Lyme Devastation to Divemaster
Donation protected
Hello!
In a nutshell...I promised myself that "IF" (which turned into WHEN) I came out of the bowels of Lyme disease...that changed and controlled my life for 20 years...that I was going for my Divemaster Cert!
I went from a pillar of my community...successful business owner, alive and strong...to a bag of bones unable to speak complete sentences, stand up for more than 30 sec., unable to write my name or hold a piece of paper...no reflexes or brain activity. Unable to stand light or sound, devastating depression...you get the picture.
Long story...though, I got on a plane to Costa Rica to dive into plant based medicine, and...5 years later...I am strong, a Cert. Ocean Lifeguard, Cert. RESCUE Diver and Open Ocean Marathon Swimmer. (NOT without enduring the many hazards of life in the jungle such as twice Dengue, twice Leishmaniasis and a few other goodies for good measure of character building!)
Water, the health and life of the ocean, and Marine Biology have been my driving force all of my life. Diving being my #1 passion.
During my darkest hour...while my life hung by a string...I met Luke Inman of Cortez Expeditions in La Paz Mexico. Luke struck a spark that made me knew I had much to live for and he invited me to take my Divemaster course with him...when I was ready.
I. Am. Ready!
Everything except my bank account, that is. Pretty much every dime I had and have made over the span of 20 years went to Antibiotics and/or some sort of healing modality. I have lived with little or nothing for the past 5 years, just focusing on my health and finding and re-building the Joy in my life.
It will take approx. $1300 for the course itself. $500 travel expenses, $500 housing expenses during my course time of 2 months, $1700 for equipment and then there is food and the "unexpecteds".
I am asking for $4000 to cover the basics for taking and passing this amazing course and reaching the goal of a lifetime!
I hope to take the Certification to the next level of Instructor...though, at least to be able to participate in the education of others that have no idea of what the foundation of our planet is...and offer them a broader sense of what is available for their futures. I was once a Dive Assistant for the Discovery Channel / Discovery Kids series plus a Dive Assist for the Abaco, Bahamas Scholarship Dive program to allow underprivileged kids to participate and accomplish an Open Water Dive Cert and move forward in their lives.
My goal is to create and offer the same program to children in the US and more impoverished countries...to offer them hope and options for a brilliant future.
Thank you, in advance...for helping my reach a lifetime goal...and to pass this knowledge of our oceans onto others.
In a nutshell...I promised myself that "IF" (which turned into WHEN) I came out of the bowels of Lyme disease...that changed and controlled my life for 20 years...that I was going for my Divemaster Cert!
I went from a pillar of my community...successful business owner, alive and strong...to a bag of bones unable to speak complete sentences, stand up for more than 30 sec., unable to write my name or hold a piece of paper...no reflexes or brain activity. Unable to stand light or sound, devastating depression...you get the picture.
Long story...though, I got on a plane to Costa Rica to dive into plant based medicine, and...5 years later...I am strong, a Cert. Ocean Lifeguard, Cert. RESCUE Diver and Open Ocean Marathon Swimmer. (NOT without enduring the many hazards of life in the jungle such as twice Dengue, twice Leishmaniasis and a few other goodies for good measure of character building!)
Water, the health and life of the ocean, and Marine Biology have been my driving force all of my life. Diving being my #1 passion.
During my darkest hour...while my life hung by a string...I met Luke Inman of Cortez Expeditions in La Paz Mexico. Luke struck a spark that made me knew I had much to live for and he invited me to take my Divemaster course with him...when I was ready.
I. Am. Ready!
Everything except my bank account, that is. Pretty much every dime I had and have made over the span of 20 years went to Antibiotics and/or some sort of healing modality. I have lived with little or nothing for the past 5 years, just focusing on my health and finding and re-building the Joy in my life.
It will take approx. $1300 for the course itself. $500 travel expenses, $500 housing expenses during my course time of 2 months, $1700 for equipment and then there is food and the "unexpecteds".
I am asking for $4000 to cover the basics for taking and passing this amazing course and reaching the goal of a lifetime!
I hope to take the Certification to the next level of Instructor...though, at least to be able to participate in the education of others that have no idea of what the foundation of our planet is...and offer them a broader sense of what is available for their futures. I was once a Dive Assistant for the Discovery Channel / Discovery Kids series plus a Dive Assist for the Abaco, Bahamas Scholarship Dive program to allow underprivileged kids to participate and accomplish an Open Water Dive Cert and move forward in their lives.
My goal is to create and offer the same program to children in the US and more impoverished countries...to offer them hope and options for a brilliant future.
Thank you, in advance...for helping my reach a lifetime goal...and to pass this knowledge of our oceans onto others.
Organizer
Diana Duhaime
Organizer
Bradford, VT