My friend, Natasha Moodie, has been battling multiple chronic illnesses for nearly 6 years. She contracted Lyme Disease in 2014 while volunteering at a summer camp while on break from the school year.

While battling Post-Treatment Lyme Syndrome, she was exposed to an infection that induced severe structural damage in her lungs and esophagus. Natasha continued to teach and volunteer within her community of Rio Grande Valley, Texas. After 3 years of degrading health, Natasha was no longer able to care for herself and had to move in with family in Florida, August of 2017.

Doctors in both Texas and Florida were unable to effectively treat her condition, and her condition worsened over time. Finally, in January of 2019, the staff at National Jewish Health in Denver, CO took on her case. The doctors in Denver were able to diagnose her with a bacterial infection in her lungs and will be performing the first of two Pulmonary Lobectomies on Natasha beginning in April 2019.



In her own words, days before her arrival in Denver: 

I’ve been waiting years for this day to arrive and I can’t pretend to have it together. I am finally on my way to a highly ranked specialized testing and treatment facility.

Leaving Texas was heartbreaking and being in Florida is still very difficult for me. During my first year in FL, I continued to ignore God’s guidance and pushed myself in a job even more strenuous than the job I tearfully left in Texas — all to feed my pride. Spoiler alert: I did not get the beach front apartment I wanted and found myself 20lbs underweight with a rapidly growing list of issues.

Through the physical, emotional, and financial trials, I am constantly in awe of the people God has placed in my life. 

I don’t have many answers but here is what I know:

1. Illness is not a punishment and if a smirk is all I can give for a moment, that’s okay
2. I have perplexed 30+ doctors with my medical history 
3. Many doctors (and people) are confused by how well I look given the state of my health. They’ve tried to attribute it to a history of athletics, strong genes from my parents, the cosmos, etc.
4. I have a fantastic God, an incomparable support squad, and purple braids (literally!). 



Natasha has spent her life in service of others. Prior to her acceptance into the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, Natasha volunteered primarily with students with varied disabilities in education-extension summer camps, and was a mentor for underclassman with GPAs of 1.0 or less.

After graduating from UofM in 2011, she joined Americorp in Tampa. After Americorp was complete, Natasha became a high-school teacher through the Teach for America program. Natasha was accepted to Johns Hopkins University School of Education in 2015 after contracting Lyme disease, but made the decision to defer her studies in order to focus on her students and ensure their own success over her own personal desires.

Below are a few examples of her extraordinary work: 

Carrot Way Community Center, Ann Arbor, MI 
- Mentored and tutored youth in the Carrot Way Community Transitional Housing Complex

CrossOver Church, Tampa, FL 
- Taught Sunday school classes for 6 – 11 year old children

Americorp - Hillsborough Education Foundation, Tampa, FL
-Created programming for, and mentored, students at-risk of being removed or relocated to alternative education facilities

Teach for America, Rio Grande Valley, TX 
- Accepted as one of 5,000 candidates out of 47,000 applicants to teach in an urban and rural school districts across the nation
- Taught remedial summer school at Sharpstown High School for students who did not complete the 2012- 2013 school year, or students who wanted to advance in their classes in order to graduate sooner than four years
- Coached High School swimming for multiple Title I schools in Rio Grande Valley, Texas 

The Education Fund, Miami, FL
-Created and implemented post-secondary preparatory programs for Title I schools to increase college attendance and scholarship acceptance for students


Before contracting Lyme Disease, she was a swimmer at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and remains one of the best sprinters in program history. Natasha also represented Jamaica, her home country, at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. 




Outside of her work as a teacher and volunteer, Natasha is a caring daughter, devoted sister and loyal friend. She has continuously lifted me up during the most difficult times of my life and I can think of no greater honor than advocating for her now. 


Please consider helping my friend & sister, Natasha. Any donation is greatly appreciated and will be allocated to a medical fund that will directly pay for:
 
Pulmonary Lobectomy on April 24th, 2019
Pre and Post Op prescription drugs
Post Lyme Treatment Testing & Rehabilitation 
Lab tests
In-patient care

Natasha has spent her life helping others, now is our chance to help her. Please consider sharing her story and donating today. We sincerely appreciate every dollar, prayer, positive vibe, and healing thought <3 

With deep gratitude & hope,
Rachael