Tiffany's Healing Journey
Donation protected
Dear Friends, Family and Supporters,
It is with a heavy and compassionate heart that I ask for your financial support, love and healing energy to be sent for Tiffany Binder who has been my dear friend for over 30 years. At this point Tiffany has been fighting Lyme disease and the complications of jaw infections and two unsuccessful surgeries for over a year and a half. She has worked with medical doctors and alternative care practitioners in Seattle, Fort Collins, Boulder and Denver during this time. Even with assistance from her immediate family and limited insurance coverage, her funds are depleted.
After a recent consult with her primary physician, the urgent priority has become treating her jaw bone infections with highly specialized surgery to be performed in Switzerland. The jaw infections are preventing her immune system from becoming strong enough to fight the Lyme disease and its co-infections. (Co-infections are other bacteria and parasites that can get transmitted by a tick bite along with Lyme bacteria.). Tiffany's co-infections are Babesia, Bartonella and Mycoplasma. These life-threatening conditions are affecting her brain, heart and nervous system.
For the next few month’s her next step is to fund a return trip to Seattle for follow-up appointments with renowned Lyme disease doctor, Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD. He has recommended that Tiffany see Dr. Ulrich Volz, Swiss Dental Solutions, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland for the jaw surgery. While she is in Seattle with Dr. Klinghardt, Tiffany will also receive IV and other treatments for one week to strengthen her immune system in preparation for the jaw surgery. Seattle appointment dates are May 9-14, 2016. (Estimated cost $8,500)
Her second step is to fund the trip to Switzerland and the surgery by Dr. Volz who has the equipment and training that allows the surgical process to go into the jaw bone (where the infection is living) and remove the infection and necrotic bone while working close to a major nerve. The surgery, recovery and post-surgery treatment time is a two-week period before traveling back home. Switzerland appointment dates are June 5 - 19, 2016. (Estimated cost $15,000)
Tiffany’s next step following the jaw surgery will be to receive treatments for her Lyme disease in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Roger Billica, MD., who has trained with Dr. Klinghardt, offers a 4-8 week daily IV treatment specifically for Lyme and its co-infections at the Tri-Life Health Clinic. (Estimated total cost for two months on-site in Fort Collins= $21,300) which includes:
2 months IV protocol - $14,500
Dr. Billica appointments estimated - $1,400
Daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 2 months - $1,600
PICC Line (peripherally inserted central catheter) surgical insertion - $3,800
Ongoing funding for medications and other treatments not covered by insurance is estimated to be $3,600 per month for five months totaling $18,000.
The necessary equipment to administer some of these treatments at home in order to save on expenses is estimated at an additional $2,800.
Total projected medical costs not covered by insurance for the described five-month protocol: $65,600.00
Any and all funds donated will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time, energy, love, consideration and donations. To make a donation through Go Fund Me, please click the “Donate Now” button.
We have created a new email address if you would like to donate directly to Tiffany; or if you have any questions or comments, please use the following email address [email redacted]
Sincerely,
Rochelle Garcia Ellis
For additional information and videos on Lyme and its debilitating effects please visit:
http://www.ilads.org/lyme/about-lyme.php or www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-videos.php
For a very descriptive and impactful trailer for a documentary on Lyme, “Under Our Skin,” click
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWgS0XLVqw&sns=em
A few words from Tiffany....
Thank you so much dear friends and family for all of your love, prayers and support over the last year and nine months. Without all of the love, I can say that I don’t think I would have made it this far. Being this sick has been devastating on every level. Before this I could have never have imagined anyone having such debilitating and extreme symptoms.
In the past, if a patient of mine would have come into my office describing all of the symptoms I have been feeling, I would have never been able to imagine or begin to understand the amount of suffering involved. The depth of suffering I have experienced, especially at night when most of my symptoms can flare up, is indescribable. I have more than ten different, very strange, excruciating symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no pain medication or anything else that can buffer these symptoms. The only thing I can do is curl up in a ball and cry until the worst passes. There have been many nights where I didn’t know if I would survive until the morning. There have been many nights where I didn’t know if I wanted to survive into the morning. Truly, without all of your love and prayers and encouragement, I KNOW that I would not be here now. I can’t express in words how incredibly grateful I am to you all for your support. It has made ALL the difference.
Recently, since I have seen Dr. Klinghardt in Seattle, I have some hope for healing. It is still going to be a long road ahead; but with my new treatment plan, I finally have some hope.
Being sick with such an incredibly ruthless disease has really opened my eyes to the amount of suffering people who are sick with Lyme’s disease experience. I have met other extremely sick people while sitting in IV clinics receiving IV’s and hearing other people’s stories. Many people have seen 10-20 different doctors before being accurately diagnosed with chronic Lyme’s disease.
It is a difficult disease to diagnose and a difficult disease to treat. Many have suffered for years before receiving the treatment they needed. Many people are sick for ten plus years or never get fully better. I always thought I had a great deal of compassion for people and my patients; but now after what I have been going through, I have a much deeper capacity.
I want to get better so badly. I want to feel better and have a life again, and I want to be well enough so that I can help others who are suffering like I am. I have been receiving quite an intensive education from going through all of this and seeing so many expert doctors and health care providers. When I am better I would like to continue to use everything I have learned to educate people and help people heal.
With love and blessings,
Tiffany
It is with a heavy and compassionate heart that I ask for your financial support, love and healing energy to be sent for Tiffany Binder who has been my dear friend for over 30 years. At this point Tiffany has been fighting Lyme disease and the complications of jaw infections and two unsuccessful surgeries for over a year and a half. She has worked with medical doctors and alternative care practitioners in Seattle, Fort Collins, Boulder and Denver during this time. Even with assistance from her immediate family and limited insurance coverage, her funds are depleted.
After a recent consult with her primary physician, the urgent priority has become treating her jaw bone infections with highly specialized surgery to be performed in Switzerland. The jaw infections are preventing her immune system from becoming strong enough to fight the Lyme disease and its co-infections. (Co-infections are other bacteria and parasites that can get transmitted by a tick bite along with Lyme bacteria.). Tiffany's co-infections are Babesia, Bartonella and Mycoplasma. These life-threatening conditions are affecting her brain, heart and nervous system.
For the next few month’s her next step is to fund a return trip to Seattle for follow-up appointments with renowned Lyme disease doctor, Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD. He has recommended that Tiffany see Dr. Ulrich Volz, Swiss Dental Solutions, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland for the jaw surgery. While she is in Seattle with Dr. Klinghardt, Tiffany will also receive IV and other treatments for one week to strengthen her immune system in preparation for the jaw surgery. Seattle appointment dates are May 9-14, 2016. (Estimated cost $8,500)
Her second step is to fund the trip to Switzerland and the surgery by Dr. Volz who has the equipment and training that allows the surgical process to go into the jaw bone (where the infection is living) and remove the infection and necrotic bone while working close to a major nerve. The surgery, recovery and post-surgery treatment time is a two-week period before traveling back home. Switzerland appointment dates are June 5 - 19, 2016. (Estimated cost $15,000)
Tiffany’s next step following the jaw surgery will be to receive treatments for her Lyme disease in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Roger Billica, MD., who has trained with Dr. Klinghardt, offers a 4-8 week daily IV treatment specifically for Lyme and its co-infections at the Tri-Life Health Clinic. (Estimated total cost for two months on-site in Fort Collins= $21,300) which includes:
2 months IV protocol - $14,500
Dr. Billica appointments estimated - $1,400
Daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 2 months - $1,600
PICC Line (peripherally inserted central catheter) surgical insertion - $3,800
Ongoing funding for medications and other treatments not covered by insurance is estimated to be $3,600 per month for five months totaling $18,000.
The necessary equipment to administer some of these treatments at home in order to save on expenses is estimated at an additional $2,800.
Total projected medical costs not covered by insurance for the described five-month protocol: $65,600.00
Any and all funds donated will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time, energy, love, consideration and donations. To make a donation through Go Fund Me, please click the “Donate Now” button.
We have created a new email address if you would like to donate directly to Tiffany; or if you have any questions or comments, please use the following email address [email redacted]
Sincerely,
Rochelle Garcia Ellis
For additional information and videos on Lyme and its debilitating effects please visit:
http://www.ilads.org/lyme/about-lyme.php or www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-videos.php
For a very descriptive and impactful trailer for a documentary on Lyme, “Under Our Skin,” click
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWgS0XLVqw&sns=em
A few words from Tiffany....
Thank you so much dear friends and family for all of your love, prayers and support over the last year and nine months. Without all of the love, I can say that I don’t think I would have made it this far. Being this sick has been devastating on every level. Before this I could have never have imagined anyone having such debilitating and extreme symptoms.
In the past, if a patient of mine would have come into my office describing all of the symptoms I have been feeling, I would have never been able to imagine or begin to understand the amount of suffering involved. The depth of suffering I have experienced, especially at night when most of my symptoms can flare up, is indescribable. I have more than ten different, very strange, excruciating symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no pain medication or anything else that can buffer these symptoms. The only thing I can do is curl up in a ball and cry until the worst passes. There have been many nights where I didn’t know if I would survive until the morning. There have been many nights where I didn’t know if I wanted to survive into the morning. Truly, without all of your love and prayers and encouragement, I KNOW that I would not be here now. I can’t express in words how incredibly grateful I am to you all for your support. It has made ALL the difference.
Recently, since I have seen Dr. Klinghardt in Seattle, I have some hope for healing. It is still going to be a long road ahead; but with my new treatment plan, I finally have some hope.
Being sick with such an incredibly ruthless disease has really opened my eyes to the amount of suffering people who are sick with Lyme’s disease experience. I have met other extremely sick people while sitting in IV clinics receiving IV’s and hearing other people’s stories. Many people have seen 10-20 different doctors before being accurately diagnosed with chronic Lyme’s disease.
It is a difficult disease to diagnose and a difficult disease to treat. Many have suffered for years before receiving the treatment they needed. Many people are sick for ten plus years or never get fully better. I always thought I had a great deal of compassion for people and my patients; but now after what I have been going through, I have a much deeper capacity.
I want to get better so badly. I want to feel better and have a life again, and I want to be well enough so that I can help others who are suffering like I am. I have been receiving quite an intensive education from going through all of this and seeing so many expert doctors and health care providers. When I am better I would like to continue to use everything I have learned to educate people and help people heal.
With love and blessings,
Tiffany
Organizer and beneficiary
Rochelle Ellis Garcia
Organizer
Colorado, CO
Tiffany Binder
Beneficiary