Mira Steuer's,Cure the Lyme Disease
Donation protected
The Steuer family has quietly been going through a life changing event for several years. After seeing many doctors and several wrong diagnosis Mira Steuer, daughter of Tom and Lynda Steuer was diagnosed with Lyme Disease this past summer.
Mira is in need of significantly more treatment due to the latent diagnosis and the additional strain it has caused her body. There is a possibility Mira can go into full remission and become symptom free but the treatment options left are very extensive and expensive. There is an IV therapy (used for cancer patients) which is extremely promising, the cost for the treatment starts at $6000.00 . There is also the use of a PEMF/Rife Ampcoil Machine which is approximately $8000.00. As with any catastrophic illness health insurance only covers so much but due to outdated CDC guidelines “Chronic Lyme” is not recognized and therefore not covered by her health insurance at all. All her doctor visits, therapies, medications, supplements, and expenses to just live day to day with all the items needed are completely out of pocket for her family and overwhelming to financially handle.
We, friends, colleagues, the Clarence School community, the Clarence Swim Club swimmers and their families would love to give Mira an opportunity for remission and possible cure to this prison she has been placed in for almost 4 years now.
We are starting this Go Fund me page with an ambitious goal of $15,000.00. This amount would allow the two new therapies to begin and also to give a month or two of help on the expenses not covered by Mira’s insurance. Tom and Lynda have given us their blessing to post this page. They have both sacrificed, as any parent would, their time and physical possessions to get Mira to this point, now a little help from friends are needed.
We appreciate you considering the Mira Steuer Lyme Disease Go Fund Me Page as one of your donations this year.
Here is some background as to what this brave young girl and her family have endured…
At age 11 Mira’s life started to change. The once active, athletic young girl started experiencing constant aches. Mira who was always active in swimming, dance, and the performing arts began to have chronic pain. Pain that just wouldn’t go away, frequent migraines, vomiting and having a hard time focusing. Heavy constant fatigue started to weigh on Mira. The family was told it was “growing pains”, “hormonal” and even “possibly in Mira’s head”. Mira continued on, trying to be a normal pre-teen. One day a suspected shoulder injury occurred during a practice at her swim club and she had to stop swimming. She went to physical therapy and an orthopedist but saw no improvement. More diagnosis came- tendonitis, hypermobility. Mira continued to coast along in pain and in silence.
Two more years passed Mira’s joints were noticeably swollen and painful, this was “not in her head”. As with any “invisible illness” it was easy for Mira to be scrutinized by other kids and unfortunately adults as well. Mira continued to move forward and try to act normal. It was difficult to act normal when you are almost bed ridden in constant pain, using a cane or walker and some days a wheel chair. Doctor after doctor visit revealed nothing. Mira started her first day at Clarence High School with a walker. More scrutiny from kids and adults. Mira’s mom kept searching and researching every symptom and possible cause. Never relenting to the medical community to keep searching what was wrong.
Finally, a diagnosis that no one saw coming, Lyme Disease and 2 co-infections. Confirmed by laboratory testing after several negative tests and a clinical diagnosis by a specialist. Mira had grown so weak and disabled by this point it was crucial the family sought experts in the field. They had to travel over 18 hours round trip to find a specialist in this field of medicine. Mira had gone undiagnosed for over 3 years. A lot of damage to her joints had obviously occurred, but Lyme can also effect the heart, brain, digestive system and more. We still do not know if she will have permanent damage. It was necessary to treat this disease as quickly as possible and unfortunately the initial curative treatment of antibiotics would not be enough. This disease had ravaged her body for 3 years.
A special diet was started; no sugar, gluten, soy, corn or dairy. Not a diet of choice for most and certainly not fun for a teenager. Antibiotics were started. Four different antibiotics around the clock. Between other specialized medicines and supplements Mira has to take over 25 different medications daily all at scheduled times. Sleep is altered daily for her to be on track. Another obstacle, but one she is bravely fighting through. Mira is also at high risk for co-infections and other complications due to having the disease for such an extended amount of time.
While this narrative is long we wanted to give more background as to what the Steuer family has been through. Thank you for reading this far and for considering coming alongside the family to help their daughter back to complete health.
Below are photos that express what Mira has lived and is living. Her bright smile is what encourages everyone around her to never give up!!!!!!
Mira is in need of significantly more treatment due to the latent diagnosis and the additional strain it has caused her body. There is a possibility Mira can go into full remission and become symptom free but the treatment options left are very extensive and expensive. There is an IV therapy (used for cancer patients) which is extremely promising, the cost for the treatment starts at $6000.00 . There is also the use of a PEMF/Rife Ampcoil Machine which is approximately $8000.00. As with any catastrophic illness health insurance only covers so much but due to outdated CDC guidelines “Chronic Lyme” is not recognized and therefore not covered by her health insurance at all. All her doctor visits, therapies, medications, supplements, and expenses to just live day to day with all the items needed are completely out of pocket for her family and overwhelming to financially handle.
We, friends, colleagues, the Clarence School community, the Clarence Swim Club swimmers and their families would love to give Mira an opportunity for remission and possible cure to this prison she has been placed in for almost 4 years now.
We are starting this Go Fund me page with an ambitious goal of $15,000.00. This amount would allow the two new therapies to begin and also to give a month or two of help on the expenses not covered by Mira’s insurance. Tom and Lynda have given us their blessing to post this page. They have both sacrificed, as any parent would, their time and physical possessions to get Mira to this point, now a little help from friends are needed.
We appreciate you considering the Mira Steuer Lyme Disease Go Fund Me Page as one of your donations this year.
Here is some background as to what this brave young girl and her family have endured…
At age 11 Mira’s life started to change. The once active, athletic young girl started experiencing constant aches. Mira who was always active in swimming, dance, and the performing arts began to have chronic pain. Pain that just wouldn’t go away, frequent migraines, vomiting and having a hard time focusing. Heavy constant fatigue started to weigh on Mira. The family was told it was “growing pains”, “hormonal” and even “possibly in Mira’s head”. Mira continued on, trying to be a normal pre-teen. One day a suspected shoulder injury occurred during a practice at her swim club and she had to stop swimming. She went to physical therapy and an orthopedist but saw no improvement. More diagnosis came- tendonitis, hypermobility. Mira continued to coast along in pain and in silence.
Two more years passed Mira’s joints were noticeably swollen and painful, this was “not in her head”. As with any “invisible illness” it was easy for Mira to be scrutinized by other kids and unfortunately adults as well. Mira continued to move forward and try to act normal. It was difficult to act normal when you are almost bed ridden in constant pain, using a cane or walker and some days a wheel chair. Doctor after doctor visit revealed nothing. Mira started her first day at Clarence High School with a walker. More scrutiny from kids and adults. Mira’s mom kept searching and researching every symptom and possible cause. Never relenting to the medical community to keep searching what was wrong.
Finally, a diagnosis that no one saw coming, Lyme Disease and 2 co-infections. Confirmed by laboratory testing after several negative tests and a clinical diagnosis by a specialist. Mira had grown so weak and disabled by this point it was crucial the family sought experts in the field. They had to travel over 18 hours round trip to find a specialist in this field of medicine. Mira had gone undiagnosed for over 3 years. A lot of damage to her joints had obviously occurred, but Lyme can also effect the heart, brain, digestive system and more. We still do not know if she will have permanent damage. It was necessary to treat this disease as quickly as possible and unfortunately the initial curative treatment of antibiotics would not be enough. This disease had ravaged her body for 3 years.
A special diet was started; no sugar, gluten, soy, corn or dairy. Not a diet of choice for most and certainly not fun for a teenager. Antibiotics were started. Four different antibiotics around the clock. Between other specialized medicines and supplements Mira has to take over 25 different medications daily all at scheduled times. Sleep is altered daily for her to be on track. Another obstacle, but one she is bravely fighting through. Mira is also at high risk for co-infections and other complications due to having the disease for such an extended amount of time.
While this narrative is long we wanted to give more background as to what the Steuer family has been through. Thank you for reading this far and for considering coming alongside the family to help their daughter back to complete health.
Below are photos that express what Mira has lived and is living. Her bright smile is what encourages everyone around her to never give up!!!!!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Valerie Killion
Organizer
Lockport, NY
Lynda Steuer
Beneficiary
