"Help Jodie (14) walk again"
Donation protected
Hi my name is Paula and my 14 year old daughter is Jodie. Jodie is a fun-loving, sports mad, courageous girl whose positive outlook on life has always been compelling. She has a huge heart and continues to see only the positives in life, despite her illness. Her strength of character and personality has helped her to cope with the last 12 months since losing all feeling and movement in her legs and being confined to a wheelchair.
Timeline of her Ailment:
In November 2017, after a basketball match, Jodie started to feel unwell. She lost all feeling in her legs, suffered unbearable pressure in her head, running very high temperatures and her speech became inaudible. She was rushed to hospital and remained there for 5 weeks. To watch our daughter undergoing test after test without any answers or solutions to her condition was heartbreaking. After a series of tests, in Ireland and Germany, she tested positive for Lyme disease. For the past 12 months, my husband, Garry and I, have met with various professionals in the medical field, along with the only infectious disease consultant in Ireland, who is treating patients with Lyme disease. Jodie’s condition has not improved despite all attempts to address it, which has been traumatic as parents to witness.
A little about Jodie:
Like many children, Jodie enjoys her sports and has been playing basketball since she was 7 years old. Before she fell ill, Jodie was selected for the North Munster U14 and South West U15 basketball teams. She has also been playing hockey since she was 5 years old and was selected on 1st Year’s Munster development squad. Jodie has a super group of friends who include her in all of their outings. However, she tires easily and takes a long time to recover from these outings. Jodie has a good sense of humour and enjoys the banter around the dinner table.
Comments such as “I like her attitude”, “super work ethic” and “a real team player” have been mentioned to us from her various coaches.
Life today:
However, Jodie’s life is very different now. She continues to have no feeling in her legs and her strength in her hands and arms is weak. She is unable to grip a pen with her fingers. She has constant pressure in her head, her concentration and retention is poor. She has a full-time special needs assistant while attending school for just a few hours each day, as her body cannot cope with much more. During this time she goes for naps to enable her to attend the next lesson. It is incredibly upsetting to think of the life Jodie had, but so inspiring to see the way she addresses her illness each day with conviction and determination.
Successful curing of the disease:
During our constant research over the past year, Garry and I have witnessed the success of other Lyme disease patients after undergoing treatment overseas. With your help we would like to offer Jodie the same opportunity to help her regain the life she had. To participate and enjoy the sports she loves, to engage in everyday activities of a 14 year old. We have contacted a leading Lyme disease specialist in New York and after reviewing Jodie’s files, he has agreed to treat Jodie. He has been successfully treating Lyme disease patients with advanced treatments that are not available in Ireland. He has drafted an 8-week program to treat Jodie’s illness, a program which will help Jodie to walk again. This will begin in January 2019.
To be with and support Jodie throughout her treatment, Garry and I wish to travel and stay close to the clinic in New York. To make all of this possible, we seek your help, however, big or small. We appreciate any of your contributions made to our Go Fund Me, ‘Help Jodie (14) walk again‘. Every donation brings Jodie one step closer to walking. Your contributions will go towards the cost of Jodie’s medical care, flights, and basic living arrangements for 8 weeks.
Thank you to all of our friends, family and colleagues for your encouragement over the last year and for giving us the strength to keep going. We know that with your support Jodie will get back her life as a normal sporty, fun-loving 14 year old and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering us.
Timeline of her Ailment:
In November 2017, after a basketball match, Jodie started to feel unwell. She lost all feeling in her legs, suffered unbearable pressure in her head, running very high temperatures and her speech became inaudible. She was rushed to hospital and remained there for 5 weeks. To watch our daughter undergoing test after test without any answers or solutions to her condition was heartbreaking. After a series of tests, in Ireland and Germany, she tested positive for Lyme disease. For the past 12 months, my husband, Garry and I, have met with various professionals in the medical field, along with the only infectious disease consultant in Ireland, who is treating patients with Lyme disease. Jodie’s condition has not improved despite all attempts to address it, which has been traumatic as parents to witness.
A little about Jodie:
Like many children, Jodie enjoys her sports and has been playing basketball since she was 7 years old. Before she fell ill, Jodie was selected for the North Munster U14 and South West U15 basketball teams. She has also been playing hockey since she was 5 years old and was selected on 1st Year’s Munster development squad. Jodie has a super group of friends who include her in all of their outings. However, she tires easily and takes a long time to recover from these outings. Jodie has a good sense of humour and enjoys the banter around the dinner table.
Comments such as “I like her attitude”, “super work ethic” and “a real team player” have been mentioned to us from her various coaches.
Life today:
However, Jodie’s life is very different now. She continues to have no feeling in her legs and her strength in her hands and arms is weak. She is unable to grip a pen with her fingers. She has constant pressure in her head, her concentration and retention is poor. She has a full-time special needs assistant while attending school for just a few hours each day, as her body cannot cope with much more. During this time she goes for naps to enable her to attend the next lesson. It is incredibly upsetting to think of the life Jodie had, but so inspiring to see the way she addresses her illness each day with conviction and determination.
Successful curing of the disease:
During our constant research over the past year, Garry and I have witnessed the success of other Lyme disease patients after undergoing treatment overseas. With your help we would like to offer Jodie the same opportunity to help her regain the life she had. To participate and enjoy the sports she loves, to engage in everyday activities of a 14 year old. We have contacted a leading Lyme disease specialist in New York and after reviewing Jodie’s files, he has agreed to treat Jodie. He has been successfully treating Lyme disease patients with advanced treatments that are not available in Ireland. He has drafted an 8-week program to treat Jodie’s illness, a program which will help Jodie to walk again. This will begin in January 2019.
To be with and support Jodie throughout her treatment, Garry and I wish to travel and stay close to the clinic in New York. To make all of this possible, we seek your help, however, big or small. We appreciate any of your contributions made to our Go Fund Me, ‘Help Jodie (14) walk again‘. Every donation brings Jodie one step closer to walking. Your contributions will go towards the cost of Jodie’s medical care, flights, and basic living arrangements for 8 weeks.
Thank you to all of our friends, family and colleagues for your encouragement over the last year and for giving us the strength to keep going. We know that with your support Jodie will get back her life as a normal sporty, fun-loving 14 year old and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering us.
Organizer
Paula Waite
Organizer
