Support Devin to Fight For His Life
Devin and Ashley moved to QC Iowa 3 years ago from Greenbay WI. Devin came to study at Palmer College of Chiropractic while Ashely works full time at the bank. We celebrated their beatiful wedding a year ago!
Through Sickness and in Health
On October 18th, 2015, was Devin and Ashley Reissing’s one year wedding anniversary. At their wedding many people would jokingly say “The first year of marriage is the hardest”. Never did they foresee what the future had to hold and that they were about to face the most difficult time of their lives.
The Nightmare- Can we just wake up at Christmas?
For several years Devin’s health was declining. In 2009 at the age of 21 years old, he was diagnosed with “Rheumatoid arthritis”. As the years went on Devin grew weak, was tired all the time, had terrible stomach issues, vision loss, severe joint pain, headaches, abdominal pain and weight loss just to name a few symptoms. On July 22nd 2015, Devin was taken into urgent care. Never in that moment could anyone prepare themselves for the journey that was about to begin. That night Devin’s blood sugars were at 581. For those who are not familiar, a normal blood sugar level is 100. He was in a DKA state which is a life threatening medical emergency that occurs when your body cannot produce enough insulin. At that moment he was diagnosed with “Type 1 Diabetes”, admitted to ICU, and spent a week in the hospital.
Being diagnosed with diabetes is scary and life changing. Devin felt as if his whole world came crashing down. With the love, support, and education from family and friends Devin and his loved ones found peace; peace in knowing that diabetes is manageable, that people live long, healthy, happy lives with diabetes. He took charge and said, I will not let this beat me. For two weeks he took control of his life and managed his diabetes. The 30 plus pounds he lost, he was now gaining back, until his world came crashing down again. Devin’s ankles began to swell, his feet began to hurt and the pain then radiated up his legs. The pain from his waist down would become more excruciating every day. He described it as if his feet and legs were on fire and he had shards of glass piercing through him. Devin sought medical help and saw specialist after specialist after specialist to find…no answers. The doctors thought maybe he had peripheral nerve damage from diabetes; however nerve damage in a previously healthy young man does not seem realistic. They diagnosed him with it anyways and prescribed him a medicine that was supposed to help, but only made him spiral downhill and brought on side effects nobody deserves to live with.
Every day the pain in Devin’s legs and feet grew worse and worse. Devin was unable to eat, sleep, had terrible headaches, brain fog, chronic fatigue, and suffered from painful attacks that caused his whole body to clinch up and scream and cry in pain every minute of every day. He had lost the ability to walk and was debilitated to the point he was in a wheel chair. In September he had to do a medical withdrawal from Palmer College of Chiropractic which was so hard for him as he was only three short trimesters away from graduation. He still has been unable to return to school. To this day he continues to suffer with all of the above symptoms to different degrees at different times and maintaining, much less gaining weight remains a constant challenge. Since July, Devin has seen over 20 specialists, has had 6 emergency room visits and has been admitted to the hospital three times. His mother has completely put her life on hold to provide the 24/7 care that is needed for Devin. Unfortunately, this journey for Devin and has family and loved ones is far from over.
Answers
By the grace of God and the love and support of family and friends Devin has finally been led down a new path to answers. Through extensive testing, labs have shown five reactive bands of chronic Lyme disease and a clinical diagnosis of a co-infection called Bartonella. Lyme is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted to humans by tiny deer ticks. Devin’s lyme team thinks he has had this as far back as 2009 and every year these mutating organisms have continued to attack parts of his body. They believe that the “Rheumatoid Arthritis”, “Diabetes”, “IBS” and all other problematic health conditions have been caused from the Lyme disease. This disease is not easily treated and there is no timetable on how and when things will begin to look up.
The Financial Burden on the path to healing Lyme
Lyme disease is not widely accepted by the medical field making treatment options expensive and not covered by insurance in many situations. Not only have all of the emergency room and physician visits become overbearing financially but so have the expenses to just help Devin fight for his life. Many supplements are needed ranging from vitamins, detoxifiers, and probiotics. Also included in the expenses are special medical devices, prescriptions, travel expenses, hotel expenses, organic foods, and the treatment itself. Lyme’s treatment alone can cost thousands of dollars every month out of pocket, and Ashley and Devin also fight the expenses of being a diabetic that Devin will now be living with the rest of his life. Starting November 19th Devin will begin intravenous antibiotic therapy in St. Paul Minnesota that will require a home health nurse to visit weekly. There is no timetable on how long treatment will take as everyone is different. Please help Devin and his family continue to fight for his life.
Please HELP!!!!
I am calling out to anyone who may clicked on this link to surround Devin and Ashley with prayer and financial support to save Devin's Life! Devin and Ashley, you are not alone in this fight, we love you and are looking forward to celebrate the day when Devin is back to Palmer and finishes his last few trimesters and graduates!
-Christa
To help understand the battle of lyme disease please check out:
http://www.ilads.org/
http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/wellbeing/what-its-live-lyme-disease?cid=soc_Rodale%27s+Organic+Life+-+RodalesOrganicLife_FBPAGE_Rodale%27s+Organic+Life__
Documentary : Under Our Skin by Stephen Holden
http://www.underourskin.com/