Hope for Rian’s 18th Birthday
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Rian Michelsen has Lyme disease. While his friends are graduating high school and making plans for the future, Rian will turn 18 this summer with no plan but to be confined to his home. This Go Fund Me campaign could give Rian the best birthday gift he could ask for – the funding to help him travel to Germany for medical treatment that is not available in Canada or the U.S. – and the hope that he too might be able to heal and plan a bright future just like his friends.
When Rian was 12, he immigrated to Toronto from Bermuda with his family to pursue his dream of attending a performing arts high school. After being accepted and completing one year and a half at the school, Rian fell severely ill in Grade 10 and has been unable to attend school due to debilitating symptoms of Lyme Disease ever since. That was 2. 5 years ago.
In Rian’s case, the Lyme disease has affected his brain, resulting in a host of neurological symptoms. He suffers from tremors, vertigo, headaches, joint pain and shortness of breath, throat constriction, severe brain fog and floaters in his vision. These symptoms leave him unable to read, write, focus, walk, and at times, talk. Rian spends a lot of time in the dark, recovering from any stimulation, which makes his symptoms so much worse.
At the present time, there is NO funding for Lyme disease research in Canada, making accurate diagnosis and treatment extremely limited here. As a result, Rian’s treatment for Lyme has so far required: travel to the U.S. for specialized Lyme doctors; an 18-month protocol of taxing antibiotics; a regime of herbals and supplements; supportive therapies such as orthomolecular medicine; and, a highly restricted diet. Despite all of this, Rian has only had short durations of success, with further deterioration thereafter.
What will come as a shock is that the entire Michelsen family of five was diagnosed with Lyme disease over the past 2 years, each suffering from different manifestations of the disease, and each one unknowingly for several years. In 2015, treatment costs for the Michelsen family were over $70,000, $42,000 of which were out-of-pocket. Brett is working 12-16 hour days and Tanis has become a full-time caregiver, Paleo chef, advocate for her children, Lyme researcher and follower of Lyme sufferers. They are grateful for the support of their family & friends and work very hard to keep focused, positive, and present.
Rian needs hope. His 18-year old immune system needs a reset, a fighting chance at recovery. In Germany, a clinic specializing in the treatment of Lyme disease, is Rian’s hope chest. Here, using Rian’s own blood, doctors harvest his healthy stem cells, modulate his immune system, kill the harmful bacteria and other pathogens, detox his body from other bio-toxins, and then re-introduce healthy stem cells into Rian’s body. What follows is an intense 100-day healing period. This 4-week intensive treatment is $45,000 and there is an opening for Rian to begin on July 11th, 2016 – 3 days before his 18th birthday. Brett and Tanis are going to give Rian this chance no matter what it takes. That’s what any parent would do.
Please help this family any way you can, big or small. Make a donation, share this page on your favourite social media outlets, educate yourself and others about Lyme disease, and send some love their way. Thank You.
For more information on the Michelsen's journey visit: http://hospitalnews.com/unravelling-the-mystery-of-lyme-disease-why-canada-needs-to-do-more/
For more information on Lyme Disease visit: www.canlyme.com
When Rian was 12, he immigrated to Toronto from Bermuda with his family to pursue his dream of attending a performing arts high school. After being accepted and completing one year and a half at the school, Rian fell severely ill in Grade 10 and has been unable to attend school due to debilitating symptoms of Lyme Disease ever since. That was 2. 5 years ago.
In Rian’s case, the Lyme disease has affected his brain, resulting in a host of neurological symptoms. He suffers from tremors, vertigo, headaches, joint pain and shortness of breath, throat constriction, severe brain fog and floaters in his vision. These symptoms leave him unable to read, write, focus, walk, and at times, talk. Rian spends a lot of time in the dark, recovering from any stimulation, which makes his symptoms so much worse.
At the present time, there is NO funding for Lyme disease research in Canada, making accurate diagnosis and treatment extremely limited here. As a result, Rian’s treatment for Lyme has so far required: travel to the U.S. for specialized Lyme doctors; an 18-month protocol of taxing antibiotics; a regime of herbals and supplements; supportive therapies such as orthomolecular medicine; and, a highly restricted diet. Despite all of this, Rian has only had short durations of success, with further deterioration thereafter.
What will come as a shock is that the entire Michelsen family of five was diagnosed with Lyme disease over the past 2 years, each suffering from different manifestations of the disease, and each one unknowingly for several years. In 2015, treatment costs for the Michelsen family were over $70,000, $42,000 of which were out-of-pocket. Brett is working 12-16 hour days and Tanis has become a full-time caregiver, Paleo chef, advocate for her children, Lyme researcher and follower of Lyme sufferers. They are grateful for the support of their family & friends and work very hard to keep focused, positive, and present.
Rian needs hope. His 18-year old immune system needs a reset, a fighting chance at recovery. In Germany, a clinic specializing in the treatment of Lyme disease, is Rian’s hope chest. Here, using Rian’s own blood, doctors harvest his healthy stem cells, modulate his immune system, kill the harmful bacteria and other pathogens, detox his body from other bio-toxins, and then re-introduce healthy stem cells into Rian’s body. What follows is an intense 100-day healing period. This 4-week intensive treatment is $45,000 and there is an opening for Rian to begin on July 11th, 2016 – 3 days before his 18th birthday. Brett and Tanis are going to give Rian this chance no matter what it takes. That’s what any parent would do.
Please help this family any way you can, big or small. Make a donation, share this page on your favourite social media outlets, educate yourself and others about Lyme disease, and send some love their way. Thank You.
For more information on the Michelsen's journey visit: http://hospitalnews.com/unravelling-the-mystery-of-lyme-disease-why-canada-needs-to-do-more/
For more information on Lyme Disease visit: www.canlyme.com
Organizer
Tanis Michelsen
Organizer
Halifax, NS
