Help for Kelly-Lyme Disease, Neurosurgeon, etc.

 

Please watch this video to hear my story:

 

 

 

Allow me to introduce myself, I am Kelly and my biggest passions in life are: Teaching, Helping Others, Creativity, Nature, Yoga, Knitting, Kindness and Adventure.

I am a Level 3 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher-CIYT & I am certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists-IAYT. I was the President of the Iyengar Association of the Midwest and served on the board for 6 years. I mentor and assess future teachers with kindness and steadfast dedication.

Currently, I teach students that have been with me for an average of 10 years. Plus, I teach online at Adeline Yoga, which has been an amazing support system and a fantastic studio. I can't thank these communities enough for believing in me and for giving me opportunities to teach. I hope to get better so that I can continue to help others through Iyengar Yoga & Therapy. I am excited to heal so that I can use those skills to support communities.

Through my own health obstacles, I learned how to help myself heal and accept challenging situations. This gave me purpose and hope! I have learned a lot from being sick for so long. I have used these experiences to help others restore their health through Iyengar Yoga. By working side-by-side with Lois Steinberg for 10 years, and from studying with the Iyengar's, Stephanie Quirk, Gulnaaz Dashti and other fantastic teachers, I developed a toolbox. Currently, I help other people with conditions which include: cancer, brain tumors, anxiety, depression, headaches, arthritis, joint problems, pregnancy, heartache/loss, and on and on it goes....

During college at Western Michigan University, I won the Art Star Award in Education which was a tremendous honor.  I taught Art for 15 years and had to stop in 2013 due to my illnesses. I felt devastated when I stopped because I loved working with children. I encouraged freedom for self-expression and I inspired students to soar in Art classes. One time, I actually gave out so many A's to the entire school that the principal called me into her office to question my grading! I was proud to give out those A's because my students loved Art class and they deserved it. I developed projects that taught them to be successful and feel special. Some children could not feel successful in any other subject areas, I believed in them. In Art class, they found out that they were talented beyond belief and their self-confidence skyrocketed. The joy from seeing children smile because of their creativity will always be a beautiful memory in my heart. 

When my car burned up, I took it as a sign to ask for help. I have been extremely sick since 2008. A GoFundMe has been on my mind for years because I have been buried in medical bills. Part of me thinks I have failed, and it makes me emotional and sad to ask for help. The lack of medical coverage keeps slamming me down over and over again. I keep getting sicker and sicker because I cannot afford treatments, medications, deductibles, and further testing. It is scary to think that we could lose our house over these medical bills.

 

I am struggling with overwhelming diagnoses: Lyme Disease, Epstein Barr, Chronic Pneumonia, Compression in the base of my skull & descending tonsils in my brain, which might require neurosurgery, Debilitating Migraines, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which might require the removal of my first rib, Ankylosing Spondylitis, & Dental problems.

 

Donation Funds will go towards:

 

* Four months + (hopefully a few years) of Lyme and Complex Disease treatment

which includes daily access to Dr. Rapaport and a nurse. Dr. Rappaport will do extensive

testing beyond my current diagnosis. I will be closely monitored so that I can heal safely.

Dr. Rapaport will make a plan to continue care after the initial program, which might last

a few years. $9,200 for this 4-month program, not including medication and testing.

 

* Testing with Dr. Rapaport for complex diseases, etc. $5,000+

 

* Medicine (Rx, IVs, Supplements)

 

* Appointments with neurosurgeons + possibly neuro-surgery, MRI’s, MRA’s, etc.

 

* Appointments with Dr. Pearl at Texas Vascular Associates + possible thoracic outlet

surgery, MRI’s and EMG, etc. Second and third opinion appointments with other

vascular surgeons.

 

* Membership to Integrative Family Medicine in Asheville to see my primary physician.

 

* Neurology continuing care

 

* Migraine Medication ($150-$900 per month)

 

* Rheumatology to monitor Ankylosing Spondylitis

 

* Counseling for mental health

 

* Somatic Therapy for trauma

 

* Dental Care-Braces, possible implant, crowns, two new fillings, and a mouth guard.

 

* Women’s health care because I deal with yearly breast lumps & ovarian cysts.

 

Here is my story; take a breath because this is a doozy.

 

Lyme Disease is running havoc inside my body and brain. At times, it’s hard to walk and get out of bed. Plus, I have extreme fatigue, lymph-fluid blisters in my throat, balance issues, inflammatory/histamine responses, and on it goes....Unfortunately, Lyme Disease specialists do not accept insurance. Testing and medication are also not covered.

 

I have been accepted as a patient with Dr. Sonia Rapaport. She is a phenomenal Functional Medicine Doctor who specializes in complex diseases, yay! This is exciting news, yet treatment is extremely expensive. I have tried to find other affordable options, and others will not take my case because my conditions are too complex.

 

https://soniarapaportmd.com/about/

 

To further complicate things, I just found out that I need to see neurosurgeons because there is crowding in my foramen magnum (base of the skull). I might need decompression brain surgery. My arms and jaw are numb, and that is scary. At least they found something, and maybe I can get better with surgery. I do have to weigh the risks.

 

 

Some of you know that I fell off the monkey bars and shattered my nose when I was eight years old. This head injury has had a significant effect on my quality of life. Since a car accident in 2008, stabbing migraine attacks have happened weekly, leaving me in blinding pain and bedridden. It has been extremely challenging to live with this much pain. Often, migraine medicine is not covered by my insurance. For example, I paid $900 for 10 migraine pills, and I have to take 2 per migraine. Every month, I have to fight for medications, and often, I do not have access to them.

 

 

Furthermore, I have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which is causing compression in the nerves and artery of my right arm. I have complete lack of blood flow when my arm is overhead (you can see the flat lines below). TOS can be a dangerous condition because it can cause blood clots. I have been told that I need surgery to remove my first rib. Currently, my nervous system is not stable enough to do the surgery. I have an appointment with a surgeon named Dr. Pearl at Texas Vascular Associates, well-known for helping athletes with this condition. I believe that Lyme treatment and counseling will help stabilize my nervous system and build my immunity up to heal if I get surgery.

 

 

I also have Ankylosing Spondylitis, an autoimmune disease where my body is attacking itself. My bones + joints are trying to grow together. I constantly have to work with yoga and movement to help keep mobility to prevent fast and painful fusions. This disease can affect breathing and immunity. I am working with a rheumatologist because this condition might be the reason for compression in my skull. By treating Lyme and co-infections, inflammation will decrease, and my immunity will improve; hence AS progress will hopefully lessen.

 

My teeth are decaying and cracking, possibly from having multiple infections. Dentists had to pull a tooth and do a root canal for about $7,000. It is recommended that I get braces, a mouth-guard and possibly an implant to help prevent more decay and fix my bite/TMJ from the dental problems. Dental insurance will not cover any of this because I used my maximum benefits, and they do not cover braces, implants or jaw specialists.

 

 

Can you believe there is more??? I was in a severe burn accident when I was 21 years old, which burned the skin off my right leg, hands, and some of my face. Through determination, I learned how to walk again. All of these traumas have taken a toll on my nervous system. My goal is to have a team of psychologists and physicians who can help me heal from these intense traumas.

 

 

As I trek upon this mountain of health concerns, I need counseling from these traumatic experiences. Now is the time to work on my physical and mental health, especially if I can find the finances to help make this dream of getting better.

 

Thank you with all of my heart. Maybe I am emotional because my heart feels more significant than my body and my tears pour out because I genuinely need help. I need support from a community; I cannot do this alone. I finally live in a place that I love after 45 years of searching. This illness feels like it is stripping things away from me. To ask for help is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I am sorry if I offend anyone. I hope to find help.

 

 

Any tiny amount can add up. I promise to pay this forward by helping others. My greatest passion in life is teaching and sharing inspiration with others. I plan to use these GoFundMe donations for doctor visits, medical bills, continued care, testing, medications, deductibles, surgeries (if needed), and travel expenses to see specialists.

 

If you cannot afford to donate, I understand; good thoughts are magical.

Please share my GoFundMe page.

 

I love you, and please know that I hope the best for you too.