Since mid-October 2016 our dear friend, wife, and mother of 3 Joanne Martel had her life physically and emotionally disrupted by a routine vaccination. Joanne felt since her dad was ill and she had elderly customers she wanted to protect them. Within 24 hours she began to feel pain in her head and neck. She went to the clinic and received minimal care. She spent about 6 weeks in and out of the emergency room and was incorrectly diagnosed with MS. Only because of her husband John's diligent research they finally readmitted and reassessed her with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM). She has been hospitalized ever since, which is now 3 months. John left his job and does not leave her side. Joanne and John have already missed Christmas, their children's birthdays, and the unfortunate loss of Joanne's father.
ADEM is a very rare autoimmune disease. It is a rapid developing illness with neurological symptoms. It affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. In patients who contracted ADEM because of a vaccination, the immune system, instead of fighting off the infection, causes inflammation in the central nervous system. This is the body's protective attempt to remove harmful stimuli and to initiate the healing process. As well, ADEM causes the immune systeme to strip the protective cover of many nerve fibres, making them act like a stripped electrical wiring.
This has left Joanne pretty much paralysed from the neck down with pins and needles type pain. It has also affected her speech, vision, and hearing. It is awful. Joanne has always helped others and now she is helpless. John needs to be by her side doing the simplest of tasks for her. Without her husband's care Joanne would be fed through a tube. This illness has not affected her mind, so without John she would be alone and trapped in her body.
She has had every test they can do many times and is now on experimental drugs. She has been seen by over 100 different doctors, from Campbell River, Victoria, and Vancouver. She is now back in Victoria. Only a couple doctors have seen anything like this before, it is rare. It will be at least a year to recover and at this point no one knows to what degree her disabilities will permanently be. The damage from this illness will impact Joanne and her family's lives forever.
Now after four months of treatment she is still fighting for improvement and recovery. It is going to be a slow and difficult journey for Joanne. John needs to be able to stay with her through this time of healing. We have seen how much he lovingly needs to do for her. Joanne needs him there mentally and physically. For these reasons we are asking you to please help them through this tremendously difficult time with any financial assistance your can send their way. Please, whatever the amount it will be so gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks,
Her lifelong friends
ADEM is a very rare autoimmune disease. It is a rapid developing illness with neurological symptoms. It affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. In patients who contracted ADEM because of a vaccination, the immune system, instead of fighting off the infection, causes inflammation in the central nervous system. This is the body's protective attempt to remove harmful stimuli and to initiate the healing process. As well, ADEM causes the immune systeme to strip the protective cover of many nerve fibres, making them act like a stripped electrical wiring.
This has left Joanne pretty much paralysed from the neck down with pins and needles type pain. It has also affected her speech, vision, and hearing. It is awful. Joanne has always helped others and now she is helpless. John needs to be by her side doing the simplest of tasks for her. Without her husband's care Joanne would be fed through a tube. This illness has not affected her mind, so without John she would be alone and trapped in her body.
She has had every test they can do many times and is now on experimental drugs. She has been seen by over 100 different doctors, from Campbell River, Victoria, and Vancouver. She is now back in Victoria. Only a couple doctors have seen anything like this before, it is rare. It will be at least a year to recover and at this point no one knows to what degree her disabilities will permanently be. The damage from this illness will impact Joanne and her family's lives forever.
Now after four months of treatment she is still fighting for improvement and recovery. It is going to be a slow and difficult journey for Joanne. John needs to be able to stay with her through this time of healing. We have seen how much he lovingly needs to do for her. Joanne needs him there mentally and physically. For these reasons we are asking you to please help them through this tremendously difficult time with any financial assistance your can send their way. Please, whatever the amount it will be so gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks,
Her lifelong friends