Help SummerJoy with ongoing medical costs

In April, James and I celebrated the start of our life together. It was perfect, beautiful, and everything we dreamed, but our perfect start was followed by me contracting a minimal urinary tract infection. With Chronic Lyme Disease, I am very compromised and can easily contract infections. I went on a week-long antibiotic, but little did we know, that kicked off a series of infections that would roll into multiple infections and a massive Lyme flare.

Our financial hole began when I was prescribed a $1,900 antibiotic. When the prescription was finished and I was still very sick and too weak to function, we met with my Lyme doctor who decided to run bloodwork to rule out the possibility of pregnancy. Although pregnancy was literally impossible, on July 24, we learned that I was pregnant.

Because of this, my medical protocol was completely changed to make it baby safe. My doctors have been incredible in helping contain this fire as much as possible until we can treat the Chronic Lyme Disease head on after the baby arrives. My medical expenses have gone through the roof just to keep things under control.

James and I need help. Since July, we have accumulated a medical debt of $24,000 that has almost maxed out the credit card. Treating Chronic Lyme Disease is much different than treating other diseases and illnesses. Since our insurance is not covering appointments and medicines all must be paid for at the time of service or when ordered.

Right now, I have approximately four to five appointments per week and sometimes as many as seven. Our monthly appointment cost is approximately $2,800. My treatment protocol for prescription antibiotics and bodily support are approximately $800 per month. That is a total of $3,600 per month. This is the cost to keep me from becoming completely bedridden and having my body shut down like it did in 2016. (this number has tripled from April) We have done everything we can to keep up with this amount, but we just can't. We need your help in order to continue.

Please pray about a one-time donation or even giving a monthly amount. If 100 people gave $40 per month for a year, that would not only help us get out of our $24,000 worth of credit card debt but also allow us to not accumulate that level of debt and allow us to pay our medical expenses. I understand that this is quite a commitment, and even if $40 is too much, anything helps. My parents sacrificed quite a bit for my health over the last five years, but they have drained their retirement savings. If a benefactor had not stepped in, I don't know if I would have made it this far. That benefactor helped save my life. I know the last two years have been hard for everyone.

Please consider and pray about pledging $40 a month for my medical expenses.