Dear friends, family, and community,

My name is Emma.

What many people don’t know about me is that I’ve been living with a debilitating invisible illness for over half my life now. The condition I am battling is called Chronic Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. When the infection goes undiagnosed or untreated for an extended period of time, it begins to affect many systems in the body, most commonly the nervous system, heart, brain, immune system, and joints. Symptoms are often widespread and invisible, which makes the illness difficult to recognize and even harder to explain.

Because my Lyme disease went undiagnosed for many years, and I have now been formally diagnosed for over two years, I no longer qualify for standard short-term antibiotic treatment. Instead, I require specialized, long-term care in order to have a chance at putting my illness into remission.

Looking back, I now realize my symptoms began at a very young age. As a child, even though I loved sports, school, and being active, I often dealt with joint pain in my legs, back, and arms, as well as tremors that were easy to dismiss. At the time, no one thought much of it.

As I entered my teenage years, my symptoms progressed. I began experiencing constant pain, serious gut issues, severe and paralyzing migraines, vomiting, and dizziness. I worked with a nutritionist who discovered I had over 20 food sensitivities, but after a while working together, she recognized that my case was beyond her scope and encouraged me to seek further medical help.

Around that time, at the age of 17, I experienced a life-altering medical episode. One Sunday evening while attending church, I began feeling dizzy. Within minutes, my heart rate spiked to dangerously high levels. I started fainting, and emergency medical services were called. My heart rate exceeded 200 beats per minute, and I was told I was experiencing an episode of SVT (supraventricular tachycardia). I was rushed to the hospital, where my heart rate was eventually stabilized, and I was sent home about 24 hours later. What I didn’t expect was how completely my life would change after that day.

The following mornings, I woke up unable to function normally. I couldn’t get out of bed without the room spinning. I couldn’t shower without nearly falling over. Walking up a flight of stairs caused my heart rate to spike above 160 beats per minute. Tasks that once felt simple suddenly felt impossible and draining.

I immediately started seeing a cardiologist, and after 6 months of ongoing appointments, they confirmed that even though my heart continuously reaches dangerous heights, my heart itself is structurally healthy. It became clear that something outside the heart was driving these extreme symptoms.

Since then, my life has been profoundly limited. Many life tasks that most people don’t even notice are incredibly hard for me. Things like lifting items, showering, working, climbing stairs, or being on my feet for a few hours are daily battles. I must constantly monitor my heart rate to avoid fainting or going into cardiac distress.

One of the hardest parts of all of this is that my illness is largely invisible. People often see me functioning, walking, working, showing up, and assume I’m healthy. What they don’t see, however, is the internal cost I must pay. I’ve learned how to push through severe symptoms quietly in order to survive.

After a lot of research, I found a doctor who specializes in autoimmune and complex chronic illnesses. After extensive testing, including over 30 vials of blood, I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease, along with seven co-infections, mold and heavy metal toxicity, kidney disease, and a compound homozygous MTHFR gene mutation, which significantly impairs my body’s ability to detoxify. These findings were overwhelming but also finally gave a clear understanding as to what has been happening in my body for so many years.

I have undergone one treatment so far, but due to the complexity of my illness, it was not enough. I now need to undergo multiple advanced treatments in order to have a real chance at remission. While chronic Lyme disease is often labeled “incurable,” many are able to reach remission with long-term care. I believe healing is possible, and my faith in God gives me the strength to continue fighting!

The cost of this care is significant, and insurance does not cover chronic Lyme disease treatment. The medical bills, testing, doctor visits, alternative medicine, and treatments all add up to a terrifying financial load.

This fundraiser will help cover:

    •    Comprehensive lab work and testing

    •    Doctor visits and medical supervision

    •    Stem cell therapy

    •    EBOO/Ozone therapy

    •    SOT

    •    Plasma Exchange

    •    IV therapies

As a result of chronic Lyme Disease, I now experience:

• Neurological dysfunction — including tremors, brain fog, chronic fatigue, and partial blindness in my right eye

• Autonomic and cardiac dysfunction — including POTS, sinus tachycardia, and blood pressure dysregulation

• Immune and inflammatory complications — including co-infections, kidney disease, chronic pain, and arthritis

Metabolic and detoxification impairments — including mold and heavy metal toxicity

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I am so thankful for anyone who feels led to support me in any way. I know not everyone can help financially, and I completely understand. Sharing this fundraiser or keeping me in your prayers is a big help as well! I am incredibly grateful for your support!