Help Lauren Fight Lyme’s

Meet the newlyweds, Lauren and Perry Bodford. They were married on September 9, 2017. Filled with love and excitement for their future, they had no idea what life had waiting for them to conquer next. On October 5, 2017 - less than a month after their beautiful wedding and after several days of Lauren being extremely ill, she was taken to urgent care. They performed a spinal tap due to symptoms that mimicked spinal meningitis. Thankfully, the test was negative for spinal meningitis but blood tests showed something else. She was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme’s Disease. They sent her home to do a follow up with her primary physician. The following morning, Lauren awoke to a bed sheet filled with a bloody water from her spinal tap sight. Her doctor suggested she go straight to the emergency room. There they decided to admit her to the hospital due to the spinal fluid leak and severe headaches. Lauren tried to refuse admittance due to she and her husband not having health insurance. ER physicians insisted she had no choice. She was admitted to Forsyth Medical Center on Friday afternoon, October 6, 2017. Due to her blood being highly contaminated with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme’s Disease, they can not perform a “blood patch” with her own blood to stop the spinal fluid leak. Lauren is experiencing severe headaches that are unimaginable due to the leak as well as having some issues with feeling in both her legs. She also has 2 bulging and 2 slipped discs in her lower back. The inflammation from those discs are also impacting the spinal leak and feeling in her legs. The neurologist came in on October 8th with news that she will have to be in the hospital at least 2 more weeks. They are hoping the spinal leak will heal itself. She is currently under pain management every 2 hours and they are discussing putting her on a pain pump as of today - October 9th. They will be performing additional tests to confirm if the Lyme’s Disease has affected her brain. If so, she will be dealing with neurological affects from that as well. We are asking for prayer that she will not suffer any neurological affects from the Lyme’s Disease. On behalf of Lauren and her husband, Perry (my brother), our family is reaching out to all of our family and friends asking for financial help to support their medical bills. As of right now, they do not have health insurance and we are expecting her medical bills to be astronomical based on what the physicians are telling us regarding her extended stay. Any amount you can donate will be extremely helpful. From our family to yours, your support is truly appreciated!