you want to be when you grow up? My first thought was a doctor, but then came the thought…you aren’t smart enough to be a doctor, therefore I said, a teacher.  I entered college, received a bachelor’s degree in Biology and quickly found out there were not a lot of options in this field.  I then attended a program at MeHarry Medical College and Tennessee State University and acquired a certification and bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology.  I was hired at the VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro TN, where I did my internship.  I was very appreciative for the job but on my first day, I asked the Lord to allow me to stay there for about 3 years and let’s move to the next step.  This part of my life was very fulfilling and allowed me to understand on a deeper level how the body works and how to interpret lab results.  Nearing the end of the second year, I reminded God that we were getting close to the 3-year mark and I would like for Him to tell me what was next.  I was traveling to Ohio to visit my mentor, spiritual mom, Ms. Jannie Wilcoxson.  So, I was thinking God would reveal to me the next step on the way to Ohio.  I got there, no answer.  So I thought maybe He is going to answer me on the way back home.  During my visit, my mentor and I took a trip to the health food store, Healthy Alternative, on Main Street to pick up two 25-pound bags of carrots for juicing.  As we were leaving the store she asked me to pick up a free magazine.  We arrived at her home and we are in the kitchen, she is juicing and I am reading articles from the free magazine and ran across an article of a women discussing liver cleanses and how she learned about them in Naturopathic Medical School.  Well at that time, I had never heard of Naturopathic Medicine.  When I returned home, I started doing research on Naturopathic Medicine.  I was intrigued. I knew this was the answer!  I applied to only one school, South West College of Naturopathic Medicine, because it was in a warm state, and I got in! During my third year of Naturopathic medical school, the Lord revealed to me that I would be moving to Ohio.  During the same time, he revealed to my mentor that He wanted her to open up a Wellness Center.  She was an international bible teacher, but God wanted her to expand and not only help people spiritually but physically as well.  After I completed ND school, I got a masters degree in Acupuncture.  I was introduced to Acupuncture in Naturopathic Medical School and had a passion for it.  I was able to experience first hand how people saw immediate benefits from this modality and I just couldn’t give this up.  It was an integral part of my medical practice along with natural medicine.  In AZ, I was able to do Acupuncture under my ND license, but moving to OH required that I attain my master’s degree.  After I completed my degree in 2008, I moved from AZ to Dayton OH.  The Rapha House Wellness Center was up and running and I immediately began seeing patients.  A few months after my arrival my mentor became ill.  She was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  We were able to use prayer, diet, many natural therapies and Acupuncture to help her go into remission and come off dialysis; the cancer had damaged her kidneys.  She was in remission for 3 years, suffered a stroke and went home to glory to be with our God and Father.  Her legacy still continues, through many Bible teachers, myself included and you can find me at the Rapha House Wellness Center helping people heal spiritually and physically.  I thank God for allowing my to overcome the self-limiting obstacle of believing that I could never become a doctor.  I believed God and He made it come to pass, I am a teacher and a doctor.  Jeremiah 29:11, says, “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future