Help Melissa Fight Lyme Disease and Reclaim Her Life

My name is Nichole Imm, and like any sister, I never imagined I would find myself here—asking for help for my chronically ill sister, Melissa Deemer.

Melissa’s journey has been heartbreaking—a 10-year battle filled with countless specialists, hospital stays, tests, and misdiagnoses. After years of uncertainty and suffering, she has finally received a diagnosis: Lyme Disease, along with multiple debilitating co-infections. It is a devastating, difficult-to-treat condition that most insurance plans do not cover.

A Long Road of Misdiagnosis and Decline: For over a decade, Melissa was told she had various autoimmune diseases and was put on an exhausting list of medications—many of which contradicted each other and only masked her symptoms. While the treatments mounted, her condition continued to worsen.

This month, after requiring a blood transfusion and suffering through ongoing, unexplained pain, we sought answers from a Functional Medicine doctor outside of the traditional healthcare system. That’s when we finally learned the truth: Late-Stage Lyme Disease had gone undiagnosed and untreated, and it has wreaked havoc on nearly every system in her body.

Her autonomic nervous system, immune system, hematopoietic system, joints, cardiac, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and neurological functions have all been severely impacted. Daily tasks are now an uphill battle. She lives with chronic pain and fatigue that are hard to put into words. This disease has stolen her quality of life—and without proper treatment, it will continue to do so.

Despite all of this, Melissa is a fighter. And now, for the first time in a long time, we have hope.

Why We’re Asking for Help: Melissa is finally under the care of a Lyme-Literate Functional Medicine Doctor—someone who understands how to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms. However, none of this care is covered by insurance.

All of her care—including appointments, most lab work, treatments, supplements, and potential out-of-state travel and accommodations—will be out-of-pocket. She will also need to miss work for treatment and recovery. As a single mom to two amazing kids, Aiden and Scarlette, this financial burden is overwhelming.

We are doing all we can as a family to support her, but we need help.

How You Can Make a Difference: Melissa has always been the one to show up first—whether for a friend, family member, or total stranger. Now it’s our turn to show up for her.

Your donation—no matter the amount—will go directly to supporting Melissa’s treatment, travel, and living costs during her recovery. Every dollar brings her closer to regaining her health and being the mom, daughter, sister, and friend we all know and love.

If you are unable to donate financially, please consider sharing this campaign or keeping Melissa in your thoughts and prayers. Even a simple share can make a huge difference.

We’re deeply grateful for your compassion and generosity.

Thank you for standing with us in this fight.

With love,

Nichole and Family