Support Alyssa's Need for Healthcare

I’m writing this on behalf of the love of my life, Alyssa. You probably know that she wrote a gofundme for myself a few months ago to cover the costs of seeing Dr. Goldberg and Dr. Tener. They are two incredible doctors that I have been seeing since November, who developed an intensive individualized health protocol for me that I have been following for the past 7 weeks. Building health is hard work and takes time, and I have never experienced support like this before as a patient in my 22 years of being sick. Alyssa has been following my protocol alongside me as well, in solidarity but also, she too, wants to feel better. Alyssa was planning on eventually seeing these same doctors, in time, after she saved up some money, to help manage inflammation caused from Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as debilitating fatigue. But, because we recently received some troubling lab test results, we must take action sooner. Lys works freelance as a copywriter, and is too exhausted to take on more work right now to save up for this healthcare, she is currently worked to her limit.

Her health problems didn’t start or end with a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2018, which has left both of her wrists permanently disabled. She cannot remember when she felt good last. What's heartbreaking is that Alyssa (and her mom) always knew something more was going on with her body, from breaking out in hives seemingly at random (with no known allergies), digestive issues, a history of skin rashes all throughout her life, relentless fatigue, a very irregular menstrual cycle, and more. In short, Lys has felt depleted for most of her life. We finally confirmed last week that there is more going on.

What we found out from last week’s lab tests:

As of now, a lupus diagnosis is still inconclusive. It’s a very difficult disease to diagnose, more testing will happen this week but, devastatingly, all signs are clearly pointing that way. It’s frustrating, too, that lupus is often misdiagnosed as RA at first since it is just so tricky to confirm.

Dr. Tener and Dr. Goldberg have helped regain health to countless patients with thyroid disorders, RA and lupus, and are confident they can guide Alyssa to better health through extensive testing and their biohygiene / recreation individualized program by means of immunology, epidemiology, nutritional and lifestyle changes. By these well-documented measures, Lys would avoid needing to take a synthetic form of thyroid hormone which would just cause her thyroid gland to atrophy in the long run, becoming more dependent on higher doses of medication. This would also allow her to get off the incredibly toxic immunosuppression drugs for her Rheumatoid Arthritis that are causing hepatitis in her liver and other nasty side effects. It will also ensure that she will not become further disabled from her RA. As you know, Lys is only 30 years old and shouldn’t be having to deal with any of this.

In my 22 years of being deep within the medical industrial complex, I can say that I have only gotten sicker, and I unfortunately see this happening with Lys, too. The drugs she was told would help her are actually causing severe harm and she’s now getting new diagnoses. Drugs lead to more symptoms which lead to more drugs, and this status quo is simply not good enough for my love. It’s a vicious cycle.

The other day Lys turned to me and she asked, "do you ever think, why us? Why are we the sick ones?” I replied, I think it’s more about how did we end up living in a world that allows people to become sick? The earth is sick, our food system is sick, the water is sick, our soil and air are sick and we are a reflection of previous generations choosing profit over people and care. Each year more and more people are being diagnosed with autoimmune diseases, it’s a disease of modernity. We also see more autoimmunity in the western world in the last hundred years: hyper-sterilized, industrialized, nutrient depletion, fast foods, and a deep disconnection with nature and our bodies are not sustainable for health.

All of this to say, we have finally found doctors that operate against the status quo, are focused on long-term recovery and disease reversal, and most importantly, they do not subscribe to the belief that pharmaceuticals (suppressing sick people's immune systems) help those with autoimmune disease. These doctors aren't simply covering up Lyssie's symptoms—they are figuring out the root cause of her poor health, and will create an individualized protocol for her that will guide Lys to regain her health, show her how to take care of herself for the rest of her life, and support her at every step. These are the doctors for us!

We are asking for $15,000 to help Lys feel better and get proper care from Dr Goldberg and Dr. Tener:

We cannot do with without support from you and our community. All we want is for our beautiful and brilliant Alyssa to feel better. She has truly changed my life and the love I receive from her is incredibly expansive and life-giving. She is the most special person I have ever met and I am in awe of how much she does each day while feeling so ill. The amount of care and love she puts into everything she touches is beyond beautiful to witness, and I’m grateful every single day that we have found each other. Lys has so much ahead of her, she just got a short story published in the heavy hitter No Tokens literary journal and is just about done with her first novel (and it’s a showstopper).

Despite these labs giving such terrible news, we are also relieved because now we know why she’s been feeling so awful. We have the doctors who will listen, get to the root issues, address those issues, and actually help her feel better. Her appointment is April 5th in Georgia. Lys, I love you so much! Better days ahead sweetheart <3

Thank you for your support.

Love, Izzy

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