Hope for Gabriel: Chronic Lyme Treatment

This is my piano student, Gabriel Treadwell, 21 years old. He has battled against Chronic Lyme Disease and co-infections for years. Over the past few months, his health has begun to decline rather rapidly, presenting the need for more aggressive treatment. However, the treatment is extremely expensive. I hope you could help me raise funds for his treatment, so that he may regain strength and get back to the piano, his passion and love.

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In September 2022, I received an email from LaNae Baker, Gabriel's mother, inquiring about piano lessons for her son. She got my name as a piano instructor who teaches individuals with special needs. I have taught children and adults with Down syndrome, Autism, Learning Disabilities, etc. However, this was my first time meeting someone with Chronic Lyme Disease, and it’s been a learning process for me since then.

Here is his story.

After some years of health struggles with unknown causes, Gabriel was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease with co-infections when he was in the 5th grade. A severe flare-up in his Freshman year of high school resulted in him leaving school by his Junior year. He constantly endures intense aching and pain—nerve, muscular, and joint—and hardships—extreme fatigue, and mental exhaustion, as well as severe anxiety and depression. His condition has made it impossible to work or pursue college education. He qualified for disability and is currently staying home as a 21-year-old-adult, trying to determine his future.

Piano was Gabriel's first love. He took lessons on and off, but mostly learned through self-study, watching YouTube videos of his favorite pianists. At our first meeting, he played Rachmaninoff C# minor Prelude for me. Even though there were some quirks from his self-teaching, his performance was stunning—like an emotional outburst—as if he felt the pain inside the music and cried out through the keys.

Gabriel and I enjoyed our lessons. We picked some shorter pieces to work on, considering his endurance. We talked about the emotional aspects of music, and we worked on techniques that would give him more freedom in his expression on the piano. He told me about his favorite Japanese game composers, and how brilliantly they created drama through music. In addition to Chopin and other classical piano music, he played many of his own compositions and improvisations. They were often in a minor mode, filled with sadness, frustration, anger, tragedy…. He pours his heart out to music. It’s a God-given gift.

As we got to know each other, he became more open to telling me about his years of suffering. He mentioned that he has been playing the piano through incredible physical pain. Music is so dear to his heart that he sometimes pushes himself too hard while playing, crashing in bed for days afterwards. His illness is invisible to others, including myself, so the reality of chronic Lyme hit me hard. He told me that sometimes people didn’t take his suffering seriously; or worse, some even doubted him as if he was faking the illness. Tears came down quietly as he said, “I wish I was faking the pain…” He reminds me of Chopin. So weak physically yet passionate, sensitive and longing for music.

He has Chronic Lyme Disease. But he was also given a gift of music. God gave him both and there must be a reason. Gabriel and I talked about sharing his music with others, especially those who are suffering. I believe his music will touch others. They may cry together through music, and that will give energy and hope to fight for another day. He started to see how his music could help those struggling, and that it may be his duty and mission on this earth.

Earlier this spring, he told me that his condition seemed to be getting worse. He was resigned to bed more and more due to exhaustion and pain. He couldn’t touch the piano for days, and our lessons had to be cancelled often, sometimes not seeing him for weeks. I can’t imagine how devastating it must be to feel your body deteriorate, losing the physical strength to do anything, including playing the piano, your love. My heart breaks for Gabriel.

His Mom told me that they started to seek out more aggressive treatment. Sierra Integrative Medical Center in Reno, NV is a leading clinic for Lyme Disease nationwide, with proven results. There is Hope. However, the 6-week-long treatment costs $35-45K, and nothing is covered by insurance except labs and some testing. They need to travel from Oklahoma and stay in Reno during the treatment, in addition to transportation needs once they arrive. They started to gather funds, but it is just so much, so I have decided to run a fundraiser here.

Gabriel did not want us to start a fundraiser for his own treatment. He thought it would be selfish to ask for financial help. But we told him that if he wants to help others through his music, he needs to first regain physical and mental strength. After some time, he understood that this fundraiser will be the first step in his mission.

Thank you for reading Gabriel’s story. Please consider donating and/or sharing his story in your community. It will give him Hope during this challenging time.

If you would like to give directly to Gabriel’s family, you can do so at BancFirst of Oklahoma. The account name is titled, Gabriel Treadwell Medical Fund. An additional option is Venmo@GabrielMedicalFund (0839).

Thank you.