Andi's Lyme Light

CURTAIN TIME FOR ANDI'S LYME

This is Andi. She’s one of Australia’s most generous and talented performers, not to mention a unique soul with that rare ability to make people laugh and cry and help them feel a whole lot better about themselves. Unfortunately, Andi is also suffering from chronic Lyme disease – and after nineteen months of debilitating symptoms she needs our help to bust the Lyme and get her back in her prime.

What is chronic Lyme Disease?

Like most wonderful human beings, Andi is humble and doesn’t enjoy making a fuss – but she’s out of options. You see, Lyme is a cruel and extremely misunderstood medical condition in Australia. It’s caused by the bacteria ‘borrelia’ and is known as “the great imitator” for the way it mimics other conditions such as chronic fatigue, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Lupus. It’s most commonly associated with a tick bite, though many Lyme patients cannot recall a bite.

Ironically, it turns out chronic Lyme disease is a versatile performer itself, that inflicts a range of cycling symptoms on the sufferer, affecting all parts of their body including - but not limited to - the brain, the heart and the central nervous system. Andi has symptoms 24/7 to varying degrees of intensity.

“Having Lyme feels like being in some sort of dystopian film with David Lynch twists and Michael Moore politics. You’re the character who wakes up in the same world but with a new identity which has been injected into you by an alien robot. You’re a warped version of yourself where suddenly, your body starts folding in on itself, with each function becoming more and more unstable. And yet, it plays Russian roulette with you; one day you’re deceived into thinking it’s not so intense, but the next you feel like you’re dying. And all the while you look normal to the outside world.” – Andi

As with many Lyme patients, it’s taken a long time for Andi to get the correct diagnosis. Months when she often couldn’t work to support herself. It continues to be a difficult and painful journey that takes a huge physical and emotional toll on a positive and warm human being. To cap it all off - Andi has also discovered that adequate research, testing and treatment of Lyme is extremely lacking in Australia – and not covered by our Health Care System.

“In the fullness of time, the mainstream handling of Chronic Lyme disease will be viewed as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of medicine because elements of academic medicine, elements of government and virtually the entire insurance industry have colluded to deny a disease.”
– Dr. Kenneth Liegner (Lyme expert)

Which brings us to this campaign.

How we’re going to use your donation.

Chronic Lyme Disease is a complex and expensive condition to defeat. It requires a range of treatments taken in combination on a trial-and-error basis. Andi has already undergone a long list of treatments over the past year including several rounds of potent antibiotics, three hospital procedures and much more. She does some form of treatment every single day. But try as Andi has to get by on her own resources, she has now exhausted all personal and private financial support. And that’s why she needs our help. All the funds raised through this campaign will go directly to treating Andi’s Lyme and the draining co-infections that go hand-in-hand with it.

Some treatments on Andi’s wishlist include:
* Herbal antimicrobial medications
* Supplements
* Infrared heat therapies
* HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy)
* IV Infusions
* Chelation therapy
* Detoxification therapies
* Kambo
* Lymphatic Drainage Massages
* Acupuncture
* Equipment for self-administering certain treatments at home
* Devices to assist in shielding her from suspected Lyme-triggered sensitivities to various environmental factors
* Ozone therapy (including potentially 4-6 weeks of intensive treatment at Neomed Clinic, Cyprus)

We don’t yet know what will work or how long it will take for Andi to get her health back, but her doctors have estimated at least one and a half years of treatment is still required. Andi is optimistic that with our support she will get her cure. It all starts with your donation because every little bit helps to get Andi’s life back - piece by piece.

“If my journey with Lyme so far has taught me anything, it’s that I’m a fighter and I will find the way. Thanks for your support.” – Andi

#LymeLight

Further Lyme Info HERE

- words by Ant Crowley