<div>Dear friends,
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<div><strong>I am turning 50 in less than a week! </strong>Half a century of breath, beauty, and becoming.
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<div>So I’m choosing to<strong> be brave and ask for the one thing I want most: the chance to truly heal this body of mine</strong>—so I can keep living, creating, and loving for many years to come.
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<div><strong>A unique opportunity has opened up to make this dream a reality, </strong>and I felt in my heart that my birthday was the time to share it with all the amazing, supportive people I’ve been blessed to meet over the years.
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<div>I’ve had so many extraordinary adventures—<strong>touring the world for 14 years</strong>, releasing <strong>six albums and writing two books</strong> that<strong> </strong>many have said helped them through dark times… making music with<strong> homeless communities, foster kids, and refugee families</strong> who became like family… starting a <strong>thriving music lessons business</strong> that fills my heart every day and has brought free lessons and instruments to multiple sponsorship students…<strong> finding my soul family</strong> when I got married exactly four years ago… <strong>and now I'm in the first stages of becoming the CEO of business that would gamify charitable giving. </strong>Every business coach I’ve spoken with believes it could raise thousands—if not hundreds of thousands—for nonprofits.
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<div><strong>But woven through all that joy has been a very difficult battle with chronic illness.</strong>
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<div>I contracted <strong>Lyme disease 23 years ago,</strong> and since then, according to doctors, the list has grown: <strong>Long COVID, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, and a struggling liver. </strong>Most of these either stem from, or are made worse by, the Lyme.
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<div>Here’s a quick tour through the difficult terrain my body’s traveled:
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<div>– I had to have <strong>part of my finger amputated</strong> because of gangrene from a mysterious rotting bone which I later realized was a complication from Lyme.
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<div>– I’ve battled <strong>arthritis, autoimmune flares, sores inside of my mouth and on my face,</strong> and <strong>painful boils </strong>that have shown up somewhere on my body over and over again for decades.
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<div>– <strong>I haven’t slept without heavy meds in 20 years</strong>—and often, not even then. (I can’t even sleep in the same bed as my sweet husband because of chronic insomnia.)
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<div>– I wake up nearly every morning sick—<strong>glands swollen, a mouth that feels like it’s on fire, and utterly exhausted.</strong> This used to only last until about noon, now most days I struggle with these symptoms all day long.
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<div>-I have <strong>chronic respiratory problems and coughing fits</strong> that are added to this mix. (Not great for a singer songwriter and voice teacher!)
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<div>– I’ve <strong>broken a leg with a surgery that had a complication with the nerve block</strong> that caused a month of labor-like of pain, <strong>worsening my immune system even further. </strong>
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<div>– <strong>I evacuated from hurricane Helene with my family,</strong> only to land in<strong> 5 urgent cares and ERs in the space of ten days with a dangerous purple rash called cellulitis</strong>, (immediately after the scariest days of my life).
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<div>Sadly, in the last two months things seem to be going downhill. <strong>I’ve missed work, performances, speaking engagements, and countless social gatherings—</strong>which has been so hard on my extrovert, creativity thriving, butterfly soul.
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<div>I’ve spent <strong>thousands on doctors and supplements </strong>with little lasting relief—aside from one season of healing 15 years ago that gave me two or three good years before new symptoms took over.
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<div><strong>I’m not sharing all this for sympathy. I’m sharing it because I’m ready for a turning point—and I’ve found someone who might help me get there.</strong>
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<div>I just discovered a <strong>functional medicine doctor </strong>in my town who’s <strong>treated Lyme and complex conditions like mine for 30 years. </strong>He is a <strong>Lyme expert </strong>that has been on dozens of podcasts and written a book on how to cure this tricky disease. He’s developed a <strong>500-marker diagnostic system that gets to the root of chronic illness </strong> that will help him pinpoint what's wrong to inform us of next steps.
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<div>His first guarantee: <strong>if I’m not satisfied with his diagnosis after testing, I don’t have to pay for anything he's done so far. </strong>His second: <strong>if I’m not better in six months, he’ll treat me for free until I am. </strong>That’s a pretty spectacular and hope filled guarantee!
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<div>I have looked into it, and every patient who has shared a written or video testimonial—whether on his website or elsewhere—says the same thing: <strong>they experienced significant improvement within 3 to 6 months, </strong>whether they came in with Lyme, lupus, or another serious chronic condition.
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<div>The only catch? He can’t take insurance. <strong>The cost for six months of care is $7,500. </strong>(This is really not a bad price for a functional doctor that is also a specialist.) It's about $300-$500 a month for supplements, and extra costs for a very clean, all organic diet.
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<div><strong>It’s a big ask. But it’s also a big hope.</strong>
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<div>Sitting beside the waterfall near my house this week, praying in somewhat desperation over what to do next, I realized: <strong>this is what I want for my 50th.</strong>
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<div>Not things. Not a trip. <strong>Just the chance to feel well again</strong>—and to have thriving days ahead where I can do the work I’m called to do, and love and serve with the full capacity I believe I was created for.
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<div>If you feel moved to help with this cost—<strong>whether it’s a small donation, a larger donation, sharing on social media, a wish, or a prayer</strong>—I’ll receive it with deep gratitude. Even dropping me a word of encouragement means the world to me.
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<div><strong>You can give through: Venmo: </strong>@kate-hurley-2 or can ask me for my paypal or zelle.
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<div>Or you can also give through this platform and/or <strong>share with your social media contacts </strong>if you would like.
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<div><strong>Thank you for walking with me, cheering for me, and loving me across all these years.</strong>
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<div><strong><em>Here’s to the beautiful life ahead.</em></strong>
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<div>With love,
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<div>Kate
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Help Kate Heal: A 50th Birthday Wish for Wellness

Just $757$ to go! Make an impact.

Help Kate Heal: A 50th Birthday Wish for Wellness

Just $757 to go!
Make an impact.