Prayers for Em
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Dear Facebook friends and family:
Question: What do Sjogren’s disease, psuedotumor cerebri, and Epstein Bar all have in common? Answer: my friend, Emily Tetrault.
I’ve known Emily for five years. Emily graduated from Colorado Christian University in May of 2015 with a degree in Biology, intending to go to med school. She’s smart, creative, intelligent, a dedicated worker …. and she needs your fervent prayers.
Em has been battling health issues for as long as she can remember. Sadly, without exaggeration, she has been given approximately 20 different diagnoses and has seen over 50 doctors in her short 24 years. We can do the math. That’s a lot of time, tears, prayers, and money. Lately things have taken a turn for the worse. Emily has been told many times before that she was living with a life-threatening condition, but now “life-threatening” has taken on a whole new meaning. I hope you will keep reading, pray, and help.
In Emily’s words:
“At the age for 16, I was diagnosed with Lupus; in a few short years it escalated into Primary Sjogren’s disease. The two are very similar, but in short both are autoimmune diseases that wreak havoc on the body. Read more about Sjogren’s here: Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation . It mimics Multiple Sclerosis mixed with Fibromyalgia, and is very, very painful. I was also diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Type III disease: a very rare connective tissue disorder. My collagen has not developed properly and is basically super stretchy. It seems harmless, but actually has high risks because blood vessels are made of connective tissue. Now I have a high risk of exploding blood vessels. Here is information if you are interested: What is Ehlers-Danlos . I have been managing these diseases for years.”
A few months ago Em started experiencing horrible headaches from….well, torment. She was seeing spots, was very dizzy, and had terrible pain behind her eyes – she couldn’t even close her eyes properly because her eye muscles hurt so much. Her head felt like a pressure cooker. Having seen a plethora of different doctors, she decided to see a neurologist because the headaches were not going away and none of the prescribed medications were working.
(again from Emily) Part 1: “After many new tests I was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. Some mechanism is telling my body to produce too much spinal fluid and I have increased intracranial pressure—no wonder my head felt like a pressure cooker. They are unsure of the cause, but it is serious. I have lost some of my vision due to pressure on the optic nerve which is raised and swollen; my optics discs have deteriorated as well. I’ve also lost some hearing from pressure in the ear canal. It is painful and hard to function through. Treatment options are limited and may include brain surgery if they can’t get the pressure down quickly.” (Information here: Pseudotumor Cerebri ).
Part 2: “While being tested for the headaches, I kept noticing that I was so fatigued. I’m talking falling back asleep at 9:00 am after a full night’s rest, and wanting to sleep another 10 hours. One of my doctors decided to run a full viral panel. She found that I have reactivated Epstein Barr, and we fear that is may be Chronic Epstein Barr - which has a high mortality rate. Here is detailed information regarding the virus: Epstein Barr . It is very tricky and requires VERY special care and attention due to the complexity of the virus. Only a handful of doctors treat it in the United States because it is rarely seen here. It has broken down some of the tissues in my sinuses to the point that I can’t breathe well out of my nose because of the massive swelling and deterioration. My nose is bloody every day - not cute! Additionally, I have had a low grade fever for almost two months which is indicative of chronic infection. It is very scary knowing something is actively replicating and destroying my good DNA in my cells. The doctor also found that I had a severely increased amount of HHV-6 antigens n my blood. This is a nasty virus that, left untreated, can cause death as well.” (Here is information should you wish to read up on it: HHV-6 Foundation ).
Part 3: “Lyme Disease. That one word sparks both intrigue and fury among so many. It is such a controversial disease due to the complex nature of the bacteria which plagues the patient. I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme back in 2014 and was treated with 4 months of antibiotics. It was tough and exhausting to say the least. Based on recent blood work it appears to be back. This disease is horrible because it is a bacterial infection that comes with many other co-infections, and burrows deep within the cells.”
Part 4: “As a result of the multiple viruses and the pressure on my brain, hormone troubles have started as well. The extra fluid and pressure in my brain caused my pituitary gland to compress and shrivel up due to the constant pressure. Naturally, the shrinking of a major gland causes problems! I am currently on hormone replacement therapy which is not without side effects and strife as well.”
As you can see, it’s been a really rough road for Em these past few months. She was married to Zach last summer, and he has been a doll. At this point, if the newlyweds were honest, they are tired, scared, but hopeful. God has been faithful during Emily’s short 24 years, and He has placed some very knowledgeable doctors in her path. However, with all of these diagnoses, the treatments are extensive, time-consuming, and costly. Epstein Barr and HHV-6 are such new diseases that insurance companies won’t cover the cost of treatment. Each one alone comes with a price tag of up to $5000.
Em: “The clinic where I will receive treatment is called TriLifeHealth . They specialize in all my previously mentioned conditions. I will receive extensive treatments in the hopes of reversing the damage that has occurred to my body. It’s been overwhelming. Which thing do you treat first?!?! I am so grateful for my Science background so I can track what all of the doctors are saying.”
Emily is normally very private about her health issues, and has never wanted them to define her. Em and I both work at Colorado Christian University. When she told me recently all that was going on, I wanted to help. I would like to humbly ask for your support as she starts her treatment plan and the various interventions. It will be long, challenging, and expensive. Please leave Emily a note and let her know that you are praying for her. If you are able to give, that would be so appreciated. She will have to miss a lot of work. However, money is not the end goal. Prayers are SO IMPORTANT! They are what will sustain Em and Zach through this—end of story. Please pray for wisdom, patience, supernatural intervention through the doctors and the treatments, and for God to remain at the forefront of their mind regardless of the situation.
New question:
What do family, friends, prayer, and financial support have in common? Answer: my friend, Emily Tetrault.
Question: What do Sjogren’s disease, psuedotumor cerebri, and Epstein Bar all have in common? Answer: my friend, Emily Tetrault.
I’ve known Emily for five years. Emily graduated from Colorado Christian University in May of 2015 with a degree in Biology, intending to go to med school. She’s smart, creative, intelligent, a dedicated worker …. and she needs your fervent prayers.
Em has been battling health issues for as long as she can remember. Sadly, without exaggeration, she has been given approximately 20 different diagnoses and has seen over 50 doctors in her short 24 years. We can do the math. That’s a lot of time, tears, prayers, and money. Lately things have taken a turn for the worse. Emily has been told many times before that she was living with a life-threatening condition, but now “life-threatening” has taken on a whole new meaning. I hope you will keep reading, pray, and help.
In Emily’s words:
“At the age for 16, I was diagnosed with Lupus; in a few short years it escalated into Primary Sjogren’s disease. The two are very similar, but in short both are autoimmune diseases that wreak havoc on the body. Read more about Sjogren’s here: Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation . It mimics Multiple Sclerosis mixed with Fibromyalgia, and is very, very painful. I was also diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Type III disease: a very rare connective tissue disorder. My collagen has not developed properly and is basically super stretchy. It seems harmless, but actually has high risks because blood vessels are made of connective tissue. Now I have a high risk of exploding blood vessels. Here is information if you are interested: What is Ehlers-Danlos . I have been managing these diseases for years.”
A few months ago Em started experiencing horrible headaches from….well, torment. She was seeing spots, was very dizzy, and had terrible pain behind her eyes – she couldn’t even close her eyes properly because her eye muscles hurt so much. Her head felt like a pressure cooker. Having seen a plethora of different doctors, she decided to see a neurologist because the headaches were not going away and none of the prescribed medications were working.
(again from Emily) Part 1: “After many new tests I was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. Some mechanism is telling my body to produce too much spinal fluid and I have increased intracranial pressure—no wonder my head felt like a pressure cooker. They are unsure of the cause, but it is serious. I have lost some of my vision due to pressure on the optic nerve which is raised and swollen; my optics discs have deteriorated as well. I’ve also lost some hearing from pressure in the ear canal. It is painful and hard to function through. Treatment options are limited and may include brain surgery if they can’t get the pressure down quickly.” (Information here: Pseudotumor Cerebri ).
Part 2: “While being tested for the headaches, I kept noticing that I was so fatigued. I’m talking falling back asleep at 9:00 am after a full night’s rest, and wanting to sleep another 10 hours. One of my doctors decided to run a full viral panel. She found that I have reactivated Epstein Barr, and we fear that is may be Chronic Epstein Barr - which has a high mortality rate. Here is detailed information regarding the virus: Epstein Barr . It is very tricky and requires VERY special care and attention due to the complexity of the virus. Only a handful of doctors treat it in the United States because it is rarely seen here. It has broken down some of the tissues in my sinuses to the point that I can’t breathe well out of my nose because of the massive swelling and deterioration. My nose is bloody every day - not cute! Additionally, I have had a low grade fever for almost two months which is indicative of chronic infection. It is very scary knowing something is actively replicating and destroying my good DNA in my cells. The doctor also found that I had a severely increased amount of HHV-6 antigens n my blood. This is a nasty virus that, left untreated, can cause death as well.” (Here is information should you wish to read up on it: HHV-6 Foundation ).
Part 3: “Lyme Disease. That one word sparks both intrigue and fury among so many. It is such a controversial disease due to the complex nature of the bacteria which plagues the patient. I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme back in 2014 and was treated with 4 months of antibiotics. It was tough and exhausting to say the least. Based on recent blood work it appears to be back. This disease is horrible because it is a bacterial infection that comes with many other co-infections, and burrows deep within the cells.”
Part 4: “As a result of the multiple viruses and the pressure on my brain, hormone troubles have started as well. The extra fluid and pressure in my brain caused my pituitary gland to compress and shrivel up due to the constant pressure. Naturally, the shrinking of a major gland causes problems! I am currently on hormone replacement therapy which is not without side effects and strife as well.”
As you can see, it’s been a really rough road for Em these past few months. She was married to Zach last summer, and he has been a doll. At this point, if the newlyweds were honest, they are tired, scared, but hopeful. God has been faithful during Emily’s short 24 years, and He has placed some very knowledgeable doctors in her path. However, with all of these diagnoses, the treatments are extensive, time-consuming, and costly. Epstein Barr and HHV-6 are such new diseases that insurance companies won’t cover the cost of treatment. Each one alone comes with a price tag of up to $5000.
Em: “The clinic where I will receive treatment is called TriLifeHealth . They specialize in all my previously mentioned conditions. I will receive extensive treatments in the hopes of reversing the damage that has occurred to my body. It’s been overwhelming. Which thing do you treat first?!?! I am so grateful for my Science background so I can track what all of the doctors are saying.”
Emily is normally very private about her health issues, and has never wanted them to define her. Em and I both work at Colorado Christian University. When she told me recently all that was going on, I wanted to help. I would like to humbly ask for your support as she starts her treatment plan and the various interventions. It will be long, challenging, and expensive. Please leave Emily a note and let her know that you are praying for her. If you are able to give, that would be so appreciated. She will have to miss a lot of work. However, money is not the end goal. Prayers are SO IMPORTANT! They are what will sustain Em and Zach through this—end of story. Please pray for wisdom, patience, supernatural intervention through the doctors and the treatments, and for God to remain at the forefront of their mind regardless of the situation.
New question:
What do family, friends, prayer, and financial support have in common? Answer: my friend, Emily Tetrault.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kerry Peterson Bleikamp
Organizer
Denver, CO
Emily Tetrault
Beneficiary