Left for dead

This fundraiser is to help support  the treatment for Holly Fawell,  in her continued fight against Alzheimer's 

In 2011 my 46 year old sister Holly was working as a legal secretary when she began complaining about cognitive issues that continued to worsen over the next few years. A diagnosis was elusive (and stress was thought -rather hoped- to be the culprit).

In 2016 Holly had a neuropsychological evaluation which found moderate mental decline with a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with possible ALS. Further tests in 2016 included MRI, EEG, CT scan, chest x-rays and a lumbar puncture.

In early 2017 the lumbar puncture was confirmed by a neurologist at Mass General as positive for early-onset Alzheimer's. After several more evaluations at Mass General throughout  2017 Holly was considered moderate (or middle stage) Alzheimer's. We were told that in as little as 5 years her cognitive function could deteriorate to a level where she may not recognize people including her own children.   She had a "life" expectancy of approximately 10 years. She was told there was nothing that could be done.  Holly and her boyfriend Dave felt she had been left for dead long before her time.
In March 2017 she lost her job because she could no longer perform duties and tasks she'd been doing effortlessly since high school.  Still, she continued to not just survive, but live - with and in spite of Alzheimer's. Dave began reading everything he could get his hands on about Alzheimer's: "We didn't know anything about Alzheimer's so we did the only thing you can do, read....." He discovered the healing benefits of clean eating and Keto after listening to "Intelligence for Your Life" with John Tesh. My parents gave him every book and article about Alzheimer's they could get their hands on, including "The End of Alzheimer's " by Dr. Dale Bredesen which became the supplement Bible. She began Dr. Bredesen's protocol on April 1, 2018.

By this time Holly was no longer able to problem solve or do basic math (ex.: making change when using a $10 bill for an $8 purchase.) Still, she never gave up.

On November 7, 2018 she had her first appointment with an integrated physician in New Hampshire who is treating her for CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome). CIRS can affect as many as 1 in 4 people and also can lead to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's. 

In December 2020 Holly & Dave moved to Costa Rica which they had been planning to do after they retired. Costa Rica is one of the healthiest places to live, and has 1 of only 7 Blue Zones on the planet (a "Blue Zone” is a region of the world where people commonly live past the age of 100 years).

The cost of Holly's supplements is $750 a month, and her organic Keto diet is approximately $400 a month (down from more than $1,000 a month in the United States).  We are hoping to raise $14,207 which is the total amount for food & supplements for a year and gofundme donation fees. Every cent donated will go directly to supplements, food or medical costs.

We will be updating this site with pictures, videos & stories of our journey and Holly's progress. We'll also be sharing links to various resources we hope will be helpful. Holly's daily routine includes learning Spanish, working on writing, flash cards, reading and working on puzzles. As of today Holly has been Keto for 1,333 days, has an impressive arsenal of Spanish vocabulary and we're on the second book in the Mollie McGhie Cozy Mystery series. She is an inspiration every day and proof that there is life after Alzheimer's even when you're left for dead by traditional medicine.

We appreciate you reading Holly's story and are grateful for donations, shares, or just leaving a kind word.

#Hollyagainstallodds

Thank you, 
Team #Hollyagainstallodds