Kat’s Medical Journey with Alpha gal

Hi! My dearest friend, Kat and her family have gone through some really hard times financially and physically due to illness and the state of US healthcare costs. I know many of you know Kat personally and know what should we do for any of us if we were in the same situation. So if you are able, any contribution would be unbelievably helpful. Also, if you aren’t familiar with alpha gal, please do your research!! It is a serious medical problem we are facing now and there’s truly little information about it.

Below is Kats story:

My Healing Journey -

The end of May my world turned upside down- I just didn’t know it yet. I was bitten by a tick at the end of May and three weeks later I started to become very ill. My alpha gal was worse than ever before (had not an issue in a couple of years) leading to anaphylactic reactions and I started to have allergic reactions to things I knew I wasn’t “allergic” to. This was accompanied by intense nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite- leading me to lose over 15 lbs in the month of July. During this time I also mysteriously developed tachycardia, I would be laying in bed with my heart rate pounding in the 140s. Several trips to the ER with absolutely no answers. This ordeal left me bed bound for a good portion on July which was extremely difficult being that I went from running 20 miles a week just at the end of June. Thankfully I saved the tick and sent it for testing- it came back positive for ehrlichia and I was put on antibiotics which helped some but I was still having a lot of symptoms and they only worsened when I finished my antibiotic course. I continued to see many different specialist in search for answers with numerous tests and labs preformed without answers. A friend recommended a provider to me and after visits and more labs - I was finally had answers. Unclear as to why, I developed Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) after the tick bite. Since, I have been put back on a longer course of antibiotics and treatment for my MCAS and I have seen small gradual improvements week to week. I walked a mile for the first time last week! The past 2.5 months have absolutely pulled the rug out from under me and I want nothing more than to recovery quickly- though this process has certainly taught me patience and that this healing process is going to take time. I have been so humbled and have such an appreciation for the ordinary day to day things I was able to do prior that now are a struggle. I have had friends and family with me at home everyday to help me with Maddie. Shawn has been so supportive and picked up everything that I can’t right now. I have a small inner circle that I have kept up to date through this process and I have coveted their thoughts and prayers. Recently I have felt compelled to share my story- though it is far from over- in hopes that it can help lead someone to answers or to just know they are not alone. My family has been greatly burdened by this in so many ways. One of the biggest would be financially- since the end of June I have acquired significant medical debt and have ongoing medical expenses to cover my cost of treatment I don’t like asking for help and I don’t expect help from anyone but I am hoping that God would bring this to the right people who would be able to bless our family during my healing journey. Thank you in advance for supporting me and my family!