Bite Back with Erica

My name is Erica Maurin. I am a single mother to two beautiful daughters, Madison & Emrie whos 9 & 7 Years old. We reside in the cajun country,  Louisiana.  Vunerably here I share my story, a glimpse of the battle I continue to fight.  
 First I would like to say thank you for simply clicking on my gofundme and taking time out of your day to read my story and hopefully donate. 
   In October 2015 after recieving the manditory flu shot at my job, I became very oddly ill.  After seeing over 15 Dr's and fighting through so much pain and the fear of death, I finally in Feburary of 2016 recieved the news that would change my life drastically. LYME DISEASE... A word, a diagnosis, that I knew very little about, a diagnosis that is very difficult to treat but I finally had a glimmer of hope simply because I now had a clausable diagnosis that I could begin treating and hopefully curing completely.  Sadly because I have been misdiagnosed for over 16 years this bad bug of lyme and co-infections has had a lot of time to grow with in me and spread. At only 15 years old I began with symptoms (migranes, chronic fatique, horrible pain in my neck, shoulders, and back, numbness and tingling in my hands, legs, and feet) I was a busy girl and involved in many sports, one being cheerleading. So ofcourse every ache and pain we thought was just due to my involvment in activites. Since then I have been diagnosed and treated for fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, systemic lupus, MS, chronic fatique, depression, ADHD, hypertension, and chronic migraines.  No medicatons and treatments by the slew of Dr's (over 30 Drs in 16 years) had proved any effectiveness, only covered up some symptoms mildly. In October 2016 after recieving the flu shot I started to have Guillian Barre symptoms and became unable to walk, drive, and very difficult to do any activites like clean my house and even bathing myself.  I had tremors so bad it looked like my body was having a seizure, loss of eye sight, inability to eat, extreme weakness, dizziness, syncope, derealization, panic attacks, perfuse sweating, high heart rate and high blood pressure, ...the list is very long. 
   Finally in Feb 2016 I was blessed to be able to get an appointment with a Lyme litterate Dr and begin the healing process. I was found to have not only Lyme but also many co-infections along with high heavy metals toxicity. So with hope and my life in this Drs hands I begain intense treatment which required over 15 pills twice a day.  I became worse. Unable to work and care for my two beautiful daughters. I hated every moment. I hate that my girls have to continue to see their mommy suffer so much. I hate that I can not be that fun mommy playing and full of energy with my girls. A year later and a half later (currently) after such intesnse treatments I continue to fight for my life daily. Many symptoms still taunt my body and my children are still patiently waiting to have their mommy back. After deep research and discussions with other Lyme Warriors I took a deep breath and scheduled an appointment with a Dr Shawn Chaudry in Baton Rouge who treated lyme and other unknown illnesses by way of biomedical, holistic, and whole body multisystem approach. From talloring a strict diet plan, to detoxing my body, releaving pressure and inflamation to reduce pain, etc.. all with natural holistic forms. NO PILLS....Im so tired of swallowing pills. Yesterday (June 14th,2017) I left that Dr office and for the first time I felt so hopefull, so excited, yet so afraid. The complication comes in to play when I was told the cost  of the 3 month treatment which is $10,000
My jaw dropped. No insurance covers Lyme treatments so it has all been out of pocked for me. I scrape pennies as it is. Raising two daughters alone and the up keep of our home while trying to still live life and have my kids participate in school sports has placed me in great debt. I knew when I heard 10,000 that there is no way I can pay that. I just bowed my head and fighting my tears back I PRAYED! 
   I have never asked for financial help so to do this honestly kills me because I have always just made it work ya know but this time I cant. So I am coming to you so vulnerably open and asking you to please help me raise enough money for my treatments and the money to be able to maintain our home and  bills for our home during treatment. ANY DONATION HELPS AND IS SO GREATLY APPRECIATED. I know that my God is with me and my daughters because Ive made it this far and I have faith that this storm too shall pass. I will continue to fight as hard as I can day in and day out. I will continue to share my story, my journey not only to keep you all updated but to raise AWARENESS about this deadly number 1 vector borne disease globally LYME disease. Through pageantry, I not only have been able to set such a strong positive example for my daughters but  I have also been able to be that a voice to so many  and help so many find their voices as well all while showing strength, perserverance, courage, and fire of faith in my GOD.  I pray to continue to have such strength during this storm. THIS TOO SHALL PASS. My God has been my guide and my umbrella and he continues to restore my strength, faith, and my compassion to raise awarenness and help others. 
  I have set the donation goal at 15,000 because between the treatments, the traveling to and from treatments in Baton Rouge, to financially take care of my children and maintain our home bills during the 3-4 month treatment program.
  If you have read this entirely GOD BLESS YOU and THANK YOU! Please help me BITE BACK and defeat the enemy of illness so that I can continue to help others, be that voice God gave me, but mostly so my daughters can get their mommy back. No donation is to small. Every cent is so greatly appreciated. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE!!! 
I LOVE YOU ALL AND MAY GOD BLESS,

Sincerly,
Erica Maurin
LYME WARRIOR