Give Joseph a Chance to Be a Kid Again

Help Us Find Answers for Joseph: Support for Specialist Care and Stability

My name is Ellouise, and I am the mother of a brave six-year-old boy named Joseph. Our journey began in 2021 when Joseph was bitten by a tick, but the challenges that followed have turned our lives upside down. Since then, Joseph has been diagnosed with multiple tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, alongside other unexplained symptoms that continue to rob him of a normal childhood.

This isn’t about "saving" Joseph but finding answers and about giving him back the chance to just be a kid again. His constant fatigue, pain, recurring seizures, and developmental regression mean he misses school weekly and can’t participate in everyday activities like other children his age.

Despite our best efforts, we’ve encountered countless roadblocks. Many medical providers are divided on whether long-term effects of tick-borne illnesses are "real," leaving us to fight for specialists who understand his condition. Insurance only covers so much, and most of the care he needs isn’t included.

I have lost several jobs in the last few years due to being in the hospital with Jo so often. If applied for government assistance, it’s only $156 every two weeks—far from enough to cover travel, medical bills, and basic living expenses, so I am currently working 3 part-time self-employed jobs so I can be flexible: cleaning, paperwork, web building. You name it.

Joseph’s frequent needs mean I cannot hold down regular work. As a mother of four boys, including older children with their own challenges, I am already stretched thin. On top of this, I am in the middle of fighting for a visa and managing my own health conditions.

Why We’re Asking for Help

The financial strain of travel to specialists, uncovered medical care, and my need to work has brought us to a breaking point. We’re not asking for luxuries—we just need enough to stabilize our situation, get Joseph the care he deserves, and allow me to focus on my family and take a few months to do so.

Your donations will help us:

- Access Lyme-literate specialists who understand the long-term effects of tick-borne illnesses

- Cover travel expenses to necessary appointments and procedures

- Support living expenses while I care for Joseph full-time

- Create stability for my family during this incredibly difficult time

Joseph deserves to have a childhood free from constant pain and illness. I deserve the time to be by his side and advocate for the care he needs. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in helping us move forward.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, sharing, or donating. Your support means everything to us.

With love and gratitude,

Ellouise and Joseph