Triple Silos- Enhanced Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Two days ago I posted on Facebook about new challenges with my health. Here is the post for those who are not on Facebook.

Friends and Family...I debated all night whether to publicly share my latest test results with you all because I absolutely do not want any sympathy. In the end, I decided to share because I made a promise that I would be transparent about my daily life living with chronic disease and I will honor that promise.

As many of you know, I have not been feeling well for many months now. My husband was able to secure me an appointment with a local leading doctor on Lyme Disease. He specializes in Lyme and co-infections and ONLY sees patients for that. Last month I had my consult with him, he examined me, and ran many, many lab tests. During the month it took to get all the labs back I continued to deteriorate health wise. Yesterday, I had my second meeting with the specialist and he shared the news that I tested positive for 6 different infections...Lyme (Borrelia), Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis, Babesia, EBV, and c. pneumonia. Each one of these infections is a serious infection on its own, but all together they are just completely destroying my health. His feeling is that I have had several tick bites over the years (some I recall) in which the ticks have infected me with one or more of these infections.

The good news is the doctor has a plan of attack to try and finally kick all these buggers out of me. It is not as easy as it sounds because of the stealth way many of these infections hide in your own cells or tissues, including my brain (which explains why I am having word retrieval issues still as well as episodes of becoming confused and disoriented.)  I will probably be in treatment for at least a year.

Unfortunately, the treatment, at least at first, will make me sicker before it will make me better. This is due to die off of the bacteria which then release toxins from their cell walls into my system. These toxins can make me very sick as my body tries to get rid of them. (Herxheimer Reaction) To complicate matters, I have a genetic mutation that does not allow my body to detox well on its own. So, the first 6-8 weeks of intense antibiotic and anti-parasitic medicines will be hell. On top of that I am bound to a very strict anti-inflammatory diet while in treatment to try and minimize inflammation in my body. If you see me and think I am losing weight, the chances are that you are correct.

To be honest, I just want to give up. I've been trying to kill these suckers for so long and they keep winning. But I won't give up because of my husband and kids. I have many things to be thankful for and I will count my blessings.

As I go into battle mode trying to make myself well again, I may disappear for a while. Body aches, headaches, nausea, exhaustion, etc. are part of the healing process so posting on the blog and on Facebook will not be a priority for me.

Please, no comments on how sorry you are. I know people don't want this for me and I am so thankful for your kindness, but the last thing I want is sympathy. I am blessed to have supportive family and friends. So many have stepped forward already to help with Brenna's graduation party because I am just not able to do it and I want the best for her. Truly, I am just sharing for awareness about the severity and longevity of tick borne diseases. PLEASE protect yourself and your kids. This summer is so very dangerous as the tick populations boomed over the winter.

If you'd like to help, prayers would be appreciated. Not only for me, but also for my family who has to see me go through this again. It is not easy on them. Thank you!

I am sharing this for two reasons...first to let you know my posting here on the blog may be sporadic. My priority right now is absolutely my health and my family, so art will be taking a back seat for a while.

 Thanks to all of those who have already reached out and offered help with my daughter's graduation party, with my twins, with meals, etc. Your kindness is humbling and appreciated. Prayers are appreciated. In the meantime, I will post here when I am able.  Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

xo


P.S.

I am still collecting donations throughout the month of May and donating a portion of the profit from the sale of my art in the month of May to NatCapLyme.org- an organization that helps with research, education, legislation, and support for those suffering and treating Lyme Disease. If you would like to help people like me and so many others who suffer daily from this disease, please visit Arts By the Bay Gallery in Havre de Grace where there are donation boxes until May 31. If you can't make it out to the gallery, please consider donating online using the following instructions.

1.  Go to NatCapLyme.org's donation page.
2.  Click on Fundraising Event in the tab section.
3.  In the Select Event for Fundraising dropdown menu choose the bottom one...Arts By the Bay Gallery Ticked Off Lyme Disease Awareness Event.
4.  Fill out the rest of the form and submit!