Janine's Medical Treatment Fund

Hi my name is Janine, I am 28 years of age & I was diagnosed with Chronic Late-Stage Lyme Disease, also known as Multi Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome (MSIDS), in 2014 along with two other vector-borne co-infections.

I was bitten by a Tick on a Primary School camp and I became extremely ill & developed terrifying symptoms such as seizures, tremors, loss of feeling in my legs, having difficulty standing/walking, migrating pain & extreme fatigue, and I've even had periods were I have been bed ridden & housebound.  I am currently unable to work or have an active social life as a result.

Medical Professionals did not know what was causing my serious & debilitating symptoms & had ultimately blamed me for my deteriorating health & told me “there is nothing wrong with you” & “you’re making yourself sick”.

I was an energetic, social & creative person, with a passion for the Performing Arts since the age of 5 including Dancing, Singing & Acting. I also had a love for helping others gain suitable & sustainable employment whilst working fulltime as a Recruitment Consultant. I would wake up every day with a love for life & a passion to make good use of the copious amounts of opportunities that my hardworking & loving supportive Parents had given me. My health was failing me though. I had a myriad of unexplainable, debilitating & scary symptoms that intensified over the years.

The frequent blackouts & fainting episodes turned into full blown Seizures & occasional tremors in my hands, arms, head & legs. I would have numbness & continued loss of feeling throughout my body along with stroke like symptoms including Bell’s Palsy. The numbness felt throughout my body is accompanied by migrating & radiating pain that fluctuates in severity. The pain can be best described as sharp, deep, stabbing, burning, pins & needles, bone crushing, shooting, lightening & electric shock-like pain. The waves of severe chronic fatigue, muscle weakness & pain leaves me feeling like every movement I make is if I was moving through dense mud riddled with barb wire and like I just completed a marathon. I would wake up almost every morning before work & relentlessly dry reach & vomit from severe nausea & bouts of vertigo.
Simple everyday tasks such as brushing my teeth, showering, washing my hair & walking throughout the house would leave me out of breath & having to constantly sit or lie down. Upon standing, my heart would beat out of my chest; I’d start sweating profusely and get extremely dizzy, like I was on a boat swaying back & forth. I’d have to look around for anything I could lean on so I wouldn’t fall or collapse. When going to the shops, or doing other activities that require me to stand or walk for long periods, I’d have to immediately look around for the nearest seat or bench. My legs would also go from underneath me & I often have to use a walking stick. The thought of one day using a wheelchair scares me.

Over the past 16 years I have seen over 100 Doctor’s & Specialist’s, presented to Hospital Emergency Departments over 80 times & had multiple misdiagnoses before being diagnosed with Lyme Disease that is not yet recognised in Australia.

Since Lyme Disease & MSIDS is not yet recognised in Australia, access to life saving & cruicial treatment locally is denied to myself & many other Lyme Disease sufferers.  

I'm hoping to raise much needed funds so I am able to access treatment overseas. I am planning to start my overseas treatment in February 2017 & with your help & assistance in helping me get over there will be greatly appreciated & my family and I will be forever grateful.

I am currently passionate in spreading awareness of for tick borne illnesses, such as Lyme Disease, & I'm in high hopes, that one day soon, Lyme Disease is recognised in Australia & us sufferers are able to have access to proper care & treatment.

I am looking forward to my future where I can get my life back & doing the things I love again.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, your donation, your kind words and for sharing my campaign.