Diagnosed 6 Years Ago

6 years ago, on December 3rd, 2008, I was diagnosed with Late Stage Neurological Lyme disease. I was also diagnosed with at least 3 co-infections that can actually be harder to treat than the Lyme. I had been sick for 2 years before I was diagnosed but no one knew what was wrong, so I've been sick for 8 years now. I never thought that I would still be fighting this disease but I'm not giving up!! God has never left me and my story is not over. I wish I was healed by now, but no matter how long, the healing is in HIS hands! 

Plus, I've become friends with Chuck Norris because we go to the same clinic! They are such sweet people! We spent many hours praying together. We also spent many nights at the clinic with them because I needed extra care throughout the night and so did the Norris' so it was just them, my mom and I, the Norris' security guard, and one of the nurses. The clinic closes to everyone around 5 or 6 but the Norris' and I needed around the clock care so we stayed overnight some nights. 

Almost a year ago I was diagnosed with Gastropareis which means stomach paralysis. I've had 3 scopes this year to find the problems. Gastroparesis is very difficult to treat also and causes its own set of problems. I have problems with every organ from the Lyme, including my brain and heart. 

But I'm not letting any of this get me down! God is so good and faithful. As crazy as this sounds, if I had the chance to change the past 8 years, I don't know if I would. The reason why, is because I've grown so much spiritually. I've held God's promises close to my heart and His promises and hope can get you through anything. I've gotten to meet people I never would have met if I didn't have lyme, i've gotten to share my story on my blog and with people, and people on every continent, except Antarctica, read my blog. I'm able to share what God has done. If I hadn't gotten sick, I wouldn't have learned to appreciate the small things and I think I would still take things for granted. I feel like there's purpose in this pain because I'm able to help others through my blog or sometimes people will just call us to ask questions. 

Here is one of my favorite verses since I got sick and then the song is Praise You in this Storm which has always been one of my favorites since I got sick.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever" -Psalm 73:25

"I was sure by now

God that You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

'I'm with you'

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm"

Here are some pictures from my journey since being diagnosed. The caption for each pic with be under the picture 

  Voice recital as I was starting to get sick 

The day I was diagnosed at the clinic in Reno, Nevada. 

Looking so sick as they drew blood and started an IV 

You can hang your IVs on anything! 

First ER trip. They gave me a couple bags IV fluids 

Another trip to Nevada. We've been 6 or 7 times I believe 

More treatments in Nevada 

Grayson and I at the clinic 

These are our good friends Robin and Allen who are missionaries for our church. They're missionaries in Brazil. They are the one who told us about this clinic and way before I got sick, my mom went with Robin to the clinic because her husband couldn't come that time. It was such a blessing that my mom already knew about the clinic 

First PICC line. A PICC is a peripherally inserted central catheter that goes from my arm, up through my jugular vein in my neck, and then down straight into my heart. 

All of my medical supplies. This doesn't include medicines, just supplies for IVs and things 

To get out of having to clean the house , you just hook yourself up to an IV!

 

Sleep study. So many monitors 

This is what a port looks like. I had it surgically places in my chest on the right. It also goes up through the jugular and down to my heart. This is more permanent than a PICC line. 

My mom accessing my port. The port us under the skin so when it's not accessed you can shower. You access it with a needle that's an inch long. 

What it looks like accessed 

Before one of my 6 surgeries. I think this was the experimental surgery where they found an orange sized cyst, endometriosis, and acute appendicitis that didn't show up on bloodwork or scans, so he saved my life. He went with his gut telling him that something was wrong so he did emergency surgery and found those things. 

Beautiful sign some kids from church made me! 

This is supposed to be a wheelchair...kinda weird 

Going home after one of my 6 surgeries 

These are all the supplies it took to access my port. I had my port for 4 years. I had to have emergency surgery i Nevada to take it out because I had MRSA staph infection 

One of my hundreds of ER trips

 You can cook and be hooked up to an IV!

Squirt (my IV pole's name!) I mean, how boring would it be if I didn't name it??

Chuck Norris and I! 

More treatments in Nevada 

My helper for the day! I was hooked up to so many things and needed help getting around 

After a procedure to take biopsies of my stomach and esophagus and look for any problems. I've had 2 of those this year

New laser treatments that go in your vein and kill bacteria and viruses and just cleans your blood 

Im going to start a new post with more pictures.