Family of 6 Battles Lyme Disease
Donation protected
As a family we feel defeated, and that we cannot help them out enough. This is one small way we would like to show our support to the Walker Family. As Lyme disease is not recognized in Canada, they have been suffering for years; being misdiagnosed and left virtually on their own dealing with the devastating illness.
The following is a letter Renee wrote to the government:
My four kids and I all have lyme disease and co-infections passed on to them by their unknowing mom. We've been to countless Doctors and Specialists, with most of their replies being something along the lines of “it’s all in your head”, a statement all too familiar for lyme patients!
I don’t see a doctor for my debilitating pain and symptoms because I learned they aren’t going to help. I continue to take my four children to doctors even though we are bullied and talked to in condescending ways. We have been told it must be anxiety, growing pains, GAS, etc. Two of my son’s suffer from seizures, two of my children have chronic, painful stomach aches.
We all, including my husband, have chronic symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, temporary blindness, muscle/joint pain, dizziness, black outs, short term memory loss, chills, low grade fevers, as well as unexplained spiking fevers up to 105. We get rashes, swelling of limbs, eyes, skin and joints that randomly dislocate. Our oldest son, 12 years old, has missed 80% of school in the last two years. This is no life for my family and so many others across Canada.
This disease attacks the brain and every organ, dismantling the body behind the scenes. In Canada, Lyme seems to "not exist" in the eyes of many health care providers.
It breaks my heart, and makes me so angry they are suffering like this, when it doesn’t have to be this way. We have spent everything trying to reverse our 12 year olds cognitive decline. We have nothing left and are almost at the point of losing our house. We have no means to treat any of us out of pocket any more, and there are no doctors in Canada that will take on pediatrics. We are in a fight against time for our lives before this disease does irreversible damage or becomes fatal.
The following is a letter Renee wrote to the government:
My four kids and I all have lyme disease and co-infections passed on to them by their unknowing mom. We've been to countless Doctors and Specialists, with most of their replies being something along the lines of “it’s all in your head”, a statement all too familiar for lyme patients!
I don’t see a doctor for my debilitating pain and symptoms because I learned they aren’t going to help. I continue to take my four children to doctors even though we are bullied and talked to in condescending ways. We have been told it must be anxiety, growing pains, GAS, etc. Two of my son’s suffer from seizures, two of my children have chronic, painful stomach aches.
We all, including my husband, have chronic symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, temporary blindness, muscle/joint pain, dizziness, black outs, short term memory loss, chills, low grade fevers, as well as unexplained spiking fevers up to 105. We get rashes, swelling of limbs, eyes, skin and joints that randomly dislocate. Our oldest son, 12 years old, has missed 80% of school in the last two years. This is no life for my family and so many others across Canada.
This disease attacks the brain and every organ, dismantling the body behind the scenes. In Canada, Lyme seems to "not exist" in the eyes of many health care providers.
It breaks my heart, and makes me so angry they are suffering like this, when it doesn’t have to be this way. We have spent everything trying to reverse our 12 year olds cognitive decline. We have nothing left and are almost at the point of losing our house. We have no means to treat any of us out of pocket any more, and there are no doctors in Canada that will take on pediatrics. We are in a fight against time for our lives before this disease does irreversible damage or becomes fatal.
Organiser and beneficiary
Lindsay Manz
Organiser
Saskatoon, SK
Renee Walker
Beneficiary