Help Nikki Take a Bite Out of Lyme

I have been hesitant to set up a gofundme account. I felt weird about asking family, friends and strangers for money to help me fight a disease they might know nothing about. But after many people telling me that there are people who understand being sick and struggling to pay for treatment, because insurance does NOT, I conceded. I agree with them that sometimes asking for help is the right thing, that sometimes those outside of the trouble can be some of your biggest supporters.

I am to a point that paying for treatment is tough. Lyme is a hard disease to fight and insurance doesn't cover my doctor visits, the travel expenses to see a doctor that specializes in lyme or most of the medications I have to take to keep my body going. It's expensive and when I am already fighting to stay positive, money trouble is one thing I wish I didn't have to deal with.

I am trying to raise $6000. I'm not sure if we will reach that goal but if we do it will pay for two, 9 week, rounds of treatment that includes a visit to my specialist as well as all of my medications and blood tests! 

Lyme has effected my whole life and the lives of those around me. I can not work, even though I push myself to try. I use to be the one to take care of my two young boys and my husband. Now I need help with my children most days and my husband and those closest to me have to take care of me. It's hard to feel like my body is giving up on me at the young age of 24. I have so much life left to live. I want to get into remission, I want to run with my boys again, I want to brush my own hair again. I want to feel like me.

This struggle is going to last a while and my family and I are doing our best to make things work but it's time I swallow my pride and ask others for help.

I get asked a LOT about what the lyme does to my body. The list is long but it doesn't always hit at the same time. It's so weird how every day can be so different from the last. So here is a list of things that my body does now that I have been infected. Keep in mind that lyme mimics many other diseases and has over 300 symptoms, some of which are added to my list daily.

Pain - In all my joints - Hips, knees and hands are the worst.
Muscle spasms
Muscle pain and burning
Migraines
Constant pressure headache - It never goes away.
Joint swelling - All of them but my hips, knees and hands the worst.
Loss of use of my right hand - this is one of my least favorite. I can't open or close it
Loss of sleep - I am happy if I get 3 hours a night that I sleep well.
Nausea
Loss of appetite - the last 4 weeks of my treatment I lost 8 pounds just from lack of eating.
Shortness of Breath - Walking 300+ feet usually makes me unable to catch my breath.
Water Retention - my whole body is retaining fluid.
Loss of blood flow - My extremities turn blue and I lose feeling in them.
My knees buckle on me
Balance - I fall over and sometimes can't stop myself because I can't control my legs
A black hole - My whole body goes numb and my vision goes blurry/black
Memory Loss

Please watch the video for more information on Lyme Disease. A close friend has decided to host a fund raiser in conjunction with this account. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate or if you would just like to donate to be kind this is the place! If you do decide to help thank you. I'm not sure you understand how much it means to my family and I.



-Nikki