Florida pediatric surgeon Marshall Stone, M.D., believes that fresh foods can be powerful medicine, and now he’s offering healing and hope — one full grocery bag at a time! Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.
You’re recovering nicely,” Marshall Stone, M.D., told 12-year-old Alen and his mom after a postsurgical checkup. But the Jupiter, Florida, pediatric surgeon was concerned. The young boy weighed over 250 pounds.
“All that extra weight can cause intestinal issues and likely contributed to your infected appendix,” Dr. Stone said, but then he smiled. “I do have a solution.”
Though he spent most of his days in an operating room, Dr. Stone had long believed that the right foods can be powerful medicine. His father had survived a massive heart attack at age 45, changed his diet and was now a spry 93 years old. Dr. Stone’s wife, Ellen, had also switched to a diet packed with anti-inflammatory foods and all but vanquished her severe rheumatoid arthritis.
“The trouble is, some families don’t have the money or access to the right foods,” he said, sharing his concerns with a nutritionist and friend, Margaret Duriez.
“Well, I just bought a farm to grow nutritious, organic vegetables for my own family,” Margaret replied. “At the rate things are going, I’ll have a lot of extras. Maybe you and I could team up to give away the rest?”
A healthy mission
In the fall of 2019, the pair launched a nonprofit called Fresh Rx dedicated to offering “food as medicine” to sick children and adults who need more than prescriptions to survive and thrive.
Dr. Stone combed through his records for kids battling cancer and obesity. He signed up a dozen families, including Alen’s. “These peppers and squash were on the vine just yesterday,” he told the boy’s mom, handing her a bag full of greens and other nutrient-rich organic veggies. “I’ll be back next week with another bag.”
Before Fresh Rx, Alen could barely climb a flight of stairs. Three months later, he was shedding pounds and came in first in a class recess footrace.
Dr. Stone reached out to other local farmers to get them involved in the program. He then began adding organic fruits, eggs and antibiotic-free chicken to the menu options. Thanks to Florida’s two growing seasons — October to January and January to May — they were able to offer two 16-week cycles of foods as medicine every year.
The Fresh Rx program quickly gained traction, and referrals began pouring in from hospitals, Medicaid centers, health departments and clinics for new moms.
Emily Pilmore, whose little boy Ethan was born with multiple heart defects and fragile lungs, was one happy recipient. Ethan was enrolled for two Fresh Rx cycles. “He loved all the new foods — especially the star fruits,” said Emily. “Throughout the winter, we had fresh veggies and fruits, and Ethan didn’t have so much as a sniffle.”
Tasty healing
Every Fresh Rx bag arrives with a weekly newsletter with recipes and information on how each of the seasonal offerings supports healing and immunity.
“They don’t just deliver healthy food — they deliver hope and dignity,” says James, a throat cancer survivor whose treatment had almost completely destroyed his kidneys. James was also prediabetic, but thanks to Fresh Rx his blood sugar dropped to normal, his kidneys healed and he went from 380 down to 180 pounds.
James is now a passionate advocate for food as medicine. “My sister beat leukemia after she changed her diet,” he beams, “and a friend of mine with liver cancer is also doing better now that he’s eating healthier.”
Dr. Stone’s data backs this up. “Our research shows that prediabetics lower their A1C levels, and those on chemo or radiation have fewer side effects and improved outcomes.” Even better, most Fresh Rx recipients continue eating healthy after finishing the 16-week cycle.
“I know from personal experience how great it can feel not only to eat healthy, but also to have support in your community,” says Dr. Stone. “I also love helping others learn that sometimes food can be the best medicine.”
