Team GARY Fights LYME DISEASE
Donation protected
facebook.com/garythetickmagnet
I met my husband, Gary, 17 years ago and it didn't take long before I realized that he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with (even though I was only 16 years old at the time). He was dedicated to his family and I knew he would be an incredible provider, husband and loving father to our future children.
Just as all married couples do we have gone through our fair share of struggles, but the past 5 years are more than any 33 year old should have to experience. Gary has struggled with unexplainable back pain, severe depression, anxiety, tremors, pseudo seizures, difficulty speaking, brain fog, lightheadedness which lead to falling, unbearable migraines and pain throughout his body. He was originally diagnosed with conversion disorder and was basically told that it was all in his head since all the MRI's and CAT Scans came back clear. No one EVER did any blood work... 14 doctors were certain that it was psychological.
My husband continued to decline rapidily... it was heartbreaking and so difficult. How do you explain to a 4yr old and 7yr old that their Daddy can't play because he may fall or explain why their Daddys whole body shakes uncontrollably and his speech is slow and slurred?
A family member who had been misdiagnosed with MS a few years prior and had finally been tested and treated for Lyme Disease, encouraged us to have Gary tested. Sure enough, the first "level" of testing was positive.
I wish I could say that since his diagnoses in September 2013 of neurological Lyme Disease that Gary was back to his energetic, animal loving, outdoorsie self but currently he's undergoing IV treatments to kill the Lyme Disease and other infections that his body has been ravaged by over the course of several years. We aren't certain how much he will recover... if he'll ever be able to walk with out a cane, or simply live with out severe pain... but we are certain that with out this medical treatment and the grace of God, he would surely die (yes, it is THAT serious!). The average cost of a 6 month IV treatment is $40,000.00. We are simply asking for any help that is laid upon your heart. And if you aren't able to financially give we will gladly accept any and ALL prayers!
UPDATE: Wow, it's been 2 years since Garys Lyme diagnosis and what can I say, God is good! He's not fully recovered from the damage the lyme has done and we aren't sure how much he will recover but he's made HUGE leaps and strides along the way. Currently he's been actively involved with forming Royal Rangers at our church (kind of like boy scouts for church), participating in an occasional softball game and tries to get in the woods with his friends every so often to listen to some dogs tree a 'coon. He still deals with (at times unbearable) joint pain, migraines, and brain fog but overall he's doing much better... I can at least leave him alone at the house and not be too worried of anything happening. We are VERY fortunate!
I met my husband, Gary, 17 years ago and it didn't take long before I realized that he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with (even though I was only 16 years old at the time). He was dedicated to his family and I knew he would be an incredible provider, husband and loving father to our future children.
Just as all married couples do we have gone through our fair share of struggles, but the past 5 years are more than any 33 year old should have to experience. Gary has struggled with unexplainable back pain, severe depression, anxiety, tremors, pseudo seizures, difficulty speaking, brain fog, lightheadedness which lead to falling, unbearable migraines and pain throughout his body. He was originally diagnosed with conversion disorder and was basically told that it was all in his head since all the MRI's and CAT Scans came back clear. No one EVER did any blood work... 14 doctors were certain that it was psychological.
My husband continued to decline rapidily... it was heartbreaking and so difficult. How do you explain to a 4yr old and 7yr old that their Daddy can't play because he may fall or explain why their Daddys whole body shakes uncontrollably and his speech is slow and slurred?
A family member who had been misdiagnosed with MS a few years prior and had finally been tested and treated for Lyme Disease, encouraged us to have Gary tested. Sure enough, the first "level" of testing was positive.
I wish I could say that since his diagnoses in September 2013 of neurological Lyme Disease that Gary was back to his energetic, animal loving, outdoorsie self but currently he's undergoing IV treatments to kill the Lyme Disease and other infections that his body has been ravaged by over the course of several years. We aren't certain how much he will recover... if he'll ever be able to walk with out a cane, or simply live with out severe pain... but we are certain that with out this medical treatment and the grace of God, he would surely die (yes, it is THAT serious!). The average cost of a 6 month IV treatment is $40,000.00. We are simply asking for any help that is laid upon your heart. And if you aren't able to financially give we will gladly accept any and ALL prayers!
UPDATE: Wow, it's been 2 years since Garys Lyme diagnosis and what can I say, God is good! He's not fully recovered from the damage the lyme has done and we aren't sure how much he will recover but he's made HUGE leaps and strides along the way. Currently he's been actively involved with forming Royal Rangers at our church (kind of like boy scouts for church), participating in an occasional softball game and tries to get in the woods with his friends every so often to listen to some dogs tree a 'coon. He still deals with (at times unbearable) joint pain, migraines, and brain fog but overall he's doing much better... I can at least leave him alone at the house and not be too worried of anything happening. We are VERY fortunate!
Organizer
Jennifer Sams
Organizer
Delco, NC
