Jerusha Shaffer Healing
Donation protected
Many of you have heard about my sister, Jerusha Shaffer, who has been suffering in her health for the last 12 years. Below is a brief outline I asked her to send me describing everything that’s been going on, and the treatments she has undergone. We are helping to raise money for a two new doctors - Dr. Linda Goggin with Feel Good Functional Medicine in Bellingham, WA and Dr. Ty R Vincent M.D. with Global Immunotherapy LLC. Both of these doctors were referred to her by former patients who were helped.
They also need a new car, because the only car she was able to comfortably ride in is dead. Her body is unable to ride in most cars without excruciating pain after a short period of time.
I know there is a lot of need presented here, but we will not give up on seeking help for someone we love so much! She didn’t want me to start this fundraising originally, but I believe it will accomplish two things: 1) Raise much-needed funds for a continued search for a cure, and 2) Raise an army of prayer warriors to approach the throne of God for a miracle.
Any donation you can give is appreciated, and we will be sure to keep everyone update!
Jerusha’s outline:
My story…
For three years my husband and I were missionaries in Romania where we lived in an apartment with fairly regular mold build up that we just cleaned with bleach every few weeks off our concrete walls. Seven months before we moved back to the states I got pregnant and having had rods placed in my back due to scoliosis as a teenager, I had a very difficult pregnancy especially near the end with very intense hip/leg and back pain. I was told all would be fine once I delivered. But moving unexpectedly back to America, having my first baby who had severe acid reflux and cried the majority of the day and night for the first six months, moving to a new place where we knew no one and being a stay at home wife for the first time at age 30, I developed pretty intense post-partum depression.
I felt I was beginning to climb out of the hole I had been in that year when I woke up one morning and couldn’t stop throwing up and my temperature continued to climb. After two days of going to a local clinic to just be sent home with my 106 temperature and told to rest because I had the flu, I knew something more severe was wrong and my husband basically carried me into the ER the evening of the second day. I was quickly diagnosed with toxic shock and they began intensive intravenous antibiotics and fluids. I was told if I had waited till the next morning I would have been dead.
After a few days, my body was still declining and my organs were beginning to fill with fluids which was dangerous; basically I was still slowing dying. We had to sign consent for me to be given a dose of antibodies since my body wasn’t fighting with the antibiotics like it should have. We were told I would go into anaphylactic shock and die within a few hours or this would turn the corner. Obviously, it made the difference between my dying and recovering. After nine days in the ICU I was sent home and told it would take a year to recover fully and just to take it easy. No other instructions were given in regards as to how to rebuild all that 9 days on intravenous antibiotics had destroyed.
About six months later I noticed that not only had my energy levels plateaued but I was beginning to have unexplained pain in my legs and lower back. Thus began my endless search for help as my body has continued to decline and malfunction for 12 years now since that hospital stay with toxic shock.
I’ve seen countless specialists, starting out in mainstream medicine and after hitting significant dead ends fairly quickly, launching into the crazy world of alternative medicine. Main stream doctors will only diagnose me with fibromyalgia and try to give me antidepressants. Although, specialists like rheumatologists have said I don’t actually fit even that diagnosis. I’ve been to neurologists, pain clinics, rheumatologists, infectious disease doctors, multiple family practice doctors, acupuncturists, countless physical and massage therapists, craniosacral workers, chiropractors, NUCCA doctors, functional neurologists, alternative nurse practitioners, holistic medical doctors, and countless naturopaths in 6 different states. I’ve been put on countless dietary regimens, supplement regimens, done oxygen therapy, hyperbaric chambers, saunas, hair testing, colonics, various “crazy” body work done, exercise programs (which always increase my pain levels), multiple allergy tests, chelation therapy for heavy metals, and many types of psychological work since this is “all in my head” (counseling, EMDR, DNRS, horse therapy, etc…).
In the alternative world, every doctor seems to have their go-to test and their system. Something always shows up – my body is a great breeding ground. I been diagnosed with and had attempted treatment for SIBO, parasites, candida, bad bacteria overgrowth, EBV (I did have mono when I was 5), lyme disease, CIRS, multiple chemical sensitivities, food sensitivities, heavy metals, hormone issues, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and poor genetic composition. Everyone had a grand plan but I’m always super sensitive to the supplements I’m given and can tolerate little and usually just crash and they can’t figure out why. And then even when I push through and make the dose they want, my symptoms never improve but usually I end up worse and then they suggest I move on to another practitioner. Each year I’ve spent literally thousands of money on doctors to no avail. Not one thing is better and my body is gradually worsening.
Currently wearing clothing is super difficult unless it’s very old and stretched to my body so that it doesn’t pull anywhere on my muscles or I have intense muscle pain. I have only one pair of sandals I can tolerate but no shoes. I am in constant pain in various areas in my body especially my shoulders into my head and my hips into my legs. My fatigue varies from day to day. I have varying insomnia. I have multiple chemical sensitivities and food intolerance. I have varying amounts of itching on my skin. I have occasional swelling in my feet, general redness and swelling in my throat and gums. I have chronic thick and excessive saliva production, occasional dizziness, twitching muscles, poor memory, some depression, unexplained weight gain, brain fog, tooth and jaw pain, occasional bloating and nausea, headaches, post nasal congestion. Currently I can’t find a car I can tolerate due to the pain in my body and seats being hard, coupled with curved seats and my back with rods that doesn’t curve.
They also need a new car, because the only car she was able to comfortably ride in is dead. Her body is unable to ride in most cars without excruciating pain after a short period of time.
I know there is a lot of need presented here, but we will not give up on seeking help for someone we love so much! She didn’t want me to start this fundraising originally, but I believe it will accomplish two things: 1) Raise much-needed funds for a continued search for a cure, and 2) Raise an army of prayer warriors to approach the throne of God for a miracle.
Any donation you can give is appreciated, and we will be sure to keep everyone update!
Jerusha’s outline:
My story…
For three years my husband and I were missionaries in Romania where we lived in an apartment with fairly regular mold build up that we just cleaned with bleach every few weeks off our concrete walls. Seven months before we moved back to the states I got pregnant and having had rods placed in my back due to scoliosis as a teenager, I had a very difficult pregnancy especially near the end with very intense hip/leg and back pain. I was told all would be fine once I delivered. But moving unexpectedly back to America, having my first baby who had severe acid reflux and cried the majority of the day and night for the first six months, moving to a new place where we knew no one and being a stay at home wife for the first time at age 30, I developed pretty intense post-partum depression.
I felt I was beginning to climb out of the hole I had been in that year when I woke up one morning and couldn’t stop throwing up and my temperature continued to climb. After two days of going to a local clinic to just be sent home with my 106 temperature and told to rest because I had the flu, I knew something more severe was wrong and my husband basically carried me into the ER the evening of the second day. I was quickly diagnosed with toxic shock and they began intensive intravenous antibiotics and fluids. I was told if I had waited till the next morning I would have been dead.
After a few days, my body was still declining and my organs were beginning to fill with fluids which was dangerous; basically I was still slowing dying. We had to sign consent for me to be given a dose of antibodies since my body wasn’t fighting with the antibiotics like it should have. We were told I would go into anaphylactic shock and die within a few hours or this would turn the corner. Obviously, it made the difference between my dying and recovering. After nine days in the ICU I was sent home and told it would take a year to recover fully and just to take it easy. No other instructions were given in regards as to how to rebuild all that 9 days on intravenous antibiotics had destroyed.
About six months later I noticed that not only had my energy levels plateaued but I was beginning to have unexplained pain in my legs and lower back. Thus began my endless search for help as my body has continued to decline and malfunction for 12 years now since that hospital stay with toxic shock.
I’ve seen countless specialists, starting out in mainstream medicine and after hitting significant dead ends fairly quickly, launching into the crazy world of alternative medicine. Main stream doctors will only diagnose me with fibromyalgia and try to give me antidepressants. Although, specialists like rheumatologists have said I don’t actually fit even that diagnosis. I’ve been to neurologists, pain clinics, rheumatologists, infectious disease doctors, multiple family practice doctors, acupuncturists, countless physical and massage therapists, craniosacral workers, chiropractors, NUCCA doctors, functional neurologists, alternative nurse practitioners, holistic medical doctors, and countless naturopaths in 6 different states. I’ve been put on countless dietary regimens, supplement regimens, done oxygen therapy, hyperbaric chambers, saunas, hair testing, colonics, various “crazy” body work done, exercise programs (which always increase my pain levels), multiple allergy tests, chelation therapy for heavy metals, and many types of psychological work since this is “all in my head” (counseling, EMDR, DNRS, horse therapy, etc…).
In the alternative world, every doctor seems to have their go-to test and their system. Something always shows up – my body is a great breeding ground. I been diagnosed with and had attempted treatment for SIBO, parasites, candida, bad bacteria overgrowth, EBV (I did have mono when I was 5), lyme disease, CIRS, multiple chemical sensitivities, food sensitivities, heavy metals, hormone issues, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and poor genetic composition. Everyone had a grand plan but I’m always super sensitive to the supplements I’m given and can tolerate little and usually just crash and they can’t figure out why. And then even when I push through and make the dose they want, my symptoms never improve but usually I end up worse and then they suggest I move on to another practitioner. Each year I’ve spent literally thousands of money on doctors to no avail. Not one thing is better and my body is gradually worsening.
Currently wearing clothing is super difficult unless it’s very old and stretched to my body so that it doesn’t pull anywhere on my muscles or I have intense muscle pain. I have only one pair of sandals I can tolerate but no shoes. I am in constant pain in various areas in my body especially my shoulders into my head and my hips into my legs. My fatigue varies from day to day. I have varying insomnia. I have multiple chemical sensitivities and food intolerance. I have varying amounts of itching on my skin. I have occasional swelling in my feet, general redness and swelling in my throat and gums. I have chronic thick and excessive saliva production, occasional dizziness, twitching muscles, poor memory, some depression, unexplained weight gain, brain fog, tooth and jaw pain, occasional bloating and nausea, headaches, post nasal congestion. Currently I can’t find a car I can tolerate due to the pain in my body and seats being hard, coupled with curved seats and my back with rods that doesn’t curve.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lindsay Holmes
Organizer
Linwood, NJ
Jerusha Shaffer
Beneficiary