Support Jenna's Fight Against Lyme Disease and MS

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with a very serious neurological autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis. My symptoms at the time were severe with almost the entire left side of my body going numb, muscle weakness, crippling fatigue, speech impairment, and difficulty with fine motor skills. In an effort to prevent future relapses, my neurologist placed me on a strong immunosuppressant that I have remained on since. One of the many dangers with this medication, however, is that it places me at greater risk of infection.

In the spring of 2023, I was bitten by a black-legged deer tick. I live in an area that is highly endemic for Lyme disease. One week later, I began experiencing Lyme-like symptoms, and over the course of several months, my symptom list grew. I've battled muscle pain and burning, joint pain, whole-body neuropathy, sharp headaches in my forehead, crippling migraines, numbness, vision changes, cognitive issues, and the list goes on. My neurologist has determined that these new symptoms are not associated with my MS and advised me to follow up with an infectious disease doctor regarding tick-borne infections. As Lyme and co-infections (like Bartonella and Babesia) can be difficult to properly diagnose and treat, the most appropriate doctor is a Lyme-Literate MD (LLMD). Unfortunately, my current Lyme-literate practitioner is not knowledgeable in treating immunocompromised patients and therefore cannot advise me. Do I continue on my immunosuppressant to avoid an MS relapse, or do I come off of it to stop an infection from worsening?

Sadly, the field of Lyme disease (and co-infections) can be tremendously difficult to navigate. And as there could be an infectious underlying cause to my MS, it is critically important that I be thoroughly evaluated by someone with experience assessing MS through an infectious disease lens and advising me on a treatment regimen.

I've been referred to a highly-respected Lyme-Literate infectious disease doctor on the East Coast who has experience evaluating and successfully treating many people diagnosed with Lyme and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). The prospect of being treated by this specialist gives me great hope. Unfortunately, extensive Lyme and co-infection testing and treatment is expensive, and with the exception of antibiotics, will need to be paid for out-of-pocket. This poses an extreme financial hardship that, without support, will not be possible.

It's so difficult to humble yourself to ask for help, but I've seen my life derailed by these ailments that physically, emotionally, and psychologically have put my life on hold. I've watched my peers finish college, establish careers, and start families, all things that I've wanted for my life since I was a young girl, but that seem so far out of reach as my life has been centered, for so long, around health problems.

I would be so deeply grateful for any support you can give to help me on this difficult journey. Every dollar counts. And even if you can't make a donation, please consider sharing my page with others.

Take care, and God bless.