Kendra's Medical Fund
Don protégé
Kendra’s health (or search for it) journey began several years ago. In the fall of 2014 it became obvious to her and her parents, Matthew and Rhonda Penner, that something was wrong.
After trying all the options that were available locally, and still looking for a diagnosis, they finally went to Mayo Clinic in 2016. There they found she had POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). They were told she would grow out of it. Great! That was good news, but…it hasn’t happened.
She got worse. During her research, as she looked for information, answers, and reasons why their girl was so sick, Rhonda stumbled on a clinic in Dallas, Texas, that exclusively treats POTS. Surely this was the answer. They went there in the fall of 2016, and it seemed they had really found help, and a path to recovery. Over the next months some things improved, but then Kendra was hit with SIBO, (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Very, very nasty. The POTS clinic couldn’t treat this, so Matt and Rhonda found a GI specialist in Victoria, BC, who could take over this area.
It takes several quick sentences to say they've been to Mayo Clinic, POTS clinic in Dallas, back to Mayo, to Victoria, BC, back to Dallas for a follow up a year later, appointments in Steinbach and Winnipeg etc. But all along and between those times have been months of living with nausea, migraines, brain fog, dizziness, sleepless nights, joint pain, tachycardia, intense indigestion, intracranial pressure, and fainting.
When several rounds of really difficult SIBO treatment weren’t bringing the desired cure, the GI doctor requested that blood samples be sent to Armin Lab in Germany, to determine whether there might be an underlying disease causing the other conditions. The results came back. The new scary twist… Lyme Disease. With coinfections and chronic viruses.
If Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics within the first three months after being infected, cure is sure. Good.
But for Kendra, that fateful tick bite probably took place anywhere from five to ten years ago. Not good. Not good at all.
So, treatment goes on… and on… and on… Unfortunately, most of these treatments are not covered by Manitoba Health. Because of this we are keeping this gofundme page active to provide those of you who want to help treat Kendra, with a handy place to do so.
Kendra’s youth is being taken from her by these severely debilitating conditions. She seldom comes to church; she can’t shop or skate or go out with friends or go to youth singing or do about any of the things teenagers love to do. She is a very out going, spirited person and it is hard to see her suffering like this.
The fight for health is overwhelming and very discouraging at times. But she fights on. You can help her fight.
Thank you for your donation. You are kind and wonderful.
After trying all the options that were available locally, and still looking for a diagnosis, they finally went to Mayo Clinic in 2016. There they found she had POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). They were told she would grow out of it. Great! That was good news, but…it hasn’t happened.
She got worse. During her research, as she looked for information, answers, and reasons why their girl was so sick, Rhonda stumbled on a clinic in Dallas, Texas, that exclusively treats POTS. Surely this was the answer. They went there in the fall of 2016, and it seemed they had really found help, and a path to recovery. Over the next months some things improved, but then Kendra was hit with SIBO, (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Very, very nasty. The POTS clinic couldn’t treat this, so Matt and Rhonda found a GI specialist in Victoria, BC, who could take over this area.
It takes several quick sentences to say they've been to Mayo Clinic, POTS clinic in Dallas, back to Mayo, to Victoria, BC, back to Dallas for a follow up a year later, appointments in Steinbach and Winnipeg etc. But all along and between those times have been months of living with nausea, migraines, brain fog, dizziness, sleepless nights, joint pain, tachycardia, intense indigestion, intracranial pressure, and fainting.
When several rounds of really difficult SIBO treatment weren’t bringing the desired cure, the GI doctor requested that blood samples be sent to Armin Lab in Germany, to determine whether there might be an underlying disease causing the other conditions. The results came back. The new scary twist… Lyme Disease. With coinfections and chronic viruses.
If Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics within the first three months after being infected, cure is sure. Good.
But for Kendra, that fateful tick bite probably took place anywhere from five to ten years ago. Not good. Not good at all.
So, treatment goes on… and on… and on… Unfortunately, most of these treatments are not covered by Manitoba Health. Because of this we are keeping this gofundme page active to provide those of you who want to help treat Kendra, with a handy place to do so.
Kendra’s youth is being taken from her by these severely debilitating conditions. She seldom comes to church; she can’t shop or skate or go out with friends or go to youth singing or do about any of the things teenagers love to do. She is a very out going, spirited person and it is hard to see her suffering like this.
The fight for health is overwhelming and very discouraging at times. But she fights on. You can help her fight.
Thank you for your donation. You are kind and wonderful.
Organisateur et bénéficiaire
Brent Isaac
Organisateur
Kleefeld, MB
Matthew Penner
Bénéficiaire
