Lauren's health battle with Late Stage Lyme

Hello, we are the Postma family and we are looking for help to fund medical expenses for our daughter Lauren. Lauren is 17. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis about 3 years ago and has not responded to most treatments for this. She deals with chronic joint pain in most of her joints. About 7 months ago, she was also diagnosed with POTS, which is a syndrome that causes her to feel extremely dizzy and lightheaded when she is up and about. Her heart races and her blood pressure drops drastically. Which makes it super hard to be up and doing things. When she (again) failed to respond to medications for POTS, we started thinking something more was going on. God had led an amazing family friend down the difficult journey of being diagnosed with Late stage Lyme Disease. We slowly began having discussions with her about the possibility of Lauren also having Lyme Disease. We won't go into the journey of getting her diagnosed (it was costly and complex), but we found out early July that Lauren had Lyme Disease, and the testing indicated that she had been dealing with this for a long time. Which is probably why medicines were not helping her other diagnosis'.

As we embark on this new journey, we will be honest and tell you, if feels very daunting. All the treatment Lauren needs isn't covered by insurance. In addition to that, all the doctors she needs to see don't take insurance. Lyme Disease is super complex and treatment for it is multi-faceted. Late stage Lyme Disease also causes Lauren to be super sensitive to certain toxins, especially any kind of mold. Which leads us on a new journey of needing to move. Homes with basements are super dangerous for her, and we not only have a basement, but her room is down there. She needs to be living in a home that is completely safe for her, in order for her to heal. It is also a very important part to all the treatments working successfully. Because of the costs of treatment (we've been warned that it could be at least- $20,000 this first year), it's super important to Brian and I that we get her into a home that won't continue to harm Lauren's body. We don't want to spend all this money just to have her feeling lifeless due to any possible mold, or other mycotoxins. That would be a pretty poor decision on our part. So, Lord willing, we will be building next spring on an amazing piece of property that we've come to love.

All of this has felt like a lot. We are scared, worried, sad, broken, angry and weary. So weary. Why God? What is your purpose in causing such pain in another one of our kids? Why can't it be more simple? Why can't all of it be more simple? Why do we have to fight so hard? Why? Why? Why?

And yet, as we look back, we can absolutely say God has been so faithful. He has planted us, sometimes very deeply, yet, He has NEVER buried us. He has carried us so many times when life just got so hard. There are many times we look back and it's just that one set of footprints in the sand because we were just to weary. And He has carried us over, and over and over.

-Brain surgery for one of our kids? He was there.

-NICU stay for another kid? He was there.

-House fire (twice)? Oh, he was definitely there.

-Death of Ayden (our sweet boy)? He was so, so good to us.

-Countless other times? He was right there with us.

And so, we move forward in complete surrender. Complete trust that He will be faithful again. He will provide more that we can ask or imagine, we believe this in the depths of our souls. He has given us such peace that we have found the right treatment for Lauren, the right land to build on, and that he will provide every last penny at the right moment. Will it be smooth sailing? Absolutely not. Will every penny be there days ahead of time so we feel ready for the bill? Nope, he will come thru at the last second and yet again, remind us how good he is. Will it be easy? Of course not.

But, it's an amazing place to be knowing and believing that God will carry us again.

Friends, he is so good, even when all feels wrong. He is so good, even if life feels upside down. He is so good, even if he feels so far away.

We can't thank you enough for your love, prayers and encouragement. We are blessed beyond measure and are just so grateful for each one of you. We appreciate any help you are able to give as we embark on this journey. Any money collected will be used for Lauren's treatment over the course of this next year and beyond. As we wrote above, we anticipate at least $20,000 this first year. Then, there will be costs on a monthly basis in addition for the medications she will need.

Thank you again for your continued support as we step boldly into this uncharted territory. May we point all our thanks and praise to him as we step forward in faith.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

A special thank you to Wendy Cheek for supporting and encouraging us to start a Go Fund Me. We so appreciate you being willing to walk alongside us and help oversee this Go Fund Me. We bless God for you.