https://www.facebook.com/jessica.semikenwick/videos/10221157451269592/ 
Hi friends and family,
Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and read about my daughter’s story. Seeing my daughters daily struggle breaks my heart and I want to do all I can to help her.
Please read Jessica’s story below, but first I want to share a little bit of information on Lyme Disease from lymedisease.org.
❤️ Madelaine (Jessica’s mom)
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete—a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called Borrelia Burgdorferi. Lyme is called “The Great Imitator,” because its symptoms mimic many other diseases. It can affect any organ of the body, including the brain and nervous system, muscles and joints, and the heart. Patients with Lyme disease are frequently misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and various psychiatric illnesses, including depression. Misdiagnosis with these other diseases may delay the correct diagnosis and treatment as the underlying infection progresses unchecked. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the US every year. That’s 1.5 times the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer, and six times the number of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS each year in the US. However, because diagnosing Lyme can be difficult, many people who actually have Lyme may be misdiagnosed with other conditions. Many experts believe the true number of cases is much higher.
How Do People Get Lyme Disease?
Most people get Lyme from the bite of the nymphal, or immature, form of the tick. Nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed. Because they are so tiny and their bite is painless, many people do not even realize they have been bitten. Once a tick has attached, if undisturbed it may feed for several days. The longer it stays attached, the more likely it will transmit the Lyme and other pathogens into your bloodstream.
Lyme Disease Symptoms:
Symptoms of early Lyme disease may present as a flu-like illness (fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and joint pain). Some patients have a rash or Bell’s palsy (facial drooping). However, although a rash shaped like a bull’s-eye is considered characteristic of Lyme disease, many people develop a different kind of Lyme rash or none at all. Estimates of patients who develop a Lyme rash vary widely, ranging from about 30% to 80%. For example, a CDC report on Lyme carditis, which can be fatal, found that only 42% of cases had a rash. If Lyme disease is not diagnosed and treated early, it may become late-stage or chronic. This may also occur when early treatment is inadequate. Lyme disease may spread to any part of the body and affect any body system.
Jessi’s Story:
“As you may know, I have been battling Lyme Disease + coinfections for about 3 months now. I do not recall being bit by a tick recently or in fact ever. I’ve been battling various health issues & surgeries for the past 9 years and I never seem to get better. I became the sickest I have ever been in July 2019, just about a month after sinus surgery.
First, I started having unbearable pain in my mouth and jaw for about a month. I couldn’t eat solid foods and dentist said it was TMJ (later found out it was Lyme).
Then began the fatigue. It was a solid two weeks of sleeping almost the whole entire day. There were some days where I felt like I was too exhausted to even breathe. Other days, I had no energy at all and just wanted to sleep. The joint pain came next and progressed into intense leg, foot, arm, wrist, neck, shoulder, and back pain. Brain fog, dizziness, nausea came next.
In the middle of all of this, I was desperate to find answers. I started with my primary, then to rheumatology, then endocrinology/ parathyroid, Mayo Clinic, Functional Medicine, A so called Lyme Specialist (not so much), Geneticist, and finally to my home, which is my wonderful LLMD, Lyme Literate Medical Doctor.
Throughout my journey of searching for a reason or diagnosis, I was told there was nothing wrong with me and that my blood work is fine. The functional medicine doctor found a few things wrong with my adrenals, iron deficiency, and vitamin deficiencies. I was also diagnosed from two rheumatologists with Fibromyalgia (even got a second opinion from Mayo Clinic). I was unsettled with that diagnosis and started researching common misdiagnosis for Fibro. One of them was Lyme. I knew nothing about it but I did have several friends tell me to look into it because I have the symptoms.
While researching, I found out that it is a very hard disease to diagnose and I needed to find a doctor to give me a specific test. I was shocked that my doctors didn’t know about this or Lyme. The test I took is the Western Blot test (which is only about 50% accurate). The doctors office called me when the results were in and said everything was negative. Since I knew Lyme was so hard to diagnose, I felt the need to look at my own bloodwork.
Sure enough, the Lyme test said negative but it also showed a break down of a Lyme antibody bands. It said positive for band 23. I had no idea what that meant so I researched on my own. Found out that if you have band 23 it is Lyme Specific. No argument, 100% Lyme disease.
From there, I networked. I did a Facebook live about what I found and knew others would have advice and guidance. I found my Lyme angels. And they took me under their wing and gave me the low down on next steps! Ryan and Kelly I love u both. Next step was making an appt with an LLMD.
In December 2019, after finally seeing a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD), I was able to confirm I have Lyme. I was also made aware of a few coinfections that I have. Yep, ticks don't only carry Lyme; they can carry several other nasty diseases which can all be transmitted via the same tick bite. So far, I have Lyme, babesia, bartonella, candida, POTS, hypothyroidism, vitamin D and iron deficiency, my cortisol and adrenal system is shot, MTHFR gene mutation, mast cell activation syndrome.
I thought I went through enough with my eye surgeries, preeclampsias, ablation, hysterectomy, dehydration er visits, and sinus surgery. Guess I was wrong.
It’s possible that I have more coinfections and viruses, mold toxicity, and heavy metals. Will find out more as I go.
I began my protocol which includes antibiotics, supplemts, diet changes, detoxing, lymphatic massages, physical therapy, chiropractic, infared sauna, and many more.
I am struggling, I’m so sick. I’m trying to hard to find my rhythm. Just making my shakes is a full time job for me. I get dizzy and winded just doing that. I try to cover it up and push through like it’s not a big deal or I’m not in pain. But.... I’m going to surrender. I’ve been sick for a few years now not knowing what is wrong. At least I have an answer. Dr says It may be another year or so until I feel somewhat normal. I’m trying not to get overwhelmed by that. This experience has made me appreciate the little things that I never thought of before. Like, going to the park with my kids, getting my kids ready for school, driving a car, going to the store. Right now I can barley get out of bed. I just want my life back so I can take care of my kids. I try my best to stay positive, but some days I just break.
After a ton of research and joining several support groups on Facebook, I was introduced to a fairly new treatment for Lyme called Supportive Oligonucleotide Technique (S.O.T.) that seems to be the closest thing to a "cure" that we have. S.O.T. has been around for 20+ years, originally to treat cancer patients, and was just recently introduced into the Lyme world thanks to RGCC Labs in Greece. The idea behind this treatment is to create a synthetic formula by using reverse-engineering in which a messenger RNA (mRNA) is used to disrupt the DNA of the Lyme cells in order to destroy them. Once the Lyme finishes living out its ridiculously long life cycleof 80 days, the Lyme then dies off and exits the body as it can no longer replicate due to the S.O.T. Once all the Lyme is gone, your body can get its immune system back up and running since it is no longer suppressed by the Lyme, and not only begin healing, but fighting off the remaining coinfections as well. The S.O.T. is active for up to 6 months, after which time I will then have another DNA test done to see if the Lyme is completely gone. If not, then I will need another dose and so on. There is currently no guarantee for this treatment, especially since this disease is so complex and everyone's experience differs, but there seems to be a lot of hope.
Unfortunately, none of these treatments are covered by health insurance as Lyme Disease is not recognized as a chronic illness by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All of these very expensive doctor visits and medications have all been out of pocket. The doctor visits range from $500-$700. (Since December I’ve spent $1900 just on the visit) My medications and supplements total $500 per month. $150 per month for lymphatic massage, $174 per month chiropractor
$200 for at home infared sauna for detox (one time- not monthly)
$100 per month estimated for bloodwork
PT- 2 times per week - $300 per month
$275 per week for help around house to dishes, laundry & clean (no family near to help) and about
$500 month babysitters because I can’t even take care of my own kids.
Lyme bills total roughly $2900 per month.
this is on top of all the hospital debt from all the surgies, dr visits, er visits, that past few years.
As you can see, this can get extremely expensive. The SOT treatment is $4000 for one round. I’m estimating two rounds (since I found out I have late stage Lyme - had since age of 7). So two SOTs, blood tests, office visits, airfare, etc. close to $10,000 or possibly more.
We have finally reached the point to where we are no longer able to afford these treatments and have been running up credit cards to keep up with it. I will continue to post updates below on my progress and keep you all informed on how things are going. It is normal to experience a Herxheimer Reaction (which is basically a flare up) after the S.O.T. due to the Lyme die off but otherwise I am keeping positive and hopeful. I have an amazing husband that has been by my side since day 1 that has been supporting me throughout this nightmare (sometimes I want to kill him lol, but I love him) , as well as my amazing family, friends, dogs, and fellow Lyme Warriors. Without all of you, I would not be able to get through this alone.
Donation or not, I sincerely thank you again for taking the time to read this. I want to spread awareness and share my story to anyone that will listen!
Chronic Lyme is real and we need to fight to help the millions that are suffering and dying from it everyday! ”
Here are some links with more information on Lyme Disease:
https://www.lymedisease.org/
https://globallymealliance.org/
https://maddyraecooper.com/about
https://theavrillavignefoundation.org/lyme
https://lymelightfoundation.org/
YouTube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgVuSSoHrJg(How S.O.T./Antisense drugs work)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2JgR_Jfbhv8
(Under My Skin- why CDC dismisses Lyme)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja9iflckw-Y
(Dr. Spector- Cancer physician with Lyme almost died and needed heart transplant)
Here are some Facebook groups:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/215303912495602/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/450390065775761/?fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/groups/329241737697925/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/246242632082702/
