Connor vs SIBO
Here's the story,
My brother Connor is locked in a battle with a Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (aka SIBO) and he needs your love, support and financial assistance to overcome an illness that has been haunting him for the last ten years.
Many of you know Connor from life in Bend and San Francisco and possibly from his work as a brewer, chef, and master gardener. I've known Connor his whole life. From a young age, he showed signs of being a truly independent dude who was exceptionally comfortable with living life on his own terms. If you know Connor, you know he shares a lot of his passion with the world, but rarely asks for anything in return.
SIBO is the worst disease I have ever seen. I don't say this to be shocking but to be perfectly honest about how it makes me feel. Watching my brother suffer the severe pain, nausea and vomiting that interrupts his life on a weekly basis is heartbreaking. When you see Connor bedridden for days and fighting back waves of nausea, it is incredible to learn that bacteria is the culprit. While most of us have a fairly balanced population of bacteria that helps us digest food, Connor's gut flora is out of whack in a bad way.
There is research and treatment options for SIBO, but it's important to understand the science is far from complete. Connor was misdiagnosed with acid reflux for a number of years before doctors began to suspect something more was going on. When his doctors finally were able to measure the gas being produced by the overgrown bacteria, Connor's levels put him in the "over 100 club" which basically means he is has one of the largest overgrowths his doctor has ever seen. On top of this, his Doctor's are still unsure of what may have caused the SIBO in the first place.
Because of the complexity of SIBO and the unforgiving reality of our healthcare system, Connor is facing an uphill battle to get his gut flora back in balance and keep it from coming back. So far, his modest means and the debilitating nature of SIBO have stalled treatment. It takes an immense amount of money, time, effort and energy to visit the few SIBO specialists out there, conduct regular testing, eat a very restrictive diet and buy the specialized antibiotics. This is where we can help!
I'm starting this Go-fund me to give Connor a "year of health." While he has known about SIBO for the last two years, he has been mired in the cost and complexity of acquiring and paying for healthcare. My goal is to give him a year where he can spend his time focusing on beating SIBO and not on whether he can afford his medical bills.
Your money will help pay for Connor's insurance deductible, co-pays, testing, medication and travel to see doctors. It will also pay for Connor and I to attend the SIBO convention this June in Portland. Because gut flora is closely linked with diet, we will subsidize a chest freezer and pressure cooker so Connor can prepare large amounts of low-Fodmap food.
Connor is a humble man, and would probably never think to ask for your help. His resolve against the incredible pain of SIBO is evidence of his will to live a normal healthy life. For our parts, I can think of no better way to express our love for Connor than to give him the best shot possible to kick SIBO once and for all. For all of you who have missed Connor because of his illness, this is how we can get him back. As Connor's brother, it means everything to me to see his kindness repaid when he needs it most.
Please give what you can afford and feel free to reach out other gestures of support. My gratitude extends to all of you.
For those who may not know much about SIBO, I put a link to learn more below. I know one of the frustrating things about having this disease is that few people know about it, including many doctors! I have found that the more I learn about SIBO, the more compassion I have for what Connor is going through. Please share any resources you might find as well because we're all learning as we go.
Thank you for all the love and support!
Aidan (Connor's Brother)
SIBO Resources:
http://www.siboinfo.com/