A Second Chance At Life: Battling Lyme Disease
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Tiana was nine years old when she began to experience symptoms mimicking multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, juvenile arthritis, fibromyalgia and some form of cardiac dysfunction. She was instructed to stop gymnastics and soccer and undergo a full year of testing. The doctors came up empty-handed, telling her to get used to living with the progressive symptoms. As a teenager, doctors tried to blame it on stress and anxiety; she believed them. Things took a turn in her early twenties when her back broke without cause, and she developed Crohn’s symptoms, unable to eat. The systemic pain in her body started to increase year after year. Her cardiac issues, which played out as heart-attack symptoms nearly every day, became all-consuming, and she was diagnosed with cardiac endothelial dysfunction. She started having small strokes and was sent to research hospitals, such as Mayo, Cedar-Sinai, and National Jewish. All in an attempt to figure out the root cause.
Despite no clear diagnosis, the disease kept eating away at every area of her life. She pushed forward, masking her ever-growing list of symptoms, hopeful that someday she would find answers and get the cure she so deeply desired. During the 2020 pandemic, she had COVID-19 four times, each time further weakening her body’s ability to fight. Nearing her 30th birthday, the number of symptoms skyrocketed to over 60 different symptoms, and her body began to collapse entirely; still, doctors were no closer to figuring out the cause. Like most who experience chronic disease, she had to deal with medical providers who told her, “it’s in your head” or, “we just can’t help you.” Finally, in November 2021, a provider in San Diego, California, ordered a test others had always said was unnecessary. The results came back positive, and Tiana was diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that attacks multiple organs aggressively and destructively. There is no cure. And most often, it’s accompanied by several other tick-borne bacteria. In her case, she was also found to have Bartonella, Babesia and Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. Lack of diagnosis and treatment has caused the disease to wreak havoc on her body for the past 21 years, leaving permanent damage in its wake. This has made it difficult to function daily, and she is unable to work or live the life she has worked so hard to achieve.
Tiana was forced to quit working, and move home to western Montana, where she began treatment. She has tried oral treatments, ozone dialysis, SOT therapy, herbs, holistic approaches, and nothing has moved the needle. In fact, she worsened since starting treatment.
Recently, Tiana met with doctors at Jemsek Clinic in Washington DC, an infectious disease clinic dedicated to Lyme and tick-borne diseases, where they told her that her disease progression is on the worst end of the scale. They have laid out an intensive plan, and a big part of that plan involves (9) months of IV antibiotics. She will have to have a central access port placed in her chest, and will undergo IV treatment.
Unfortunately, no insurance company will pay for IV antibiotics. And the cost involved for antibiotics, the port, the supplies and the follow up appointments during the 9-month treatment, is estimated to be $75,000 - $90,000. In addition she will have to come up with another $9,600 for flights, as she will be required to travel to Washington DC (from Spokane, WA) every six weeks. And what’s more, she’ll need another $2,000 for the follow-up appointments with her care team, between now and the start of the IV treatment that will commence in April (after stabilizing her over the next few months so her body can withstand the treatment). All together, she needs to come up with $85,000 - $100,000.
Statistically, 80% of patients see significant improvement over a few years, while only 2% are unresponsive to treatment. She is striving to be in that 80% who experience substantial recovery.
Unfortunately, as stated before, the majority of her treatment is not covered by insurance, leaving six-figures to be paid out-of-pocket, if she has any chance at recovery and remission.
Her mom, Terry, started covering costs when Tiana moved home and couldn’t work. Tiana has been approved for governmental medical assistance and applied for permanent disability; but the approval process is an uphill battle that lawyers have warned could take years.
She needs your help, and she needs it desperately. This is a significant amount of money, and her physical condition prevents her from earning it herself, or organizing fundraising events. Your donations are essential to her treatment and recovery.
Please, not only consider contributing but also share this GoFundMe with your friends, family, churches, social groups, and anyone you know who might be willing to help. Your support and spreading the word are invaluable in her time of need.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for standing by my side during this challenging journey. Your kindness and generosity give me hope that I can regain my health, reach remission, and overcome Lyme disease.” - Tiana Wood
Tiana is dedicated to healing after years of being misdiagnosed, told she was making up symptoms and denied help. With your help, she will have the best chance at regaining control of her body and living a life dedicated to helping those who are chronically sick, fighting to be believed, to find answers in a medical system that leaves so many without the help they desperately need.
Tiana has an Instagram page (@chronic_but_capable) dedicated to documenting her fight with Lyme and her advocacy for those who are fighting similar battles. Chronic But Capable
"Tiana is strong, quick witted, empathetic, and loyal. She’s always wished she could have a million lives to live because the world is full of so many beautiful paths, and she can’t imagine missing out on any of them.“ - Brandi Thomas (best friend)
Organizer
Elle James
Organizer
Lakeside, MT