Help Debra fight Lyme Disease
Donation protected
Hi my name Is Grace Baker. My Mum Debra O'Connell has been diagnosed with Lyme disease which some of you may or may not have heard of. This is a chronic disease that is contracted by a tick bite.
Starting around June of 2015 she started experiencing a few scary symptoms like numbness of her face and chest and nerve like pain and inflammation throughout her entire body, however she had no idea at the time that is was Lyme disease. We mangaged to find an Intergrated GP and naturopath that thought all of her symptoms sounded just like Lyme Disease and suggest testing. In July of 2016 we sent a blood test to an American lab that returned a positive result for Lyme disease and several other co infections.
My Mum and our families lives have been turned upside down. Any one who knows my beautiful Mum knows how strong and independent she is. She is the most beautiful caring person you will ever meet and always goes out of her way to help support and love her friends and family. She had gone from being the most fit and healthy woman from running 10k marathons for charity and running every day to not being able to even walk a few steps.
She had to leave her job around July of 2016 as she was progressively getting worse. Each and every day I watched my Mum struggle to do simple tasks like wash her own hair, make herself something to eat or even dress herself. She is unable to use her hands as they are so inflamed and sore, everything has become impossible for her to do on her own now. She has pain and inflammation all over her body and severely in her joints which prevents her to walk, sit down stand up and do most things. She tries to walk around the house and stretch but this is becoming so painful that most days she is bed ridden except when we have to take her to medical appointments. The Lyme disease has caused her to be anemic wich has caused severe weight loss. She has gone from 64kg and is currently 44kgs which is very scary. She eats nutritious meals that Me and Dan (her husband) cook for her, she even eats more then Dan does and he's a big guy but she's not retaining any of the nutrition due to the anemia and one of the co infections (Babesia)
So far She has tried quite a few treatments in Australia which are very hard to find. She has regular Iron transfusions at the hospital and is close to needing a blood transfusion . She was lucky enough to be prescribed antibiotis and IV antibiotics (which legally GP's are NOT able to prescribe) as well as herbal medication to treat Lyme disease. She has been doing this for the past 7 Months and has progressively gotten worse and with a second opinion from another GP he has suggested that this is not helping her at all and she is VERY SICK.
For a while now we have wanted to take her overseas to countries like Germany and America which have treatment facilities that can treat Lyme Disease, however her GP has advised that she is unfit to fly and it would be very dangerous for her to do so at this time. He has suggested a full treatment plan here in Australia to get her well and being treated overseas may be in her future plans but we need to start here first.
Her amazing husband Dan who is my step Dad (he's my Dad) stopped working full time back in September 2016 to help care for Mum. He has to try and work around my Mums medical appointments and try to find work on those days locally but hasn't had much luck. This has caused our family finiacial hardship and we have just been getting by. I myself have recently had to permanently drop 2 days at work to also help my Mum and give Dan a chance to work those days (if there is work avalible).
She has been given a new treatment plan here In Australia (locally) which is going to be quite expensive. One of the treatments envolved is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and there are only about 3 in Australia. I have listed all of the treatments she will need and their costs below.
This is where our family could really use some help. My Mum is not the type of person to ask for any help, however we know that this is our last hope to get her better again. We would be forever greatful for any donation big or small or even to just share this around Facebook would help. We thank you all so much for your kindness, understanding and generosity. The O'Connell / Baker Family xx We would also like to thank our amazing family and friends for all of their help and support so far you all know who you are.
Please see the type of treatment my Mum needs and costs involved below:
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: 60 hours= $10,200 (initial treatment)
Whole body hypothermia:
40 hours = $5000 (Initial)
16 hours follow up = $2000
Intravenous (IV) Nutrient & Vitamin Therapy= $250 per treatment est cost =$7500
Consultations, medications, walking aids, and house modifications.
If you want any further information about Lyme disease head to:
Www.lymedisease.org.au
Starting around June of 2015 she started experiencing a few scary symptoms like numbness of her face and chest and nerve like pain and inflammation throughout her entire body, however she had no idea at the time that is was Lyme disease. We mangaged to find an Intergrated GP and naturopath that thought all of her symptoms sounded just like Lyme Disease and suggest testing. In July of 2016 we sent a blood test to an American lab that returned a positive result for Lyme disease and several other co infections.
My Mum and our families lives have been turned upside down. Any one who knows my beautiful Mum knows how strong and independent she is. She is the most beautiful caring person you will ever meet and always goes out of her way to help support and love her friends and family. She had gone from being the most fit and healthy woman from running 10k marathons for charity and running every day to not being able to even walk a few steps.
She had to leave her job around July of 2016 as she was progressively getting worse. Each and every day I watched my Mum struggle to do simple tasks like wash her own hair, make herself something to eat or even dress herself. She is unable to use her hands as they are so inflamed and sore, everything has become impossible for her to do on her own now. She has pain and inflammation all over her body and severely in her joints which prevents her to walk, sit down stand up and do most things. She tries to walk around the house and stretch but this is becoming so painful that most days she is bed ridden except when we have to take her to medical appointments. The Lyme disease has caused her to be anemic wich has caused severe weight loss. She has gone from 64kg and is currently 44kgs which is very scary. She eats nutritious meals that Me and Dan (her husband) cook for her, she even eats more then Dan does and he's a big guy but she's not retaining any of the nutrition due to the anemia and one of the co infections (Babesia)
So far She has tried quite a few treatments in Australia which are very hard to find. She has regular Iron transfusions at the hospital and is close to needing a blood transfusion . She was lucky enough to be prescribed antibiotis and IV antibiotics (which legally GP's are NOT able to prescribe) as well as herbal medication to treat Lyme disease. She has been doing this for the past 7 Months and has progressively gotten worse and with a second opinion from another GP he has suggested that this is not helping her at all and she is VERY SICK.
For a while now we have wanted to take her overseas to countries like Germany and America which have treatment facilities that can treat Lyme Disease, however her GP has advised that she is unfit to fly and it would be very dangerous for her to do so at this time. He has suggested a full treatment plan here in Australia to get her well and being treated overseas may be in her future plans but we need to start here first.
Her amazing husband Dan who is my step Dad (he's my Dad) stopped working full time back in September 2016 to help care for Mum. He has to try and work around my Mums medical appointments and try to find work on those days locally but hasn't had much luck. This has caused our family finiacial hardship and we have just been getting by. I myself have recently had to permanently drop 2 days at work to also help my Mum and give Dan a chance to work those days (if there is work avalible).
She has been given a new treatment plan here In Australia (locally) which is going to be quite expensive. One of the treatments envolved is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and there are only about 3 in Australia. I have listed all of the treatments she will need and their costs below.
This is where our family could really use some help. My Mum is not the type of person to ask for any help, however we know that this is our last hope to get her better again. We would be forever greatful for any donation big or small or even to just share this around Facebook would help. We thank you all so much for your kindness, understanding and generosity. The O'Connell / Baker Family xx We would also like to thank our amazing family and friends for all of their help and support so far you all know who you are.
Please see the type of treatment my Mum needs and costs involved below:
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: 60 hours= $10,200 (initial treatment)
Whole body hypothermia:
40 hours = $5000 (Initial)
16 hours follow up = $2000
Intravenous (IV) Nutrient & Vitamin Therapy= $250 per treatment est cost =$7500
Consultations, medications, walking aids, and house modifications.
If you want any further information about Lyme disease head to:
Www.lymedisease.org.au
Organizer
Grace Baker
Organizer
Elanora QLD
