Jessy's Lyme Battle
Donation protected
After eight years of fighting debilitating, life threatening diseases. My doctor(s) have discontinued treatments with no hope for a modern medical miracle. Now, my body is too weak to continue fighting and I may not survive another round of treatment. But in my spirit, I know, this is not the end. Please Lord, help me believe, this is not the end. With your help, I cling to the hope that Jesus will choose to heal me with Integrative Medical Therapy and end this nightmare that has consumed my life and family for almost a decade.
It began with those terrifying words, “you have Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma . . . cancer.” Two thousand miles away, and all I wanted to do was return home to my family. Weeks later, I remember sitting on the front porch with my Dad, looking out at the sunset and admitting. “I’m not really afraid of dying, but I am heartbroken because I’m going to miss you all so much.” Yet, in all the heartache and after months of tests, prayers, biopsies, and treatments. God chose to remove the tumors. He had healed my body of cancer, miraculously.
However, the symptoms remained. This began another year of treatment(s), in and out of the ER and hospitals, all the while feeling my life and my strength fading away. Endless specialists with conflicting diagnosis, all the while my body grew weaker with every new medication that was added.
In 2013, I was diagnosed with stage 4, neurological Lyme disease. Even with my limited access to testing, the results came back positive for Epstein Barr Virus, Bartonella, Babesia and Rickettsia. It was heartbreaking to hear, since I was misdiagnosed for seven years. A disease that could have been manageable had grown into something that is now debilitating and life-threatening.
By March of 2014 I had suffered through six PICC line infections, removals and replacements, and finally a portacath placement that I have to this day. In the process of trying to kill my Lyme and coinfections, the treatments were trying to kill me. I was bedridden most of the time and unable to enjoy life or even participate in simple tasks like playing with my nephews or helping around the house. It became evident modern medicine would not heal my diseases.
Believing God was leading me down a non-traditional path for healing. I worked hard over the next year and a half to try to rebuild my body after the havoc of Lyme and treatment. I lost 120 pounds, started eating healthy and exercising. Slowly, I weaned myself off every pain medication and pharmaceutical that were flooding my body. It was during this time of sickness and hope for recovery that I found my true passion in life and enrolled in college to one day become a pediatric oncology nurse.
Sadly this window of health was short lived and by the end of 2017. I was beginning to show symptoms that my disease was no longer in remission. In early April of 2018 I was forced to face the truth and resigned from my job and started the process of IV antibiotics treatment again.
Immediately, the side effects of the treatment began, chronic nausea, dehydration, and vomiting for hours on end. Excruciating pain and migraines coupled with severe muscle spasms and the loss of any muscle control. I don't know how to explain to someone that hasn't been through a life changing chronic illness what it is like to feel yourself slipping away. Or the overwhelming fear when you stare down at your own legs and you’re unable to stop the violent convulsions. Or the heartbreak that comes with discovering your teeth are breaking off because of the acids from throwing up so much and so often. For the past few months, I have been confined most of the time to my room, in my parents’ home, which has been transformed into a mini hospital unit once again.
Now, my doctor has informed me that I am out of options for beating this disease. My only hope for a renewed quality of life is in Jesus, and the healing power of integrative medicine.
Please pray for me, I am honestly afraid that at 33 years old, after overcoming every struggle so far that this disease will rob me of so many more life experiences that God has planned for me. I fear I will continue to slowly deteriorate until I'm no longer myself or unable to interact with anyone around me.
We have found a facility in Sarasota, FL that offers specialized and personalized treatment for Lyme disease and the many co-infections while also focusing on rebuilding the immune system and restore healing within the body. I've spoken with several previous patients and they all are in remission from this life-threatening disease. This facility is my final hope for healing, but it is an impossible goal for me without prayerful and financial help.
My hope is to raise the needed funds to finally put this intense battle within my body, to rest. Because my disease has progressed so drastically, we believe it will take about 6-9 weeks at this in-patient treatment facility.
My family is helping me with so much, but I still need to raise over $19,500 dollars to cover the remaining costs of the treatment.
Please prayerfully consider a donation to help me receive this life-changing treatment. Any donation will help me reach this goal and will be greatly appreciated. Please join me in the fight for my life. I know that this is asking a lot, but without your help I will not be able to afford the incredible treatment center that we have FINALLY found.
It began with those terrifying words, “you have Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma . . . cancer.” Two thousand miles away, and all I wanted to do was return home to my family. Weeks later, I remember sitting on the front porch with my Dad, looking out at the sunset and admitting. “I’m not really afraid of dying, but I am heartbroken because I’m going to miss you all so much.” Yet, in all the heartache and after months of tests, prayers, biopsies, and treatments. God chose to remove the tumors. He had healed my body of cancer, miraculously.
However, the symptoms remained. This began another year of treatment(s), in and out of the ER and hospitals, all the while feeling my life and my strength fading away. Endless specialists with conflicting diagnosis, all the while my body grew weaker with every new medication that was added.
In 2013, I was diagnosed with stage 4, neurological Lyme disease. Even with my limited access to testing, the results came back positive for Epstein Barr Virus, Bartonella, Babesia and Rickettsia. It was heartbreaking to hear, since I was misdiagnosed for seven years. A disease that could have been manageable had grown into something that is now debilitating and life-threatening.
By March of 2014 I had suffered through six PICC line infections, removals and replacements, and finally a portacath placement that I have to this day. In the process of trying to kill my Lyme and coinfections, the treatments were trying to kill me. I was bedridden most of the time and unable to enjoy life or even participate in simple tasks like playing with my nephews or helping around the house. It became evident modern medicine would not heal my diseases.
Believing God was leading me down a non-traditional path for healing. I worked hard over the next year and a half to try to rebuild my body after the havoc of Lyme and treatment. I lost 120 pounds, started eating healthy and exercising. Slowly, I weaned myself off every pain medication and pharmaceutical that were flooding my body. It was during this time of sickness and hope for recovery that I found my true passion in life and enrolled in college to one day become a pediatric oncology nurse.
Sadly this window of health was short lived and by the end of 2017. I was beginning to show symptoms that my disease was no longer in remission. In early April of 2018 I was forced to face the truth and resigned from my job and started the process of IV antibiotics treatment again.
Immediately, the side effects of the treatment began, chronic nausea, dehydration, and vomiting for hours on end. Excruciating pain and migraines coupled with severe muscle spasms and the loss of any muscle control. I don't know how to explain to someone that hasn't been through a life changing chronic illness what it is like to feel yourself slipping away. Or the overwhelming fear when you stare down at your own legs and you’re unable to stop the violent convulsions. Or the heartbreak that comes with discovering your teeth are breaking off because of the acids from throwing up so much and so often. For the past few months, I have been confined most of the time to my room, in my parents’ home, which has been transformed into a mini hospital unit once again.
Now, my doctor has informed me that I am out of options for beating this disease. My only hope for a renewed quality of life is in Jesus, and the healing power of integrative medicine.
Please pray for me, I am honestly afraid that at 33 years old, after overcoming every struggle so far that this disease will rob me of so many more life experiences that God has planned for me. I fear I will continue to slowly deteriorate until I'm no longer myself or unable to interact with anyone around me.
We have found a facility in Sarasota, FL that offers specialized and personalized treatment for Lyme disease and the many co-infections while also focusing on rebuilding the immune system and restore healing within the body. I've spoken with several previous patients and they all are in remission from this life-threatening disease. This facility is my final hope for healing, but it is an impossible goal for me without prayerful and financial help.
My hope is to raise the needed funds to finally put this intense battle within my body, to rest. Because my disease has progressed so drastically, we believe it will take about 6-9 weeks at this in-patient treatment facility.
My family is helping me with so much, but I still need to raise over $19,500 dollars to cover the remaining costs of the treatment.
Please prayerfully consider a donation to help me receive this life-changing treatment. Any donation will help me reach this goal and will be greatly appreciated. Please join me in the fight for my life. I know that this is asking a lot, but without your help I will not be able to afford the incredible treatment center that we have FINALLY found.
Co-organizers (2)
Jessica Donaldson
Organizer
Sardis, MS
David Donaldson
Co-organizer