Hi everyone, my name is Mikayla. I'm certainly not your average 22 year old as I have been battling Chronic Lyme Disease for 10 years now. I went through a year of the "typical" LD protocol of Doxycycline as well as numerous other oral antibiotics yet nothing seemed to improve. Through that year I also found out that I had multiple co-infections of Lyme; Bartonella, Babesia, Brucella, and Chlamydia Pneumonia. Also, from my immune system being so weak I had developed severe Epstein Barr as well as bad yeast overgrowth in my blood (Candida). Aside from those bumps in the road I also have POTs (Postural Orthostatic Tremors) and PVCs (Premature Ventricular Contractions), which, have landed me in the Emergency Rooms.  I'm not one to toot my horn but I must say, I've always been pretty darn positive about my situation. I've always said, "I'm fine, things could be much worse..." Boy was I setting myself up for something else. After a year of oral antibiotics I had to have a PICC line placed. For those who don't know what this is... It is a tiny tube that gets inserted into a vein in your arm and gets threaded into the tip of your heart. This makes it much easier to administer daily IV antibiotics that I have been on for a little over 2 years now. I've been on about 5 different IV antibiotics and the only one that really seemed to make me feel the best was the Doxycycline IV. Just as I felt comfortable enough to admit I was feeling a bit better the insurance company decided to completely shut me off from this - aka stop providing any financial help to getting my life back. Lyme Disease throws you enough curve balls in life alone so you can imagine what this did to me. I soon went into a much too long downward spiral. I became severely depressed and didn't leave my room for months. I felt my world literally crumbling around me. It became so unbearable that I literally took Benadryl every 3 hours just because I couldn't stand to be awake anymore. I was fine with falling asleep and not waking back up. The pain was excruciating, but not just physically... mentally and emotionally as well. This is all still very hard for me to admit publicly as it was just a few months ago, but I feel it is important for people to know how badly this disease affects your ENTIRE body, mind, and spirit.

I finally woke up one morning and decided this was it. I've done more than enough mourning for myself and I had to do something. I began researching and talking with many other "Lymies" (love you ALL!!) and finally found what I believe is saving my life, the Windhorse Naturopathic Clinic in Brattleboro, VT. This place has begun to finally give me my life back. I met with them back in July and they believed Ozone therapy would be extremely helpful for me. Ozone therapy is a way to increase the amount of oxygen in your body. They begin by drawing out an amount of blood through my PICC line that is then added into a bag of saline. Next, they draw out this special oxygen from the ozone machine and add to the blood and saline. This is then fed back through the PICC but just before it reenters my body it also goes through a UV light to ensure it is extra clean. Right away my mom and I knew this is what we needed to do. We went balls to the wall with this... (Yes, I said balls to the wall). I began treatment the following week on July 29, 2016 and since that day I have been doing Ozone therapy 4 times a week - 2 on Thursdays and 2 on Fridays. Now typically people start off very slow because the affect Ozone has on your body is tremendous and honestly can be like Chemotherapy but with my mom starting back with work we had to hit it strong. I have been unable to drive now for almost a year due to the neurological aspect of this monster, Lyme disease. Ozone has more than knocked me on my butt, but it's a miracle how much better I am feeling from it... physically, mentally, emotionally, and definitely spiritually. The progress is very slow but this is no worry to me (as I know this is a disease that lasts a lifetime) except for the fact of how expensive it is. Insurance companies do not recognize Lyme disease as a “chronic” condition. Believe me, it makes zero sense. I have documents from multiple doctors (cardiologists, neurologists, therapists, primary care doctors, etc.) that 100% shows hard evidence that I have CHRONIC Lyme disease. People have no idea the severity Lyme can reach. Yes, if you are lucky enough to catch it early on you can complete the 14-21 days of Doxycycline and be more than fine. But if you go years on end being misdiagnosed like me, well then… good luck to you.

One Ozone treatment is $150. Multiply that times 4 + $50 for a glutathione detox which is done once weekly. Now add in the multiple homeopathic remedies I leave with in order to keep me fighting on. Those can range from $15 to over $100. These homeopathic remedies will (fingers crossed) soon begin to replace all of the antibiotics I am on. This will be a huge positive step in the right direction. Besides those costs, mom and I have to drive up to VT (2 1/2 hours one way) weekly, find a cheap motel for the night ($70 +), and then scrape some money together for something to eat; which should be gluten free and organic (I have a very restricted way overpriced diet - all for Lyme maintenance, building an immune system, and making sure I keep the yeast low in my blood). Aside the Naturopath, I also have a regular Lyme Literate Doctor (one of my angels on earth) whom is also not covered by insurance. Her appointments are $200 or more + blood work + antibiotics + other various tests (MRI's, X-RAY, CATSCAN, etc.). I also have been rushed to the ER a few times and I'm sure you can imagine how those bills are. As for maintenance, I also should be going to physical therapy to try and regain my strength but corners must be cut and this is why I am finally realizing I must ask for help. Treating Chronic Lyme disease is not something that lasts a few months. I will go through my entire life on some type of treatment. I have never been one to like the attention put on myself but I am pleading that you take a moment to read my story. I have many people, even strangers, reach out to me asking if they may send donations and this is why I created this go fund me page. ALL donations will go directly to my Lyme treatments and all that entails (appointments, medications, gas to get to treatment, healthy foods, a place to stay, etc.). I understand we all face our own struggles in life but honestly, every bit adds up.

I couldn’t begin to thank all of you for all of the overwhelming support you have shown me. Not only are you all making it possible for me to continue treatment, but also you are literally giving me my life back. All of you that read my story, “like” my story, “share” my story, and DONATE… you are all playing such a big part in making my life possible. I am forever grateful for you all and I promise to pay it back as soon as I become strong enough to stand on my feet. So much love for you all and please feel free to reach out, I’d love to hear from you… XOXO