Kelsey Hughes Tick Borne Diseases & Mold Toxicity Treatment

I never thought I would be in this position where I would be asking for donations to help me pay for treatment for Lyme Disease, other Tick-Borne diseases, Co-infections, Mold Toxicity, the cost of seeing a Lyme Literate Provider, to help with the cost of replacing most of my belongings due to mold exposure, remediating what I am able to keep and if for some reason I have to obtain legal counsel due to having to break my lease because of mold. For those that know me, for me to even ask for help especially when it comes to money is something that I would never do unless the situation was getting worse and there was no other options. I'm used to helping others not the other way around. However, things are that bad. At the age of 38, I am doing more dying than living and have gotten progressively worse over the past two years. I never imagined my life would be like this and know that if I do not get the correct treatment and support that I desperately need that I will not live for much longer. This is literally my last resort to help me live and save my life.

For those that do not know my story, I have spent most of my life sick, surviving and dealing with it mostly in silence. I have had the Tick-Borne Diseases for over 30 years and never knew it until January 2021. These diseases were showing signs that they were there throughout my life but no one asked the right questions or did proper testing. I have unknowingly grown up with these diseases and they have been wreaking havoc in my body. I found out three years ago that I have Lyme Disease and another Tick-Borne Disease, Bartonella (Cat Scratch Fever) and started treatment right away. I have been getting progressively worse over the past two and a half years, did not know why and neither did my Lyme Provider at the time. Long story short, I was not with the right Provider, they dropped the ball and missed a lot. I wasted thousands of dollars on treatment to only have to start over with a new Lyme Provider and have to start treatment over. Now I am ten times worse than when I started out. Three years of treatment, loss of income, loss of memories and time wasted down the drain. I found out that I have so much more going on than what I was originally diagnosed with and that I was not even on enough treatment for the things I was diagnosed for. I was recently diagnosed with four strains of Lyme Disease, two other Tick-Borne diseases, Bartonella and Babesia, Mold Toxicity/Exposure, Chronic Inflammatory Response, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Fatty Liver Disease, Leaky Gut, MTHFR Gene Mutation, two Chronic Fatigue Diseases including Epstein-Barr virus, Parvovirus, Shingles Virus, Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease, Raynaud's Disease, SIBO, stomach infection, Adrenal Dysfunction, Pre-Diabetes, Hyperinsulinemia, POTS, Chronic Migraines, severe inflammation from head to toe, severe joint, muscle and bone pain, have 5 cysts that have been found in my body and a nodule on my thyroid. I am currently experiencing over 100 symptoms every single day and have for many years. I am extremely sick and dealing with so much at once. I’ve been homebound for over a year and five months now. Everything I was diagnosed with and my symptoms are all caused by Tick-Borne Diseases and mold exposure.

Most do not know or see how sick I am because as soon as I have any human interaction I smile through the pain and do not go into my suffering or people do not ask. I have always had this fake it until you make it attitude and never wanted to burden anyone else with how I felt or how sick I am. I have learned to handle extreme amounts of pain and stress on my own. The lows have been extremely intense, terrifying and deadly and the highs seem like a distant memory. Every time I take a baby step forward I get knocked back to the ground. I spend most days not knowing if I will live through the day due to my symptoms. I am fighting for my life every day and have not stopped or given up.

I am somehow able to work from home. However, I’m not sure how much longer I will be able to sustain working full-time. I had to quit my part-time job, bartending over a year and five months ago, which was a huge loss of income. Yes, I am able to make money working full-time, that just gets me through paying for the cost of living and I often have to choose between what I can afford. I have blown through my savings and am financially devastated because of this situation. I am alone and don't have any help with splitting costs with someone else. I can barely get around and take care of myself. Basic things are a huge challenge and can take me weeks to accomplish. I have been trying to stay afloat and keep my head above water.I know that I will never take life for granted again or just being able to do simple things like walk, talk, wash my hair, read a book, take the trash out, do laundry, take the dog for a walk, the list goes on.

Treatment and seeing a Lyme Literate Provider are not covered by insurance. The cost of treatment, office visits, testing, most medications, supplements, vitamins and other treatments used are all out of pocket. My most recent office visit with new treatment added, cost over $1200. That was just for one visit and changes to my current treatment plan and they were all out- of- pocket. It is possible that I may have to get a PICC line at some point and have IV medications since I am not absorbing much, which may not be covered by insurance as well. Mold is also another out- of-pocket expense and there is no help, insurance coverage or resources to help in these situations. The walls are closing in and am backed into a corner. I am fighting for my life, to get some quality of life back and without being able to afford everything required to get through treatment and continuing to see a Lyme Literate Provider that will be impossible. I have lost so much during this time but most importantly I have lost having hardly any quality of life. That is time and memories I can never get back.

This money would be used to help replace any belongings due to mold exposure, moving expenses, help to pay for treatment that will have different stages, help with expenses for seeing my Lyme Literate Provider, if I need to obtain legal counsel for mold litigation ($5000) and if for some reason I’m a unable to continue working it would help with basic cost of living for rent, food and other expenses. I know times are tough for everyone but if anyone has the ability to give in any way, I would be forever grateful. If not, I would appreciate if you could please share. My health is no one's burden to bear and knowing me you would know that I would never put that on anyone or ask for help. I am in survival mode and there is desperation in my heart and soul to live but there is no expectation or pressure on anyone to help make this possible. I just know the risks of what will happen if I do not ask for help at all. Treating these diseases are endless but I am worth saving. I'm not ready to die and have so much life to live, things to accomplish, would love to have a family before it's too late and have so many people to help especially when it comes to Tick- Borne Diseases. I want to be able to smile and live again. I have a purpose to help others and can turn this devastating journey into a positive way to help other people. I am not going down without a fight.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all in advance!