Lyme away for the Abernathy family
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Hi! My name is Kaleigh Abernathy. I would like to share our families struggle and how lyme is affecting my whole family. I pray and ask for help. Even if it is just sharing this or adding us to your prayers we would greatly appreciate any help!
I have had late stage chronic neurological lyme disease for a long time without being diagnosed. 4.5 years ago I had a severe hemorrhage after the birth of one of my children and almost didn't live through it. But my Heavenly Father saw that I should make it and go on a very challenging journey. I didn't recover from that birth and started developing more and more symptoms. All tests came back normal ... months and months of imaging and blood work... finally after almost a year we found I had lyme disease and when I was weakened so from the hemorrhage Lyme went crazy through my ENTIRE body.
But now we know what we were fighting and could get me back to normal quick.. so we thought anyways. These thoughts were quickly dismissed as we started researching and dealing with lyme doctors. We have put in over $150k in my health expenses in that time and still have unpaid expenses.
I've seen many doctors and done so many protocols and diets and supplements. I'm what they call a complicated case. I had finally started to have some small improvements that were encouraging. I've been on bed rest or next to bed rest since that birth but had started being able to walk around our yard (slowly) a couple times a day and see the little ones play or take pictures and that was very encouraging even though it was a small improvement. We have to hire help everyday to come do all the cleaning and cooking and help with the children and that has saved a lot of stress from me and allowed my strength to get where I could walk that little bit.
Just as this encouragement was growing and taking root I received another tick bite that gave me a new dose of lyme. This new infection has set me back so much. I've been so sick my husband hasn't been able to work in 2 months and we don't know when this will get better. I've been sick enough to need an ambulance and go to the ER a different time and feel almost daily like I'll need to go to the ER any moment.
This has been extremely hard and overwhelming but on top of that we had just found out all 5 of my children have lyme as well. My now 2 year old (a surprise miracle baby that in my condition I shouldn't have been able to even conceive let alone give birth to) started having seizures around his birthday. We had lots of dr visits and testing and they couldn't find what was causing the seizures. He started having them daily. His Mri came back saying suggestive of an infection such as lyme... so we headed in that direction and yes he has lyme. We are treating him to the best of our ability and he is having improvements but still suffering. My oldest 2 daughters suffer greatly with chronic fatigue, breathing problems, and chronic pain plus many many other symptoms that doctors had not been able to find what was going on. Everything tested is fine.... well they have lyme as well. My 2 other children have it as well even though to look at them you would think they are healthy and fine but looks are deceiving. When we got one of them first examined the doctor said he must not be a complainer because if I knew how bad he was we would have been getting him treated a long time ago. He is has alot of muscular and skeletal problems and a while bunch of swollen lymph nodes showing his fight with a chronic infection. He is in a lot of pain that we didn't realize. He only expresses it when those muscles are touched. He is only 4 and in more pain than most adults. My other daughter is very similar to him with muscular and skeletal issues but also suffers from dizziness and head aches at only 8 years old. My whole family is so sick and suffering. With us completely maxed out treating me how in the world were we going to cover treating everyone was already a huge stress going through our minds then I got a new infection and got sickerand my husband not able to work.
We have had to leave home and stay with relatives. The area is a high mold area and the children are reacting but I'm reacting severely even to the point of my throat feeling like it's closing. Also the ticks are so horrible we get bit nearly daily then even come into the house. We have no idea when or if we will be able to go home and not to financially able to relocate a to a new home. Our Heavenly Father has been good to provide our needs while my husband hasn't been able to work. We are at the end of the rope and feel He wants us to ask help now.
We have been shown some clinics that look promising but it will cost many many thousands of dollars per person. One is $11k for the first 2 weeks of treatment Though the treatments sound promising we couldn't even afford the gas to get there currently. Right now we need help with the immediate bills and current supplements and doctor visits and hopefully soon able to go to one of these special clinics that could help us. My 2 year old is having to get spinal treatments every other day to help with the seizures on top of supplements and medical treatment. It adds up quickly but what we're doing has got him from daily seizures to 3- almost 6 weeks in between so he is definitely improving.
We are so over come and overwhelmed right now but still have hope. I appreciate everyone of you and whatever help you can offer. Lyme has consumed our entire life in every single aspect. I have children who can't even play because of this hateful disease. We pray so much for health and wholeness. Please join us in that prayer please.Thank you for helping us reach for some light in our dark time!
Here's an interview with me about my situation with lyme
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDQlzvq3dbjvjV93atvR_y0LB1ADuBKKT
I have had late stage chronic neurological lyme disease for a long time without being diagnosed. 4.5 years ago I had a severe hemorrhage after the birth of one of my children and almost didn't live through it. But my Heavenly Father saw that I should make it and go on a very challenging journey. I didn't recover from that birth and started developing more and more symptoms. All tests came back normal ... months and months of imaging and blood work... finally after almost a year we found I had lyme disease and when I was weakened so from the hemorrhage Lyme went crazy through my ENTIRE body.
But now we know what we were fighting and could get me back to normal quick.. so we thought anyways. These thoughts were quickly dismissed as we started researching and dealing with lyme doctors. We have put in over $150k in my health expenses in that time and still have unpaid expenses.
I've seen many doctors and done so many protocols and diets and supplements. I'm what they call a complicated case. I had finally started to have some small improvements that were encouraging. I've been on bed rest or next to bed rest since that birth but had started being able to walk around our yard (slowly) a couple times a day and see the little ones play or take pictures and that was very encouraging even though it was a small improvement. We have to hire help everyday to come do all the cleaning and cooking and help with the children and that has saved a lot of stress from me and allowed my strength to get where I could walk that little bit.
Just as this encouragement was growing and taking root I received another tick bite that gave me a new dose of lyme. This new infection has set me back so much. I've been so sick my husband hasn't been able to work in 2 months and we don't know when this will get better. I've been sick enough to need an ambulance and go to the ER a different time and feel almost daily like I'll need to go to the ER any moment.
This has been extremely hard and overwhelming but on top of that we had just found out all 5 of my children have lyme as well. My now 2 year old (a surprise miracle baby that in my condition I shouldn't have been able to even conceive let alone give birth to) started having seizures around his birthday. We had lots of dr visits and testing and they couldn't find what was causing the seizures. He started having them daily. His Mri came back saying suggestive of an infection such as lyme... so we headed in that direction and yes he has lyme. We are treating him to the best of our ability and he is having improvements but still suffering. My oldest 2 daughters suffer greatly with chronic fatigue, breathing problems, and chronic pain plus many many other symptoms that doctors had not been able to find what was going on. Everything tested is fine.... well they have lyme as well. My 2 other children have it as well even though to look at them you would think they are healthy and fine but looks are deceiving. When we got one of them first examined the doctor said he must not be a complainer because if I knew how bad he was we would have been getting him treated a long time ago. He is has alot of muscular and skeletal problems and a while bunch of swollen lymph nodes showing his fight with a chronic infection. He is in a lot of pain that we didn't realize. He only expresses it when those muscles are touched. He is only 4 and in more pain than most adults. My other daughter is very similar to him with muscular and skeletal issues but also suffers from dizziness and head aches at only 8 years old. My whole family is so sick and suffering. With us completely maxed out treating me how in the world were we going to cover treating everyone was already a huge stress going through our minds then I got a new infection and got sickerand my husband not able to work.
We have had to leave home and stay with relatives. The area is a high mold area and the children are reacting but I'm reacting severely even to the point of my throat feeling like it's closing. Also the ticks are so horrible we get bit nearly daily then even come into the house. We have no idea when or if we will be able to go home and not to financially able to relocate a to a new home. Our Heavenly Father has been good to provide our needs while my husband hasn't been able to work. We are at the end of the rope and feel He wants us to ask help now.
We have been shown some clinics that look promising but it will cost many many thousands of dollars per person. One is $11k for the first 2 weeks of treatment Though the treatments sound promising we couldn't even afford the gas to get there currently. Right now we need help with the immediate bills and current supplements and doctor visits and hopefully soon able to go to one of these special clinics that could help us. My 2 year old is having to get spinal treatments every other day to help with the seizures on top of supplements and medical treatment. It adds up quickly but what we're doing has got him from daily seizures to 3- almost 6 weeks in between so he is definitely improving.
We are so over come and overwhelmed right now but still have hope. I appreciate everyone of you and whatever help you can offer. Lyme has consumed our entire life in every single aspect. I have children who can't even play because of this hateful disease. We pray so much for health and wholeness. Please join us in that prayer please.Thank you for helping us reach for some light in our dark time!
Here's an interview with me about my situation with lyme
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDQlzvq3dbjvjV93atvR_y0LB1ADuBKKT
Organizer
Kaleigh Abernathy
Organizer
Ava, MO
