Hunting For A Cure: Lyme
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Hunting for a cure: Lyme
As hunters and outdoorsmen one of our biggest fears is not that of a bear attack, getting lost or any other completely rational fear we could have, for many it comes in the form of a tick. There are sprays, removal systems and special clothing we buy in hopes to keep those little bugs off and out of our skin. One of the biggest and nastiest diseases carried by ticks is Lyme. Lyme disease can stay dormant for years and the effect of Lyme can hit each host differently. I know that every time I leave the woods my hunting partners and myself do the mandatory tick check.
I never thought Lyme would hit my family, yet it did and it hit hard.
I’m holding this GoFund me for one reason and one reason alone because Lyme has affected my family huge this past year and half. My 17 year old niece Paige started having seizures and heart problems a year and half ago. After countless doctors and ER visits the doctors were all stumped and had no answers. Finally after advice from another family member we had Paige tested for Lyme and it came back positive. A once active heathy 16 year old had suddenly been diagnosed with neurological Lyme and her body began to fight against itself. No longer was she active but now lethargic, no longer is she eating, but she is beginning to loose weight. Her muscles weaken every day and the seizures grew worse and more violent. Still we did not know much about her type of lyme, and the other diseases that are ignored by the body because its focused on Lyme.
With little known on Lyme and Chronic Lyme there is no one treatment that helps everyone, its an evolving disease that impacts not only the unwilling host but everyone surrounded around them. I’ve struggled with what can I do, how can I make an impact, how can I bring awareness to this awful disease and my niece.
One of the hardest things is watching a family member waste away due to a disease that we don’t know much about. My sister is paying nearly $2500 a month in medical and doctor bills. Since the CDC recognizes Lyme but not chronic Lyme many of the bills cannot be covered by insurance and have to be paid outta pocket. There are specialist that are treating and testing different medications and treatments for Lyme, but again the cost of it is upwards of 40,000-70,000. There are natural routes that help manage the disease, helps lesson the symptoms, but not get rid of.
This brings me to why you are here, to help raise money to treat my niece and raise awareness for this awful disease.
As hunters and outdoorsmen one of our biggest fears is not that of a bear attack, getting lost or any other completely rational fear we could have, for many it comes in the form of a tick. There are sprays, removal systems and special clothing we buy in hopes to keep those little bugs off and out of our skin. One of the biggest and nastiest diseases carried by ticks is Lyme. Lyme disease can stay dormant for years and the effect of Lyme can hit each host differently. I know that every time I leave the woods my hunting partners and myself do the mandatory tick check.
I never thought Lyme would hit my family, yet it did and it hit hard.
I’m holding this GoFund me for one reason and one reason alone because Lyme has affected my family huge this past year and half. My 17 year old niece Paige started having seizures and heart problems a year and half ago. After countless doctors and ER visits the doctors were all stumped and had no answers. Finally after advice from another family member we had Paige tested for Lyme and it came back positive. A once active heathy 16 year old had suddenly been diagnosed with neurological Lyme and her body began to fight against itself. No longer was she active but now lethargic, no longer is she eating, but she is beginning to loose weight. Her muscles weaken every day and the seizures grew worse and more violent. Still we did not know much about her type of lyme, and the other diseases that are ignored by the body because its focused on Lyme.
With little known on Lyme and Chronic Lyme there is no one treatment that helps everyone, its an evolving disease that impacts not only the unwilling host but everyone surrounded around them. I’ve struggled with what can I do, how can I make an impact, how can I bring awareness to this awful disease and my niece.
One of the hardest things is watching a family member waste away due to a disease that we don’t know much about. My sister is paying nearly $2500 a month in medical and doctor bills. Since the CDC recognizes Lyme but not chronic Lyme many of the bills cannot be covered by insurance and have to be paid outta pocket. There are specialist that are treating and testing different medications and treatments for Lyme, but again the cost of it is upwards of 40,000-70,000. There are natural routes that help manage the disease, helps lesson the symptoms, but not get rid of.
This brings me to why you are here, to help raise money to treat my niece and raise awareness for this awful disease.
Organizer
Jeremiah Doughty
Organizer
Garden Grove, CA
