Jennings Family

Hi, My name is Melissa and I am telling the story for Matt & Lori Jennings. Lori & Matt are very dear friends and very proud people. I am asking you to please read their story and help me support my dear friends who are always there for everyone around them, giving unselfishly of themselves to everyone they can, loving the Lord and living true servants heart.

Lori is an incredible baker and has been selling cupcakes to earn money also. If you have purchased cupcakes from her - thank you from the bottom of our hearts. God Bless her, she is so amazing, but realistically, she can only do so much, which is why I suggested this avenue.

The money raised in this fund raiser will be used for medical expenses for Matt's treatment and uninsured Doctor's bills for a new specialist that they desperately need to help find a treatment for him that works and will hopefully give him back his quality of life.

Their story:

In April Matt had a severe anaphylactic allergic reaction, his wife rushed him to

the hospital ER 3 days in a row. Each time they calmed down the reaction only for

it to come back stronger the next day. He was then hospitalized for a week and

treated with heavy steroids. After he left the hospital, with no diagnoses the

reaction came back. They then went to an allergist only to find out Matt has

Alpha Gal which is also known as red meat disease. This means he can no longer

have anything that comes from mammalian animals, no red meat, no milk

products, no cheese, no marshmallows, and the very long list goes on and on. He

now carries 2 epi pens everywhere he goes. They don’t eat out very much

because he cannot risk any possible cross contamination. His reaction level is

listed as severe. Then Matt started to develop severe pain and swelling in his

knees, they went to the ortho doctor and he said everything was fine and he

recommended going back to the allergist. Allergist said Alpha Gal should not

cause swelling like this to go back to their primary doctor. More tests were

completed and turns out Matt also has rocky mountain spotted fever, he was

given antibiotics and told he should be fine. The pain and swelling continued to

get worse. This started a very tough road. Matt has been seen by multiple

doctors none of which have been able to help, he has also been denied by many

specialty hospitals VCU, UVA and John Hopkins. Pain Management said

unfortunately they cannot find a drug to help his pain because of his Alpha Gal

restrictions, come to find out most drugs are coated with products that include

mammalian proteins. The battle continued and Matt continues to suffer in pain

every day. Matt has been on 5 doses of antibiotics, and nothing has helped. He

and Lori have been fighting this battle for 7 months, each week Matt’s health

declines. They finally found an Integrative Medicine Dr in McClean, VA that is

willing to see him. They have an appointment on Nov 28, they thought finally

someone Is going to help him. Amazing news, then they found out that this

medical office does not take insurance. The first visit with Dr Kaplan is $1952.00,

follow up visits cost $690.00 and initial labs cost between $1000.00-$1500.00

then there will be additional costs when a treatment plan os decided. They have

already maxed out their medical insurance out of pocket owing over $5500.00.

Matt and Lori have decided that even though the potential medical expenses are

extremely scary they do not have a choice and they have to get Matt into this

clinic. Some days Matt can hardly walk, he has lost all strength and muscle mass,

he is extremely exhausted every day even when just resting and the pain level is

terrible. Matt describes the pain as if someone is stabbing him in his hands which

also shake often, his feet feel like his is walking on sharp hot lava, the muscles in

his arms and legs are so heavy he feels like they are tearing off his body and the

brain fog is so bad it is affecting his daily life.

Lori loves to bake so she is selling holiday cupcakes to try and make money to

help with some of the costs. She has sold over 1000 cupcakes and this will pay for

1 follow-up visit and part of another. They are very proud people but they need

our help.

They are extremely hard-working people and do so very much for others within

their community. Both Matt and Lori have worked at their jobs for 28 years.

Matt is a master electrician and Lori is a Sr Operations Specialist at Waste

Management. Matt wants to get back to fishing and hunting, being able to do

things like walk up a flight of stairs without having to stop from the pain and just

being his normal self. His ability to work everyday is now also being affected.

This struggle has taken a toll on the Jennings family but even though this fight has

been tough they continue to help others around the community, they both have

true servant hearts.

Update for Matt 1/16/2024

We had a great visit with the new specialist, they are absolutely amazing! The Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine. After 9 long months of no answers and no real help from the medical community, we now have many diagnoses and the beginning of a treatment plan! Matt was diagnosed with 5 tick borne illnesses, rocky mountain spotted fever, alpha gal, babesiosis, bartonella and relapsing ticket fever, they also found 3 active toxins in his body. Dr said his condition is very serious but curable!! Praise God! With that being said, they will start Matt on numerous medications that he will have to take for approximately 12 months, maybe longer. The medications are already proving to be difficult to get because of Matt's alpha gal (red meat mammalian disease) and the coating on the pills. We are working closely with a compound pharmacy to make the required meds, so please pray they are about to actually make his meds. He has 6 antibiotics, 5 supplements, weekly vitamin infusions and 2 meds to help with pain and sleep. It will take about a month to get all the meds on board because it has to be done slowly. We will also work closely with dietitian. to help us make sure Matt gets the nutrients he needs during treatment.

His Dr told us to buckle up and be ready to fight this very long tough battle! So please keep the prayers coming, they are working!

We have been so blessed by all your love, support, prayers, cupcake orders, go fund me donations and love! Big shoutout to our girls Lindsey Jennings and Carley Jennings who have stood by our side and helped in so many ways. Our hearts are truly overwhelmed.

I will be selling Valentine's cupcakes in Feb to help with all these new expenses, post coming soon.

We are so grateful for everyone God has placed along our path during this trying time!