My name is Carrie O'Donnell, and I am asking for your help for a dear friend of mine, Sarah Shaw, who is running out of resources for her life-saving but costly medical treatments.

 

I asked her to write her story so that folks could read her voice telling it. This is Sarah's story.

 

I never thought it would happen to me. Disease is random; disease is life-altering; disease can be fatal; disease takes EVERYTHING from you: financially, physically, and emotionally especially when NOTHING is covered by insurance.

 

This is where my health journey begins: I would find out the hard way how inept the medical system is; it almost cost me my life!

 

I was 31, a year into Wedded bliss. I was very active: working or always outdoors enjoying life. Before getting married, I battled MERSA (Staph) for seven years: in and out of the hospital on heavy antibiotic treatments. I had no medical insurance at the time and accumulated $20,000 in debt fast! This was only the beginning…

 

Shortly after my first year of Nuptials, I found a tick almost completely embedded in my stomach; one day in the shower after a camping trip. Upon my removal attempt, the head broke off in my body. I was utterly ignorant of the severity of Lyme Disease and would soon find out how life-threatening it really was. I went on with my life after the initial infection. I had no knowledge of Lyme Disease, and neither did the Western Medical world. Within 3-6 months, symptoms started: severe lymph node pain, hair falling out, losing weight, rashes.

Like anyone would, I went to the Dr seeking answers. I was told nothing was wrong with me; normal “life stressors” could cause these symptoms. As time went on, symptoms progressed: flu like symptoms, memory loss, and cognitive dysfunction. I was forgetting where I was, what I was doing, and the pain, oh, how the pain got worse! Back to the Dr, I finally got tested for Lyme Disease, producing a false negative (Western Medicine has limited education/ access to in-depth testing,) and again, nothing was wrong with me, it was all in my head. Years had started to pass at this point, and I was almost catatonic. My Aunt heard a Dr speak at a Naturopathic Seminar open to the public; she recommended I go she to her. This is when all the out-of-pocket costs would start…

I was finally able to have access to more in-depth, accurate testing through Eastern Medicine; however, I would have to pay out of pocket for everything. They did indeed find that I not only had Lyme Disease, I also had 3 co-infections transmitted by the tick, MERSA and MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome.) All the herbal protocols were too intense for my body to handle so they tried IV antibiotics. I had a port and infusions twice a day. Again, paying out of pocket for everything: all supplements, testing, port, supplies: everything! I was getting sicker because my body couldn’t handle the treatment. At this point, I was being bathed like a child and having to read lips to try and understand what was being communicated to me. I couldn’t handle noise, had limited cognitive function, couldn’t lift my arms, and so many more symptoms. I was bedridden. I hadn’t worked now for three years, so the weight of life costs and now my out-of-pocket disease was all on my husband to bear; mortgaging our house twice to pay for medical treatment and fast accumulating out of pocket bills.

 

While in the IV Suit one infusion day I was talking to a fellow Lyme Warrior who told me about a light treatment that saved his life. I had to seek out a practitioner that specialized in this to see if it would help me. I believe this treatment saved my life. Again, everything is out of pocket! There is no government help. We have to be our own advocates and literally pay for it.

Now, almost 10 years later, I am still battling all of these diseases. Although I am better, I am still struggling very much! I am unable to work because of my limitations. I’ve had to go back on IV’s because of my lack of an immune system; and have had to stop my regular light treatments because I can’t afford both let alone one. This disease has cost me over $100,000 and counting. It has taken everything from me: my health, my house, my marriage, my life; and I am still very sick.

As life traumas happen to sick people we go backwards. I just want my life back. I want what everyone wants: to live a “normal” life, free of disease and pain; or at least get some financial help so that the burden isn’t so great. Being your own advocate is hard enough; having to pay out of pocket for everything, is impossible. I am trapped in a body and system that has failed me…

 

Please help me, if you can.

 

Thank you and God Bless!

 

Sarah