Bringing Elliana Back
Donation protected
Over the last 8 months we have learned that Elliana has chronic Lyme disease. Lyme can be transmitted to a child during pregnancy and this is how she initially contracted it. You can have the lyme bacteria in your body and be asymptomatic and not know you have it until your immune system is either thrown off and/or you are reinfected. Shawna and Elliana are both positive for the same strands of lyme. Since the reinfection this last summer she has been diagnosed with PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), autoimmune encephalitis and severe malabsorption.
Life looks way different than it did 8 months ago not only for Elliana, but our whole family. When an infectious trigger like Lyme creates a misdirected immune response it results in inflammation on a child’s brain. In turn, a child can quickly begin to exhibit life changing symptoms such as OCD, anxiety, tics, personality changes, sensory sensitivities, and more. She experiences all of these and other physical symptoms which affect her body and use of her hands from time to time. Her immune system is struggling to fight off the infection and stay healthy due to her being positive for autoimmune disease and the Lyme has affected her body's ability to absorb nutrients (she is losing weight rather than gaining weight).
She is currently being treated by a very knowledgable and caring doctor in St.Louis. It is hard to find a doctor who is Lyme literate and also treats children who will take insurance. All of her doctors visits, lab work, diagnostic testing have been paid for out of pocket. The next step in helping her fight off the lyme infection and get her immune system healthy is to take her to see doctors at Hansa Center. This will be a wonderful complement to the treatment she is already receiving and will allow her body to heal faster and more effectively. Shawna is currently being treated by a doctor at Hansa and has seen much improvement. They see people from all over the world and thankfully they are only about three hours from us. We are trusting the Lord for her returned health. We often say we miss her, because this disease is awful in the way that it affects your body and brain and can completely change a person! We see glimpses of our sunshine and look forward to more of her returning in the future. In the meantime we are celebrating the moments we have and loving her right where she is!
We are surrounded by many people who are praying for us and supporting us in many ways! We thank God for you. This trial has brought us to our knees and we are so dependent upon our loving Heavenly Father. We can't think of a better place to be than in His arms. We are thankful for the joy in the midst of our current circumstances. We welcome and appreciate your prayers more than anything.
A group of friends have offered to put together this fundraiser for us. Our desire is to be transparent with you in what we are needing help with and where the funds are going. For the next 6 months of doctors visits, treatment and medication/supplements we are looking at needing 12,460 to cover those expenses. The Lord has provided 3,450 of that and we are needing 9,010 to fill the gap.
$4,850 - Elliana treatment at Hansa for a week in March
$4,850 - Elliana treatment at Hansa for follow-up week
$900 - $300 per appointment for specialist
1200- $200 per month for medication, supplements, labs
$660.00 fundraising fees
We have learned so much about Lyme and how it affects the body and brain and we are now very passionate about wanting to spread awareness to everyone we know. If we can answer any questions or be of any help please don't hesitate to ask. Here are some links with more info:
Lyme Disease: http://www.ilads.organd http://lymediseasechallenge.org/learn-lyme-disease/
How to remove a tick/prevent lyme: http://lymediseasechallenge.org/prevention/
PANS: http://pandasnetwork.org
This journey has been teaching us a lot about joy and praising the Lord in the midst of a difficult season. We will leave you with Elliana's favorite song (JOY) and our families favorite song (10,000 Reasons) that we turn up loud and belt out when the days get long and too tough to bear sometimes. Enjoy! :-)
"Joy" from Rend Collective (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDiETOLBvxA&app=desktop
Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM&app=desktop
Life looks way different than it did 8 months ago not only for Elliana, but our whole family. When an infectious trigger like Lyme creates a misdirected immune response it results in inflammation on a child’s brain. In turn, a child can quickly begin to exhibit life changing symptoms such as OCD, anxiety, tics, personality changes, sensory sensitivities, and more. She experiences all of these and other physical symptoms which affect her body and use of her hands from time to time. Her immune system is struggling to fight off the infection and stay healthy due to her being positive for autoimmune disease and the Lyme has affected her body's ability to absorb nutrients (she is losing weight rather than gaining weight).
She is currently being treated by a very knowledgable and caring doctor in St.Louis. It is hard to find a doctor who is Lyme literate and also treats children who will take insurance. All of her doctors visits, lab work, diagnostic testing have been paid for out of pocket. The next step in helping her fight off the lyme infection and get her immune system healthy is to take her to see doctors at Hansa Center. This will be a wonderful complement to the treatment she is already receiving and will allow her body to heal faster and more effectively. Shawna is currently being treated by a doctor at Hansa and has seen much improvement. They see people from all over the world and thankfully they are only about three hours from us. We are trusting the Lord for her returned health. We often say we miss her, because this disease is awful in the way that it affects your body and brain and can completely change a person! We see glimpses of our sunshine and look forward to more of her returning in the future. In the meantime we are celebrating the moments we have and loving her right where she is!
We are surrounded by many people who are praying for us and supporting us in many ways! We thank God for you. This trial has brought us to our knees and we are so dependent upon our loving Heavenly Father. We can't think of a better place to be than in His arms. We are thankful for the joy in the midst of our current circumstances. We welcome and appreciate your prayers more than anything.
A group of friends have offered to put together this fundraiser for us. Our desire is to be transparent with you in what we are needing help with and where the funds are going. For the next 6 months of doctors visits, treatment and medication/supplements we are looking at needing 12,460 to cover those expenses. The Lord has provided 3,450 of that and we are needing 9,010 to fill the gap.
$4,850 - Elliana treatment at Hansa for a week in March
$4,850 - Elliana treatment at Hansa for follow-up week
$900 - $300 per appointment for specialist
1200- $200 per month for medication, supplements, labs
$660.00 fundraising fees
We have learned so much about Lyme and how it affects the body and brain and we are now very passionate about wanting to spread awareness to everyone we know. If we can answer any questions or be of any help please don't hesitate to ask. Here are some links with more info:
Lyme Disease: http://www.ilads.organd http://lymediseasechallenge.org/learn-lyme-disease/
How to remove a tick/prevent lyme: http://lymediseasechallenge.org/prevention/
PANS: http://pandasnetwork.org
This journey has been teaching us a lot about joy and praising the Lord in the midst of a difficult season. We will leave you with Elliana's favorite song (JOY) and our families favorite song (10,000 Reasons) that we turn up loud and belt out when the days get long and too tough to bear sometimes. Enjoy! :-)
"Joy" from Rend Collective (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDiETOLBvxA&app=desktop
Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM&app=desktop
Organizer and beneficiary
Stacey Russell
Organizer
Shawnee, KS
Shawna Ketter
Beneficiary
