Support Matthew's Battle Against Severe Health Challenges

Help Matthew Fight Late-Stage Lyme Disease, Mold Illness, and Spinal Stenosis

Hello family, friends, and gracious readers. I am starting this fundraiser in a desperate attempt to save my life. Sharing my story and journey of how I got to this stage isn't easy, but here it is.

Two years ago, this all started with gastrointestinal symptoms that became worrisome and warranted further investigation. A specialist wasn't sure what the issue was and ordered an upper endoscopy as well as putting me on high-dose prescription antacid medications to try to calm the issue, which caused a series of stomach ailments that continue unabated.

Between August of 2022 to January of 2023, I lost over thirty-five pounds and became afflicted by heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, sinusitis, neuropathy, joint pain, severe gut issues, spinal swelling, and headaches, all indicators of what has now been confirmed as toxic levels of mold in our apartment. Adding insult to injury was a fungal infection in my gut and body. I went to several practitioners and spent hours detailing my symptoms only to be told I had mental health issues and was prescribed medications to treat only those issues. I felt defeated; the symptoms I was exhibiting became worse. It was around this time in early 2023 that people who had been following the timeline of my symptoms and decline had reached out repeatedly to say to me, 'this all sounds a lot like mold toxicity and possibly Lyme disease.'

As the symptoms worsened, I soldiered on regardless. Around June of 2023, I suddenly developed an infection in an old root canal tooth and was put on antibiotics. Fast forward to July, I suffered a leg injury at my current job and became quickly immobile and systemically inflamed. Not only did the leg injury cause pain and immobility, it appeared my entire body suffered a systemic inflammatory attack that fifteen months later continues unabated. I became aware that something was severely suppressing my immune system or causing it to overreact to inflammatory stimuli (severe joint pain and an isolated injury to the leg). There were more appointments with specialists. My neurologist just kept telling me, 'It's your neuropathy; it's really hard to say what is actually going on here,' and kept pushing medications on me. I refused to let go of the inner voice that said, 'Mold and Lyme.' In August of 2023, I believe that I was exposed to what has become dangerous levels of mold and had a severe reaction within days of exposure. The eight pounds I had somehow managed to gain suddenly fell off of me like water. Unable to breathe without effort, my heart rate became unstable, and I experienced a full-body systemic attack, forcing me to leave my job. Two months of time at home produced a mild recovery, but for financial reasons, I was forced to find a new job.

By November, I was having dental issues again, which led to more antibiotic treatment, further adding to the still undiagnosed problem. By December, I was having an extraction of the affected tooth, which caused weeks of severe pain during a slow and wrenching recovery. I kept trying to figure out why my body was reacting so severely to invasive interference. In the early months of 2024, I appeared to rebound, but by March, I was seeing a new dentist for more pain and unexplained symptoms. This time more antibiotics were administered, which did not work. It was then suggested that I have a deep gum cleaning to try to clean up the problem. What should have been no more than a week's worth of discomfort and recovery post-procedure became months of agonizing pain, requiring constant medication for relief and causing significant disability. Research was telling me 'You have Lyme disease and mold illness!' Finally, in July of 2024, I was able to acquire the funds to have myself properly tested. The results came back positive for Lyme and co-infections, as well as a positive mycotoxin test and a heavy metals test for high mercury. It would appear that for two years my body had been 'rotting' systemically. To have this validation finally was both triumphant and devastating. I knew now what I must do, but so much had been destroyed in its wake.

Which brings me to this moment...

I am seeking help, to hopefully survive and conquer this terrible disease and regain my life before it's too late. I have found a physician that I am praying is the right person to help me get this situation into some level of remission and gain back functionality. These necessary treatments, as well as the cost of supplements, medications, necessities, and yes, even bills, food, and rent, have become overwhelming and depleting to my reserves and resources. Going on as long as I have in this condition has severely depleted my reserves of strength, my body in a constantly weakened state. Recent MRIs have revealed significant stenosis of the spine, osteoarthritis, and signs of potentially crippling disc enlargement and deterioration. I have suffered severe fat loss and muscle wasting; even the act of walking is becoming increasingly difficult. An EMG has shown no clear signs of ALS, yet I'm experiencing all the symptoms of neuromuscular disease. I know the next year of my life is going to be extremely rocky even if I am able to overcome it. I'm creating this fundraiser in the hopes that others might relate to my story. I've little vanity left and have to tell my story as a last-ditch effort to survive and escape this last decade of laboring agony. If you feel that what you have read is a life you feel worthy of saving, I would be eternally grateful for whatever assistance you can offer. I am praying I will live long enough to tell a story of grace and recovery.