Alexis (Blair) Bruno – A Story of Neurological Chronic Lyme

My name is Kathleen Blair. The following story is one that my husband & I have shared with family & friends but now, due to the severity of the situation, feel the time has come to share with everyone as we attempt to save our 40yr-old daughter, Alexis. She suffers from chronic neurological Lyme disease. The disease has taken its toll over the past 4+ years leaving her with an inability to function within even a daily routine and, despite a doctorate in Physical Therapy, is unable to work in the field she loves. Having lost our 26-yr old son 8yrs ago, we are determined to do everything we can to prevent us from losing a second child. The stress on the entire family is enormous.

After seeing multiple doctors over the past 4yrs, her struggle to get better remains just that, a struggle. Anyone who is familiar with Chronic Lyme knows what this disease can do to one’s health. I could share many stories of hers & our journey to find a doctor and a protocol that could get her well and provide her with relief from the terrible symptoms of the disease she continues to endure. The most severe of the neurological Lyme symptoms is the constant nerve pain in her face & eyes and the constant motion from the inflamed Vagus nerve. While Alexis has been a fighter throughout, she has reached the point where she feels she can no longer go on if this is what her life will be in such a debilitated state. Treating Chronic Lyme takes years of treatment to find relief and not everyone is able to withstand the constant pain, depression, & anxiety among the 40+ symptoms that go with the disease. Suicide rates are some of the highest in chronic Lyme patients. While Alexis continues to be under the care of a doctor who specializes in treating Lyme disease, her severe symptoms are becoming even more pronounced. Despite seeing several pain management doctors along with prescribed narcotics, they have found no relief for her from the severe nerve pain, and even with psychiatric help, Alexis has reached the point where she feels her only hope for relief is through VAD or Voluntary Assisted Death legally offered in Switzerland, but as her parents, we cannot let this happen.

In recent months we learned of the St. Georg clinic in Bad Aibling, Germany that provides treatment for late-stage Neurological Lyme Disease. The clinic provides treatment to those individuals who cannot get well by traditional antibiotics & supplements alone, and is not available in the U.S. Their success rate in eradicating the borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. the causative agent of Lyme disease, is more than 98%. Over the past 2 months, we applied to St Georg Clinic, sending them over 4yrs of Alexis’s medical records along with recent bloodwork they required for confirmation of her neurological Lyme. On Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024, we were notified by St Georg Clinic that they would accept Alexis as a patient with a treatment plan to get her well. She is scheduled to start her treatment on or about May 8th, 2024.

The cost of the treatment itself that she will receive at the St. George clinic is estimated at $48,000, not including the associated cost of the room or travel. Due to the many thousands of dollars already spent on years of doctor’s visits, hospital visits, medications, & supplements, none of which are covered by medical insurance when it comes to chronic Lyme, there comes a tremendous financial burden on both Alexis & her husband and us. Hence the reason for reaching out through Go Fund Me. Our goal is to raise $48,000 to help with the costs of the treatment at St Georg Clinic for her.

With your help, we can collectively make this possible for Alexis to receive the treatment that could get her well and help her regain being the vibrant woman she used to be. We appreciate any & all help that you can offer towards this goal.

Thank you,

Kathleen & Michael Blair