Lyme Treatment for Desta

If you prefer to send money directly to Desta their e-payment info is:

 

PayPal - paypal.me/destacantave

Venmo - @destacantave

Cash app - $destacantave

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Over the past year we have been so grateful for the financial support you all showed up to create after our first fundraiser for Desta in July 2020. Unfortunately, the money has run out, and Desta's treatment needs are much greater than they were at that time. We are no longer able to keep up with the expenses of Desta's medical care and we need your help once again. The goal of this fundraiser reflects the cost of Desta's current medical treatment for one year. You can find a cost breakdown below. We know it's a lot--- and that's exactly why we need your help!

 

Desta already has credit card debt and medical bills they are not able to pay as a result of not being able to work (due to the severity of their illnesses) and the high cost of their treatments. We are looking to raise a full year of funds for medical treatment because worrying about how these medical bills will get paid adds an additional level of stress that exacerbates their symptoms and impedes their progress in treatment. Having this money squared away for the treatment will create an enormous sense of ease as they navigate treating their illnesses. Thank you in advance for showing up to make sure Desta is able to access high-quality medical care for the next 12 months!

 

Desta’s story for those who are not familiar:

 

Desta is a Black and South Asian Disabled organizer, facilitator, and educator. For the past several years Desta has been chronically ill: experiencing neurological episodes, fatigue, joint pain, and nerve pain at varying degrees. In 2018 Desta was diagnosed with Sciatica, which explained some but not all of the symptoms they were experiencing. They continuously brought up with their doctors that they thought they might have Lyme, but none believed their symptoms were serious enough to order a test. This is an all too common experience of Black people in the medical system. Doctors refused to believe Desta’s knowledge about their own body and experiences of pain, until about May 2020 when Desta got a new tick bite and their new doctor went forward with a test.

 

After receiving an official Lyme test and diagnoses, Desta sought specialist care. The specialist told Desta that based on their test results and symptoms it is likely that they have both an old untreated case of Lyme and also a new acute case from the more recent tick bite. They were prescribed antibiotics for three months, and after that did not work they were prescribed other treatments that cost hundreds of dollars a month. Over the past year and a half Desta has seen many specialists and received many more diagnoses including: Mold Toxicity, Bartonella, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation, PCOS, Fibromyalgia, and more.

 

Desta's Lyme treatment has created an intense financial burden. Because most Lyme specialists are not able to take insurance, the out of pocket expense per visit can range from $175 - $1,250. This does not include the cost of medicines, and other treatments prescribed in the appointments. Desta is no longer able to work due to their illnesses, which means that Desta has not been able to access the full treatment plan they have been prescribed due to financial limitations. Desta has applied for disability benefits, but those can take months or years to be approved. In the meantime Desta continues to have no income. This money is needed urgently to sustain Desta’s access to high quality treatment.

 

Desta has always been deeply committed to and involved in community building and community care work. Many people have benefitted from Desta’s support, care, teaching, and facilitation. They need that support to be abundantly reciprocated.

 

Note: Last time we fundraised for Desta, many well intentioned members of our community reached out to offer their own stories and experiences about Lyme. While we appreciate people’s support, Desta does not currently have the capacity to hear suggestions or comments from individuals looking to share their knowledge and experiences with treating Lyme and its co-infections. We are doing this fundraiser so Desta is able to have access to a medical care team of experts, no additional medical advice or recommendations are needed at this time. Thank you for respecting this boundary!

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Cost calculation:


Acupuncture: $200/month

Doctors Covered by Insurance: $105/month in copays

Herbalist Appointments: $130/month

Medicines: $550/month

Lyme specialist appointments: $1,075/month

Body Work: $252/month

Physical Therapy: $120/month

Therapy: $60/month


Total medical expenses per month: $2,492 


Existing medical debt: $2,540


Total medical expenses for the year + existing debt: about $33,700 (know that GoFundMe takes a percentage of the funds raised, so we rounded up to get the full amount needed in Desta's pocket)