My friend Carla is one of the most giving, big-hearted people I know. She’s always rescuing a dog (or 3) in need, advocating for animal welfare, and performing the most genuine, thoughtful acts towards myself and others. Now, she needs the support of others!

I had no idea that she has been suffering from Lyme disease for over 7 years now, until recently when she contacted me when she was at a very low point. Her disease has stranded her in every way imaginable. She keeps this to herself because she doesn’t want to be a burden upon others, and doesn’t want to be seen for her disease, and yet it truly has taken such an immense toll on her. It’s time to rally the troops for this fight! She is going through this alone, and as many have personally experienced in their own lives, medical bills for this condition have drained her financial resources. The disease has progressed to a point where she cannot even work the way she needs to in order to even make the money she needs for these very expensive treatments! It’s a vicious cycle. 

I am hoping that we can raise some money to get her in the door at this Lyme specialist clinic, and get at least a few treatments in, so that she can regain some health to get her footing back beneath her. She is ready to get to the clinic in DC - she is in correspondence with them - but deposits must be placed before they will even make an appointment, and the balance must be paid prior to the initial consultation. 

ANY LITTLE BIT will help! If you feel led, please donate and/or share this with your community. 


In Carla’s own words:

In the fall of 2011, I started falling asleep while sitting or standing in public and while driving, having gastrointestinal issues, having trouble with my memory, speech, & coordination, and developed numbness in the bottom right quarter of my face. When I was finally able to see a neurologist, she was convinced I was developing MS and did a lumbar puncture to confirm her suspicions; it was negative for MS, but positive for Lyme disease (and Lupus, I was told at the time). 

In the following weeks, I saw an infectious disease doctor, who told me I did not need to be treated for Lyme because my Western Blot test was negative (due to the fact that the Lyme had already crossed my blood/brain barrier), and a rheumatologist who told me I didn’t need to investigate the positive lupus screen any further because I was not exhibiting clinical symptoms of Lupus, and it was more likely that the presence of the other autoimmune disease (Lyme) that triggered the Lupus screen. In the months to follow, I was on an intensive supplement regime to address nutrient deficiencies and weight loss with no obvious cause (my diet had always been quite healthy); I was down to 92 pounds. But eventually the supplements caught up, and I gained back about 20lbs to just barely be within the healthy weight range for my height. I tried seeing several different GPs and specialists over the next few years to address specific issues and symptoms I was having, such as chronic debilitating migraines, the numbness spreading to more of my face as well as my hands at times, hair-loss, and anxiety and depression. I did eventually find a doctor who was interested in treating me for Lyme rather than just all the individual symptoms, but she did not take insurance, and I couldn’t afford to pay out of pocket. That would continue to be the case with any doctor I found in NC that believed in treating chronic Lyme disease. Finally, this year I was told I had developed a heart murmur that I never had before; apparently cardiac issues are another symptom of late-stage Lyme disease. So, I decided it was time to leave North Carolina and go somewhere with more Lyme-literate doctors who might be able to treat me and hopefully take insurance. 

I moved to NY in September, established residency, and applied for insurance in NY state. Unfortunately, after a consultation with the most repeatedly and highly recommended clinician for Lyme disease in the area, she told me my treatment was beyond anyone’s realm here and I needed to see a specialist in Washington, DC, for intensive IV combination therapies. 

This specialist, Dr. Joseph Jemsek, can see me as soon as November 5th. But the initial consultation alone is $890. The second visit is $490, and additional visits after that are $390, not including the cost of the actual treatments, and he does not accept any kind of insurance.
At this point, having untreated Lyme disease has put a tremendous strain on me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I am back down to 95 pounds (I am 5’5”.). I have lost jobs and hobbies I was passionate about, and relationships with loved ones because of it.