Tag: SonRidge Health and Healing Center

Guest Blogger, Medical

Lyme Disease Information- Diagnosis- Healing

Brandi C

 

Lyme Disease Information- Diagnosis- Healing

Lyme Disease Information- Diagnosis- Healing

My friend, Lesley Emerson, wrote about her daughter’s Lyme Disease journey a few years ago. Soon after that, we did a series of informational posts on Lyme. After the series, Callie was brave enough to write and bear her soul on this journey of illness, healing, and faith. To ensure this story is not buried amongst other blog posts, I thought I would consolidate them all.

What is Lyme Disease

What IS Lyme Disease? Borrelia: A tick-borne illness that can cause fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and a bulls-eye rash. The bulls-eye rash is only one part of Lyme Disease. There are about a billion other things that are comorbid with this disease. The bulls-eye rash is unmistakable. What starts as a tiny little bump begins to get bigger, warmer, and hard around the center. That’s when you know it is more than a typical tick bite. Seek treatment. Do not settle.

It is a corkscrew-shaped bacteria that gets all up and “screws” into place. The shape makes it incredibly hard to get rid of in the body. There is so much information on the CDC website.

I mean, look at that list above. ALS! MS! Alzheimer’s! Lupus! Bi-Polar Disorder! There are so many more. I’m so thankful for where the Lord led us.

As we followed His path, Callie was healed through non-typical methods. Step out of your box—color outside the lines. Be the patient who does not settle for a blanket diagnosis. Find the root of your illness. You can do this because you are capable and strong.

Lyme Disease Easy to Diagnose

Lyme Disease is easy to diagnose and is easy to treat. You might assume that if it were a possible cause of your illness, your medical provider would have considered that before your diagnosis, and there’s no need to discuss it now.

If Lyme Disease is easy to diagnose, why isn’t it standard practice for anyone showing signs of autoimmune illness, mental illness, autism, or other related illnesses? It’s pure and simple, and nothing shows it better than this picture of Callie administering her IV antibiotics that cost us (with insurance) $700 per week. 

Yes, we had insurance, but they paid for only the first 30 days of treatment. Thirty days is not nearly enough. Callie did this 3-4 times each day and would become very ill afterward. Our medical system has been taken over by greed, thus tying the hands of and misinforming our medical personnel.

I admired his conviction, but honestly, I cannot imagine risking my livelihood for someone I barely know. Please do not assume your doctors considered the possibility of Lyme before diagnosing you with something else.

Btw we found a much cheaper alternative, so don’t let that scare you.

Guess who has Lyme disease: Hereditary??

Hey! Guess Who Has Lyme Disease? ME!

By definition, the word hereditary means determined by genetic factors. Simply put, it can be passed down from generation to generation because Lyme is not correctly diagnosed (or misdiagnosed) or treated promptly. Lyme disease and co-infections are a generation-to-generation gift.

Although I’ve never been sick like Callie was, I know I am a carrier of this little gem because she had it. A tick can carry Lyme disease. However, Lyme is likely to be congenital.

Have you ever noticed that people in your family have similar health issues? Do you ever wonder why or think you are next in line for XY or Z? It doesn’t matter that you have had a negative test for Lyme.

Callie Had Three Negative Tests

The discouragement is real. Also, the weird and random symptoms were real. Fighting, going against the grain of society, and seeking out alternative healing methods is the key. I’m not saying that modern medicine is not something you need. It is. What I’m saying is sometimes you need more.

Lyme Disease does not travel alone. It’s important not to think chronic Lyme disease only stems from ticks. It is most often congenital and is a gift handed down from your parents.

One of the reasons it can be challenging to diagnose or be considered is because the symptoms are so broad. The signs are widespread because several co-infections go along with Lyme, and everyone has a different combo of them.

Lyme never comes alone. It always brings at least one co-infection. Your symptoms may be fatigue and pain, while another has migraines or depression. That’s because you have different co-infections.

Callie had Lyme and four co-infections. Guess who tested positive (although symptom-free) for Lyme and the same four co-infections?

My parents–yup!

Why are they symptom-free? Here’s how it works: God made you with a fully functioning immune system, and if we left it alone, it could handle all the gunk we inherited, plus things we are exposed to now.

Any number of things can give it a whack and make it limp a bit where it cannot fight at its full potential. When that happens, some of these fundamental things can pop up. Of course, we all know that the food we eat and all the junk we are doing to ourselves are a factor. Then other things can give your immune system a whack that’s just enough to be a trigger.

For Callie, it was an exposure to an insecticide (probably while playing soccer). Then she had her 6th-grade booster shots. That whacked her body just enough that she began having her first of many symptoms a month after having them. Because Lyme Disease does not travel alone, she not only Lyme but four other co-infections her body was battling.

Any Big Stressor

I’ve heard others have been in a car wreck or gone through a divorce (any significant stress). Some had gotten a flu shot, had anesthesia or had a significant health crisis. Afterward, their symptoms began.

All of those things can affect the function of your immune system letting congenital Lyme take over. Once Lyme Disease takes over and does not travel alone, other symptoms begin to emerge.

So if your family tree looks similar to the one below, there’s probably a good reason.

ALS and Lyme

ALS and Lyme Sneaky Little Bug. Lou Gehrig’s Disease is often misdiagnosed. However, the root is undiagnosed Lyme Disease. Lyme is such a sneaky little bug.

There are so many things that run comorbid with Lyme. The comorbid diagnosis is the one with the name, when Lyme gets away, undetected. Again, have your doctor do testing through Igenex. That is the key. Please, advocate for yourself if something seems off.

Sadly, it is the beast that is Lyme Disease.

This disease is horrible. A cure needs to be found. It saddens me that one little thing can cause and wreak so much havoc. So often, it is misdiagnosed, and people suffer. Needlessly. I mean, I had Lyme show up because my mom had it. We have to advocate for ourselves and our health. No one else will do it because only you know you.

where does it hurt?

So, where does it hurt? Your joints, your head, your fingertips, your back? Why are there so many symptoms of Lyme disease?

The bacteria is corkscrew-shaped and can bore into any tissue or organ in your body. How scary is that? It makes me think of something that bores into my skin or organs.

Some people have neurological issues because it is predominantly in their brain, some in their digestive tract or back, or anywhere from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes, making it difficult to diagnose just based on symptoms alone.

Testing is super easy with the Western blot test from Igenex Labs!

When your body is hurting, it is time to enlist the big guns at Igenex Labs! Igenex is the lab that has the most accurate test results. Other tests may come back as a false negative. You want to be accurate in determining whether or not you have Lyme Disease. Please be wise. Ask questions. Be an advocate for yourself. It can be challenging and intimidating, but you are your only advocate. Be loud and be heard.

Lymsomnia

Insomnia, or as Callie used to call it, Lymsomnia, is a prevalent symptom of Lyme disease.

Before treatment, insomnia kept Callie up all night, anywhere from 2-4 nights per week.

That fact adds up over several years. Erik and I took turns sitting with her so she didn’t feel alone. Sadly, this is why we have so many wrinkles, haha! Insomnia is so hard to handle. Losing sleep, restless sleep, or interrupted sleep can cause many other issues. It is a never-ending cycle. Maybe the term “Lymsomnia” should be in the dictionary.

Sleep Deprivation

Some signs that you may be struggling with sleep deprivation are memory issues and critical thinking skills. There can be mood changes, high blood pressure issues, weakened immune systems, etc. Most people blindly accept what diagnosis they are given. Then, they do as the instructions say on the bottle. But. What if it is more.

Sound Familiar?

If you are reading this and these things sound familiar, do not ask your doctor for a Lyme test. A Lyme test will likely come back negative. A negative test is one of the reasons so many people are slipping through the cracks. Also, not getting a proper diagnosis. The test most doctors use is entirely ineffective. There is one test and only one reliable lab in the country. Igenex Labs.

Crohn’s IBS Colitis Behcets

Crohn’s IBS Colitis Behcets Most of the “Lymies” I know have been told they have IBS.

IBS is “a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition you’ll need to manage long term.”

Crohn’s Disease Symptoms are “inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. Inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people.”

Colitis

Colitis Symptoms is “a chronic digestive disease characterized by inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Infection, loss of blood supply in the colon, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and invasion of the colon wall with collagen or lymphocytic white blood cells are all possible causes of an inflamed colon.”

Behcet’s

Behcet’s Symptoms are “a rare disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout your body. The disease can lead to numerous signs and symptoms that can seem unrelated at first. They can include mouth sores, eye inflammation, skin rashes and lesions, and genital sores.”

It’s on my list of medical things that have popped up. However, we’ve given it a name. Surprisingly, we did not check to find a root cause. For example, with Lyme, any muscle in your body can spasm. Also, tummy troubles and Lyme go hand in hand.

Please, be aware, ask questions, do not take NO for an answer, and advocate. You are an expert on your body, do not let anyone tell you any different.

 

Medical, Reuben Schwartz & Jake Shirk Amish Iridologist

Amish Iridology Story

Brandi C

Amish Iridology Story

Amish Iridology

Amish Iridology: A Follow-Up on Reuben Schwartz

 

I receive a significant number of inquiries regarding Amish Iridology and Reuben Schwartz. Given the continued interest, I wanted to provide an updated post. Below, you’ll find additional insights and links to previous posts for a more in-depth look at my experiences.

As always, if you have specific questions, feel free to email me at barefootfaithjourney@gmail.com. I do my best to respond promptly, but if your message lands in spam, please resend it. Life gets busy!

Introduction to Reuben Schwartz

Many years ago, a friend told me about an Amish doctor. Her husband had visited him, and they were planning a follow-up trip. She knew my husband suffered from knee pain (bone-on-bone) and offered to bring back a cream from his office to see if it would help. My husband wasn’t consistent in using it, and I let the knowledge of Reuben Schwartz slip away.

However, God had already planted that seed.

At the time, I never imagined I’d have a medically fragile child with Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome. That wasn’t exactly on my list of life goals.

Then Came My Brother

One day, I was driving home when my brother called me. He doesn’t usually call, so my first thought was that something was wrong. Instead, he had information he thought could help.

He shared what he had read and suggested a few things. Some we had tried, some we had not. Then, he mentioned an Amish man who had helped people.

That reignited the spark in my memory. I asked if he was referring to an Iridologist, and he confirmed it. Years later, the knowledge I once had was coming back to the forefront. I decided to dig deeper.

Research and Calls

I called my friend and refreshed her memory about Reuben Schwartz. She shared what she could remember. Then, I turned to the internet. I found a mix of positive and negative experiences, which is typical for anything. At this point, my son was barely walking, and we had tried numerous treatments—IVIG, Rituximab, ACTH shots, and more. We had also visited Dr. Monahan at SonRidge Health and Healing Center in St. Augustine. I had already stepped outside the conventional medical box, so why not explore this avenue too?

Visiting Reuben Schwartz

When we arrived, my GPS mistakenly took me down a driveway leading to a large house. That’s where I met Abraham, one of Reuben’s 12 children. He lives there with his wife and kids. Abraham kindly redirected us—Reuben’s office is actually the first building on the left, a newer structure.

Inside, there was a bit of paperwork to complete. Reuben didn’t know anything about my son’s condition. He doesn’t diagnose specific medical issues, as he has no exposure to the outside medical world.

The office itself is small but charming. The Amish also sell homemade bread, herbs, spices, and other items. A full-length front porch provides a peaceful waiting area.

Meeting Reuben Schwartz

Reuben is about six feet tall with a white beard and a warm smile. He smelled of melaleuca and kindness. I asked him how he became involved in Iridology, and he shared his journey.

Iridology has been practiced in his community for generations. Initially, he thought it was witchcraft, but as he witnessed people finding healing, he began studying it. The results spoke for themselves. He now believes in its effectiveness and, most importantly, he loves Jesus, which reassured my heart. One of his sons has since taken up the practice as well.

What to Expect from an Appointment

Reuben is not a medical doctor. He does not prescribe conventional medications and does not tell you to stop taking your prescriptions. Instead, he listens, offers advice on diet, and recommends herbal supplements in liquid or pill form. Everything he provides comes from natural sources.

For anything he doesn’t carry, there’s Mountain Air Herbs down the road. They are not Amish but work closely with Reuben. They can also ship herbs if needed (call 270-487-1334).

The Process

In his small office, Reuben uses a crucible and utility flashlight to examine your irises. He notes his findings on paper.

When he examined my son, he identified the same issues that had been detected in a bio-impedance scan—primarily parasites. I was amazed at the accuracy. The entire visit lasted about 15 minutes, though I stayed longer to chat.

My Personal Experience

When Reuben looked into my eyes, he knew nothing about me. Yet, here was our conversation:

Reuben: “You don’t have a uterus, do you?”

Me: “No, sir, I don’t.”

Reuben: “You still have your ovaries, don’t you?”

Me: “Yes, sir.”

He pushed back in his chair, gave me a concerned look, and hesitated before saying, “Your ovaries are angry with you.”

I burst out laughing at how serious he was. He then asked about my moods, depression, and sleep habits. He prescribed something to balance my hormones and improve my well-being.

Cost and Payment

  • Appointments with Reuben are FREE, but he has a donation box in his office. If you feel led, donations are appreciated.
  • Herbs and supplements are NOT free. They can be pricey but last a long time.
  • Some bottles are refillable. The Amish prioritize recycling, so if you return with an empty container, they will refill it instead of selling you a new bottle.
  • Mountain Air Herbs (non-Amish) offers additional supplements and takes credit cards.
  • Be prepared—the liquid supplements taste horrible! I mix them in applesauce to make them more tolerable.

How to Make an Appointment

Reuben does not have a phone, internet, or email. The only way to schedule an appointment is to write a letter. Expect a short reply with a date and time.

Mailing Address:

Reuben Schwartz
1201 Radure Rd.
Hestand, KY 42151

Hours (as of March 2018):

  • Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Saturday: 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Final Thoughts

My experience with Reuben Schwartz was enlightening. While Iridology may not be for everyone, it was an insightful addition to our journey. As always, I encourage you to do your own research, consult your physician, and make informed decisions about your health.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via email at barefootfaithjourney@gmail.com!

 

 

Medical, Reuben Schwartz & Jake Shirk Amish Iridologist

Looking Into My Eyes Amish Iridologist

Brandi C

Looking Into My Eyes Amish Iridologist

Looking Into My Eyes Amish Iridologist

On the Road Again: Back to the Amish Iridologist

In Looking Into My Eyes Amish Iridologist, I will discuss the journey where most of my family came to visit Reuben and meet Jake Shirk, his apprentice. Here we go again—back to see Dr. Reuben Schwartz, the Amish Iridologist, as he looks into my eyes once more. This time, our journey took us back to Hestand, KY. Thankfully, the trip wasn’t too long, just about four hours.

The night before, I packed H’s bag with all the essentials: pull-ups, wipes, a baggie, extra clothes, three stuffed animals, a banana, gluten-free snacks, and two movies. I also made sure the kids did their chores before bed—nothing like waking up to a mess. And, of course, everyone had to bathe. Because kids. And kids smell.

The Journey Begins

Morning came, and the kids ate quickly, got dressed, and piled into the van. Once we hit the interstate, Big Daddy took the wheel, I caught some much-needed sleep, and the kids watched a movie. A perfect setup.

Due to a ridiculous amount of road construction—and the fact that Dr. Reuben lives quite literally in the middle of nowhere—we arrived about fifteen minutes late. They were waiting on us, and I could tell it was creeping close to dinnertime. The Amish do not miss dinner.

Meeting Jake Shirk

Jake Shirk, Reuben’s apprentice, was there to help, so he took the boys to one room while I stayed with H and G. Mr. Reuben got to work. Out came his little crucible and utility flashlight as he leaned all the way into my personal space. The man smells like Melaleuca and love. I kid you not. His bright eyes, crisp clothes, white beard, and piercing blue eyes—all topped off with that warm, engaging smile. He is honest, kind, and an absolute joy to know.

The Results Are In for the Kids

G: Her “rages” stem from an unhappy left ovary. Dr. Reuben noted she had this issue before she even came to us. He also detected pneumonia scarring from before she joined our family. On top of that, her thyroid is struggling, affecting her weight and stress levels.

N: Stress, thyroid, adrenal gland issues, digestive system concerns—and he needs to drink more water!

D: Stress, digestive trouble, and potential heart issues. This one took us by surprise, but Dr. Reuben’s son even asked if heart issues ran in the family. We had to quietly explain our unique family dynamics.

J: Stress, digestive issues, not enough water—but then came the kicker: “Lay off the sodas.” We laughed. He only drinks water and milk. However, Dr. Reuben spotted pre-diabetic markers. This concerned me deeply. Ethiopians typically don’t have diabetes. He’s only twelve. We’ll be following up with his pediatrician to check his blood work. Mama is not messing around.

Big Daddy and Me

Big Daddy: Dr. Reuben asked about his joints (cue collective laughter—his knees are shot). He also nailed his thyroid issues, stress levels, lack of water intake, red meat consumption, and, of course, his heart health.

Me: When Dr. Reuben finished his assessment, he leaned back in his chair and said, “Good grief, you are under tremendous stress.” I shrugged. “I’m as good as I can be.” Then I asked what made him think I was stressed. He laughed. “Your eye is telling me you are under stress.”

I told him about the last two weeks—how every night, I either hurt, vomited, or had diarrhea. His response? Straight-up stress. He said my body needed to calm down.

The Weight of Stress

What struck me the most? Every single one of us—every child and both parents—had stress show up in our eyes. This past year has been nothing but one giant stress ball.

And I hadn’t even realized the toll it was taking on my kids.

That hit hard. As a mom, I should have seen it. I should have recognized the weight they were carrying.

It’s clear—we need a family meeting. A serious one. We may need to step back from some things. Our family’s mental health has to take priority.

Stepping Back

I know life is overwhelming right now. Seven kids. So many irons in so many fires. The anniversary of my Lady’s passing is looming. The house is in chaos because we’re painting. My living room is currently shoved into my bedroom. H is struggling at school. And a family member is breaking my heart.

I have to step back.

It’s that simple.

Now… how to do that?

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Medical, Reuben Schwartz & Jake Shirk Amish Iridologist

Amish Iridology Yes Please

Brandi C

Amish Iridology Yes Please

Amish Iridology: Yes, Please!

Just when I thought I was done thinking outside the box… I had to think again.

When you tell a mama that her baby has a progressive degenerative genetic disorder that doctors can’t explain and that there’s nothing they can do… she will think again. And again. And again.

Our first venture into “out of the box” care led us to Florida, where I met an incredible team led by a kind and Godly man. What he did was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and I was floored. Because I tend to be a woman of doubt, I had him do his work on me first. He knew nothing about me except my name, and yet, he nailed everything.

That’s when I first heard of Amish Iridology.

Amish? Yes. But an Amish Iridologist? That was a new one.

Enter Reuben Schwartz, one of the kindest men I have ever met. That day marked the beginning of healing—not just for H, but for me as well. Healing from the inside out, despite what conventional doctors had predicted.

Now, let me be clear: neither Dr. Marty Monahan at SonRidge Health and Healing Center nor Reuben Schwartz ever suggested that we abandon conventional medicine. In fact, they both stressed the importance of following the instructions of our primary doctors. Their goal was to supplement our existing treatment—to work alongside modern medicine, not against it.

That being said, if God chooses to heal us from the inside out, perhaps one day, we won’t need those other medications.

If you’re seriously interested in learning more about the treatment and care we received in Florida, please fill out the contact form, send me your questions, and I’ll get back to you.

A Journey to Kentucky

Two months later, our journey took us to a small Amish community in Kentucky, where I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Reuben Schwartz in person.

The drive was breathtaking. I’ve always held a deep appreciation for the Amish community. My father-in-law worked closely with them, as did my daddy, who has dear friends among our local Amish families. There is a simple beauty in their way of life that I deeply respect.

As I neared my destination, I overshot the turn—oops! I found myself at a farm, but in an Amish community, that’s pretty much a given. A man was tending to his garden as I pulled up, greeting me with a warm smile. I asked if he could point me toward Mr. Schwartz, and with a chuckle, he told me I had passed his place at the bottom of the hill. Then he added something unexpected: he was one of Reuben’s sons.

We struck up a lovely conversation about my children and about H. As we talked, he shared that his wife had just given birth to twins—bringing their total to nine daughters.

Nine. Daughters.

Just let that sink in for a moment.

Before I left, I asked for his name. He smiled and simply said, “Abe.” I smiled back, telling him that my son’s middle name is Abraham. I shared a little of H’s story, and that’s when he told me that his full name is Abraham as well.

One day, I’ll share the story of the promise God gave me through Abraham and why we chose that name to honor our son’s legacy. But for now, I’ll hold onto the sweet memory of a garden-side conversation with a kind Amish man named Abe.

God’s fingerprints are everywhere, if only we take the time to see them.

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Guest Blogger, Medical

Callie and Her Journey with Lyme

Brandi C

Callie and Her Journey with LymeCallie and Her Journey with Lyme

Meet and read about Callie and Her Journey with Lyme. I met her parents before she was ever a speck in their eyes. Our families were neighbors. Her mom, Lesley, and I were pregnant at the same time with the girls 🙂 It was lovely! Callie was born a couple of weeks before my daughter, V. We raised our big girls together. It has been a blessing to know this family for over 20 years. Please read the story that spurred my desire to have this Lyme Disease Series. 

I’m so proud of this young lady; her testimony is one that only God could orchestrate! If you have ANY questions, please feel free to email me at barefootfaithjourney@gmail.com, and I will personally put you in touch with Lesley, and she can share the details of how God chose an unconventional method to heal this sweet beauty of a crapola disease!

There’s No Suffering Without Glory

Callie Emerson

I’m sure if you’ve been keeping up with the Lyme series on Brandi’s blog up to this point, you know quite a bit of my story and a significant amount of information about Chronic Lyme Disease. So while my blog post is based on Lyme awareness and my battle with the disease, I’m hoping that the more incredible message will come across is that no suffering occurs in vain when it is for the glory of God.

Before I delve into all of the medical mess, I want to give a little background information to those reading this. I grew up in a Christian home, and at age seven, I knew that the Father dearly loved me, that I loved Him in return, and that I desperately wanted Jesus to rid me of my sin debt so I could spend my eternity with Him. I want to be clear that I came to know Jesus as my Savior long before I had any medical issues.

My journey with Chronic Lyme Disease

It began in sixth grade when I started to faint at completely random times. I eventually reached the point where I was fainting roughly ten times a day. My symptoms only continued to increase from there. At age 13, my knee pain was so severe that I received steroid shots in both knees and yes, shots in the knee are as awful as they sound.

As I proceeded into eighth grade, my back, shoulder, and neck pain began to develop. By the end of my eighth-grade year, my pain was so severe that I was physically incapable of opening my bottom locker. I relied on others to open my locker for me.

This following symptom, for me, is the hardest one to reflect upon. I began to experience what I now know to be “Lyme rage.” During this time, I was so unkind to my family and even to a couple of close friends. There is no exaggeration when I say that one of my family members could look at me, and I would begin to feel angry. My life was lived in a state of unjustified, uncontrollable anger.

Worst Part

The worst part is that I could feel myself getting angry, so I would try to assess why I was so mad, and even after I couldn’t find a single reason, I found myself unable to stop the anger from welling up inside of me. My family is a fantastic group of people for not only dealing with me during this time but continually showing me grace and love.

At this point, I was angry, sore, and dizzy. I continued, and my symptoms grew worse, and I continued to be given misdiagnoses and pills. Luckily I have an awesome mom who went above and beyond for four years, ignoring ten misinformed doctors to find the only Chronic Lyme Disease expert in the area. We saw this doctor sometime around my sophomore year of high school. I’m not sure if anyone picked up on this idea from my mom’s post, but

GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT

Right before we discovered this doctor, I went to church camp. While I know, it’s super cheesy, going to camp allowed me a much-needed break from distractions and to learn what it meant to be a Christian. You probably think that you haven’t heard much about my walk with Christ until now, and you’re right. That’s because, at age seven, most of us aren’t dwelling in sin that requires us to make an extreme life change. I made no changes as the years passed, and my spiritual growth was stagnant.

Fortunately, attending camp allowed the Spirit to convict me while I wasn’t distracted by soccer, school, or being sick. I became aware that I behaved well and made good choices because I have strict parents, and that’s how they raised me to act, not because I was trying to live a life worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).

My eyes were opened to what being a Christian entailed, and believing that He had a plan for my illness. Until then, when I asked, I would half-heartedly respond that God had a plan for it. After learning what it meant to follow and pursue Christ, I could finally fully grasp the concept that I was enduring this trial for a purpose.

God had a Plan for Me.

God blessed me by allowing me to understand that He had a plan for this illness right before I entered the most challenging time in my life. I can never communicate how gracious He is for doing so, enabling me to rely on Him wholly during this time. My physical difficulties began when I started taking some powerful oral antibiotics to fight off the Lyme. I reached the point where I was taking roughly 15 pills a day.

During Lyme treatment with antibiotics, your body can respond in weird ways, and often you have to go through phases of feeling worse before you can feel any better. I would wake up for school in the morning and be unable to sit up. I’m not exaggerating when I say I couldn’t move. There would be days that I would make it to school, but I would be sitting at my desk, and I would be in so much pain that I would be on the verge of tears or would be unable to hold my head up without using my hands because of how badly my neck hurt.

Because of how many pills I was taking and how potent the drugs were, I struggled to keep anything down. I threw up almost daily-which defeated the purpose of taking the medications. Because I couldn’t keep all the tablets down, my doctor decided to pursue a different route.

PICC Line Life

At this point in my life, I got two PICC lines. PICC lines are inserted into your arm and run through your vein, all the way to your heart. PICC lines allow IV medicine to be dropped directly into your heart. The PICC line is used because it can reach your entire body much faster. As much fun as this sounds, the whole process can become twice as great as my body begins responding to the medicine.

Random parts of my body would go numb, as much as one entire side of my body would lose all feeling. I would also start shaking uncontrollably. At this point, Lyme’s rage was taken over by random crying. I am completely serious when I say that I would be bawling, but telling my parents that I wasn’t sure why I was crying.

While switching to IV antibiotics prevented me from throwing up medicine, the antibiotics were still so strong that I continued to get sick regularly. During the rough times, I typically ran a fever of 103°F. The physical turmoil the antibiotics put me through left me overly weak. I had to sleep on an air mattress in our living room because it was too difficult for me to walk from my room to the bathroom. My mom even had to sleep next to me on the couch because it was unsafe for me to be left alone all night. Because of this, I missed 50 days of school from August to December of my senior year.

Patterns with My Body’s Response

During this time, we noticed a pattern in my body’s response to antibiotics. After about two weeks, I would become allergic and need to switch medicines. These allergies happened with roughly five different medications. Eventually, I ran out of possible drugs to use to treat Lyme. While contemplating our PICC line options, my PICC line got clogged.

For PICC line users, clogs, infections, and blood clots will force you to remove your line…so at the time, this clog was a big deal. We were able to go to the ER and have it unclogged. In hindsight, the clog was likely God’s kind way of telling me to take it out.

So naturally, my perception skills were not up to par, and I missed this, even after five failed medications and a clog. The night I got my PICC line unclogged, I got a blood clot. That blood clot sent me to the hospital for a week. The PICC line was removed. My mom and I had no idea what type of treatment to pursue next. We felt as if we had exhausted all of our options.

After a Lot of Prayers

God led us to a small homeopathic clinic. This clinic is about 12 hours away from our home in western Kentucky. I will not delve into the details of the treatment that I received. You can obtain that information by contacting my mom if you are interested. I will tell you that after only three days, I felt better than I had in years. Total healing continues for several years after the initial treatment. Two years later, I am still continually improving and adjusting to life as a healthy college student.

Reasonably often, well-meaning friends will ask about my experience with Lyme and say, “Oh my goodness, that’s terrible! I bet you wish you had found that homeopathic clinic sooner.” Or, “I bet you wish you could erase that from your past.” My answer is always no. I don’t answer this way because I am trying to get attention. There is no desire to appear more “religious.” I answer the way I do because I would be vastly different without this season in my life.

This Time of Suffering and Trial

This time of suffering and trial made it clear that God was directing me toward a specific profession. This profession will continue to carry out His will. How many 18-year-olds confidently say they know what job they want to pursue? I cannot stress enough how pivotal this illness has played in my life. It did this by shaping me into who I am today. More importantly, it has firmly rooted my relationship with Jesus.

I’ve thought about my walk with Christ without those six years. Every time I feel the same thing: thank goodness I was sick. God was able to use something so dark in this illness to shed light on my life. He used Lyme Disease to draw me near to Himself.

While I was awakened to the profession, I needed to pursue it to bring Him glory. My time of sickness allowed me to see how I could use this experience. This experience can be used to glorify Him and bring healing to others. All this can be done before I’ve attended graduate school. These are the reasons why I agreed to write this for Brandi’s blog.

God has used my mom and me to share healing personally. We have also been able to share the gospel with over 300 people. Countries include the US, Canada, and Norway. I want you to come away from this post with new knowledge about Chronic Lyme Disease. Hardships you encounter can be used to bring God glory. It can also reveal a purpose for your life that is far beyond what you could have ever conceived.

Guest Blogger, Medical

Welcome My Newest Guest Blogger Lesley

Brandi C

Welcome My Newest Guest Blogger Lesley

Welcome, My Newest Guest Blogger Lesley. Les and I have been friends for an eternity. We met moons ago in church, then moved into her neighborhood and became her neighbor. We were pregnant with our oldest girls together. Those sweet girls are now 20! A story of a mama who didn’t give up on her girl or God. I’m excited to be a platform for her and their powerful message! Maybe, just maybe, I can get Callie to write her story out, too. We shall see! Just watch what FAITH and DETERMINATION can do!

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So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

I remember hearing God speak to me, through my prayer time, about my daughter. I was so very guilty of half-heartedly praying for each of my children. For my children, prayers are for protection and to grow in grace. These are all the things a “good Christian Mom” begs. I did this each day for my children. Like us all, I was going through the motions. Thankfully, God is who He is and still chose that time to speak to ole ½ effort me.

For a solid month, I was able to pray for both my boys. Amazingly enough, when I would begin to pray for my daughter, Callie, God would speak over me. I know many looks for ways that God is speaking to us. Believe me; I would rather have the less direct approach. My Father knows me well, though. He intended for me to listen. As I struggled to pray daily for Callie, He would speak over me and say, “Heal her.”

Hearing His Voice Clearly

Those were His only words. They told me we, as a family, would face a season. Also, He would, in the end, heal her. Honestly, this wasn’t the first time I audibly heard His voice. I didn’t doubt those words were His. However, I did wonder how He could be so confused. Honestly, Callie was a healthy 12-year-old.

She had never been sick. Seriously, even as a small child. She played soccer to the point that I was exhausted just driving her around. There were many different teams and commitments. Nonetheless, His words were clear. So, I stood tearfully in front of my husband, Erik. I told him to prepare that God had told me Callie was sick.

Two weeks later, her first symptom began.

Callie began fainting in her first year of middle school. Seriously, as if that year isn’t awkward enough. She fainted up to ten times each day. We felt pretty confident in the initial diagnosis. A cardiologist diagnosed her at Kosair’s Children’s Hospital. He said his daughter had the same issue. That during stressful times, she would faint. He even said to expect her to faint on her wedding day. There was nothing to do but continue with life.

He claimed it was a dip in blood pressure. This was because Callie was an athlete. Her BP was already low, so it didn’t have far to drop. He’s a pediatric cardiologist, and his daughter also has this. He knows and has certainly checked this all out, right? A pediatric neurologist at Vanderbilt and a host of other doctors agreed with his diagnosis. So we went on with life with the occasional flops onto the floor.

Every season there is a new symptom of Lyme disease

Each year Callie added a new sign and became sicker. In 7th grade, she began having knee trouble. She couldn’t bend to open her locker. Thankfully, all her sweet friends did that for her. Multiple trips to her orthopedic doctor and several knee steroid shots didn’t find a solution.

She played soccer with two knee braces. Also, she fainted while on the field. We left the area with ice packs all over her legs. She was the definition of a total mess! Fortunately, fainting on the field to many just looked like the most awkward trip in the world. Anyone that knows Callie knows she is fully capable of the most uncomfortable travel in the world. So it was very believable.

Feelings of Judgment

We often felt judged by other parents for allowing her to continue to play. Still, we knew mentally we could not take that from her, and now in hindsight staying physically active was what likely saved her and kept her from becoming bedridden.

Before leaving middle school, she added extreme fatigue to the daily list of things affecting her. I would pick her up from school, and she would fall asleep in the car before we could even pull out of the parking lot. Her moods confused us because her nature is typically very kind and grace-filled. Often she would get furious over minor things and look embarrassed at herself for acting so over the top. We wrote it off as teenage girl hormones, but it was Lyme rage.

Getting Sicker

Sadly, there were more doctors, tests, and no answers as to why she continued getting sicker. All her blood work for every test came back perfect, and each doctor would say, wow, she’s too young and healthy to have so many diseases, but they offered no answers, only pills, and more pills. I remember at 14 from one doctor, and she was given medicines for pain, muscle cramps, and sleeping aids, none of which we chose to fill. We were not going down that path.

Homeopathic

I knew a more natural approach had to be our route. Still, I honestly didn’t trust natural doctors or natural medicine, and I certainly did not have much faith in my ability to decide if they were legit or crazy. Looking back now, I think my prayer was ½ hearted because I thought what I was asking for didn’t exist. I asked God to send us an MD that was also a homeopathic doctor. That couldn’t exist. They are so different in their approach that there can’t possibly be a doctor who is both. Oh, yea (Lesley) of little faith!

Two weeks after I began my prayer, a sweet friend from high school made a Facebook post about her new job. I clicked on her link to see where she’d be working, and it was in the office of an MD that was also a homeopathic doc! God, you are so good!

He is Relentless

God also began relentlessly placing the word Lyme in front of my face. I sat up many nights reading as I had for the first four years, trying to find anything we could be overlooking to help Callie. As I read, all things pointed to Lyme disease. At this point, she had three negative Lyme tests on her records. How on earth could it be Lyme? I don’t remember her being bitten. She was never sick. It couldn’t be Lyme. 

Truly the hand of God

Not only did God send via Facebook of all ways a doctor I could trust because he had a familiar to me traditional medical approach, but he also happened to be the one Lyme literate MD in our area! There was only a handful of them, but we had one nearby, and he was the very doctor I had asked God to help me find. God’s provision was beyond what I knew to ask for in prayer!

At 16, Callie was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme disease, just what God had been revealing to me and preparing us for weeks.

Two years in the desert 

Jesus often taught through examples, and the best tool is a non-example. My Mom’s heart hurts when I think about Callie’s two years of treatments (from 16-18) because now I know it is an example of how not to treat Lyme. I am not sure I could have done what she did. That tenacious spirit almost killed us when she was a preschool kid drove her through this time. I never once heard her ask, “why me?”

So Much Pain

From 16-18, we aggressively treated Callie’s Lyme disease with high doses of antibiotics. She took 14 pills daily, fought to keep them and any food she could manage to get in, and continued to do everything asked. Many days she could not get out of bed at all. Her body would go numb, or the pain would be too much. Sometimes she would have to leave school because her neck and back pain had become unbearable. Insomnia was also a big issue, or as Callie called it, Lymsomia. Many days she wouldn’t fall asleep until 3 or 4 am, and then we would drag her out for school because if she could move, she had to go.

Support System

Her teachers were beyond gracious, and the school system could have easily made her go on homebound, but she took all advanced/AP courses, so we felt if she could get one day in class per week, then that was better than having to self-teach herself all of the material. She barely attended high school, yet she kept all A’s and pushed herself with the promise that God would heal her and the hope that she would be a college soccer player driving her.

One of the biggest hurdles to get through with this treatment was to keep all the pills down. Callie felt nauseated 24/7 and threw up every single day. Many days she only ate popsicles because that was all she could keep down. Because this was an issue, Callie had to get two IV PICC lines to receive her doses of antibiotics. So around the clock, she got up, flushed her lines, and started her IV medications every six hours.

Trudging Through

I am still not sure how she did this using only one hand, but that is her spirit in a nutshell. The medications were much harsher this way and often caused horrible side effects. Eventually, one by one, her body rejected each of these meds until we reached the point that all antibiotics that could kill Lyme bacteria were now not an option because her body had rejected them all.

Deepest of Valleys

I’ve never felt the valley so profoundly. I tried my best to keep a positive spirit around Callie. I often encouraged her that God told me he would heal her. Sadly, deep down, I am human. I was full of fear she could not be cured. I knew the one source of fear, but it swallowed me. I had become her doctor and researcher over the past six years, and I thought I had to find the solution. Too many I’s in my sentence. Right!

Sometimes being faithful means going through the motions, and you must step forward in faith even when you are overcome by fear and doubt. God’s plan is always better for us than our own, and Callie and God were about to remind me that!

God’s plan revealed

Lymies clump together. Clump together to compare notes on meds, things that are working, or what on their body has gone south since the last time we saw each other. When you see another Lymie out, you are just drawn to them for a hug because you are the only people that understand just how hard it is to be that sick.

During one particular Lymie clump in Kroger, a friend we had been able to help get appropriately diagnosed shared a different type of treatment with us. It was new to us and sounded completely crazy, but what did we have to lose? We went for it! After four years of misdiagnosis and two years of harsh treatments in three days, Callie’s Lyme was gone. The Lyme was not just a little gone but GONE! This is how God has planned to heal her!

Why so long?

It is easy to wonder why God didn’t put this treatment in our path years ago. Like Kevin Bacon’s six degrees, this answer was only one degree away! The person who had successfully had this treatment lived in my hometown of Benton and was my gym teacher growing up and friends with my Mom! I’m not even sure she counts as a full degree away from us.

God’s Timing

God’s examples are sometimes non-examples, so we can share what not to do. We can share a bad experience and use it as a teachable moment for others we help along the way. God’s timing is often so we can grow and see his full majesty in the process. His glory is often better when it is revealed slowly, and we can fully appreciate God’s awesomeness.

God’s timing is so that we may be polished. Before this season, Callie was the shyest and most backward kiddo. She was a happy girl if she could go a day with no attention. This fire has transformed her to be a bold servant of God. She still doesn’t want you to look at her much, but she boldly serves even where it’s not comfortable or cool.

God’s word is true. When he speaks, what he has told us in his word is all true. There is no maybe with God. Rest in Him in the valley and wait on him.

The Bad Guys

I try hard not to come across as the crazy conspiracy lady. I do-haha! I do so for myself and those we try to help. If I sit and think about how long Callie suffered and unnecessary it is, I can turn into a crazed Momma bear. But, Momma bear mode doesn’t accomplish anything and turns my spirit into something less than what God wants me to be, which affects my witness and my ability to help others.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is the American Medical Association, and the CDC are both working against us. They continue to approve the wrong test for Lyme which, unless a tick bit you yesterday, will come back negative, and even then, it throws a false negative 50% of the time. Our doctors are not told about the Western Blot test through Igenex labs, which isn’t flawless, but it is the best we currently have. Some labs have even started calling their test the Western Blot test, which must be illegal. I’m not a lawyer, but I may have to make that my next research project-ha!

AMA

The AMA will not allow doctors to treat patients on long-term antibiotics beyond a month for Lyme disease. OHHHHH, but you can be on antibiotics for years to treat acne, so that makes perfect sense! Doctors’ hands are tied. They cannot risk their license to treat it, so why test properly? Lyme docs are watched closely by the AMA and even their fellow doctors and live knowing they are at risk. If you don’t believe me check out a Lyme page on Facebook. No one will say the name of their doctors. They are protecting them.

Proper Diagnosis

Because the AMA will not allow treatment beyond 30 days, insurance will only pay for 30 days, so many Lymies cannot afford their meds. At one point, we were paying $700 per week out of pocket because our insurance wouldn’t pay for treatment. Sadly many Lyme patients eventually run out of money, are too sick to work, and die from Lyme. Everything works against you to get properly diagnosed, and you must take it into your own hands. Don’t be afraid. You can do it!

Where We Are Now

Callie is now a healthy and active 20-year-old enjoying college, and yes, she did reach that dream of attaining a scholarship to play college soccer. Her favorite verse to share when she speaks of this season in her life is 1 Peter 4:13.

But rejoice since you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.