Vanessa hopes for a normal life
Donation protected
Vanessa Laporte once had what every young person deserves.... a normal healthy life filled with hopes and dreams for a bright future.
But Vanessa’s young life changed dramatically when she was bitten by a Lyme infected tick in Eastern Ontario 8 years ago. A once bright, outgoing and loving 2O year old young lady, slowly and steadily declined in health, leading her to develop MS as one of her countless Lyme disease symptoms.
Chronic Neurological Lyme disease has robbed Vanessa of her future. She currently suffers with flu like symptoms, chronic fatigue, breathing problems, confusion and brain fog, vertigo, vision issues, light and sound sensitivity, numbness in her limbs and ongoing anxiety, only to name a few of her daily symptoms. On her worst days she can’t summon up the strength to hold up her neck for more than 20 minutes at a time. She no longer drives, cannot work, nor participate in normal social activities, as doing so leads to severe exhaustion and exasperation of her symptoms. Her neurological issues make simple every day tasks that we all take for granted, seem daunting and overwhelming for her.
Last summer Vanessa had a Lyme induced MS attack that landed her in a Toronto hospital and rehabilitation center for 8 weeks where she lost her ability to walk without support of a wheelchair and walker. Upon her release from the hospital she moved to BC to seek treatment from Canada’s few Lyme specialists at a cost of thousands and thousands of out of pocket dollars, as these medical bills are not yet covered by our health care system. While these doctors helped Vanessa to leave her wheelchair, the treatments could only take her so far. She still struggles daily with the remaining symptoms of Chronic Lyme that will not allow her to move forward with her life. Lyme is a progressive disease. Without proper treatment her symptoms will continue to worsen, and as a result, she fears the further progression of her MS which could land her back in a wheelchair for life.
Vanessa has been seen by well over 20 doctors over the course of her illness, but lack of willingness, research and funding in Canada has not yet armed our physicians with the knowledge to help those afflicted with Lyme disease. This is slowly changing as there is more and more awareness of the increasing tick population and the growing Lyme epidemic in this country. But Vanessa can’t wait that long.
The good news is, Vanessa still has a fighting chance if she can access the best possible care at The Sophia Health Institute in Seattle WA. This is a highly regarded clinic that has healed the lives of hundreds of Lyme patients from around the world. Here Vanessa would receive top notch care from a whole team of highly trained specialists at the top of their fields. It could take up to a full 2 years for her to achieve full recovery...but at a great financial expense. Currently she has exhausted all of her funds on her disease and needs help with not only the cost of future treatments at this clinic, but hotel and travel to and from the USA on a constant and regular basis.
Her family is asking for your kind donations to help us raise $40,000 which we estimate would take her far into her first year of treatment based on the costs outlined by the clinic. We are confident The Sophia Health Institute is the best chance of ending her illness once and for all and to put her on the path to a normal productive life again. She dreams of starting a career in which she can utilize the experiences she gained through her life changing struggles, to help others in need and to give back to society.
On behalf of her family, we would like to extend our whole hearted gratitude for your kind donations and/or sharing Vanessa’s story.
For more information regarding Lyme disease and The Sophia Health Institute, please see the following links:
www.canlyme.com
www.sophiahi.com
But Vanessa’s young life changed dramatically when she was bitten by a Lyme infected tick in Eastern Ontario 8 years ago. A once bright, outgoing and loving 2O year old young lady, slowly and steadily declined in health, leading her to develop MS as one of her countless Lyme disease symptoms.
Chronic Neurological Lyme disease has robbed Vanessa of her future. She currently suffers with flu like symptoms, chronic fatigue, breathing problems, confusion and brain fog, vertigo, vision issues, light and sound sensitivity, numbness in her limbs and ongoing anxiety, only to name a few of her daily symptoms. On her worst days she can’t summon up the strength to hold up her neck for more than 20 minutes at a time. She no longer drives, cannot work, nor participate in normal social activities, as doing so leads to severe exhaustion and exasperation of her symptoms. Her neurological issues make simple every day tasks that we all take for granted, seem daunting and overwhelming for her. Last summer Vanessa had a Lyme induced MS attack that landed her in a Toronto hospital and rehabilitation center for 8 weeks where she lost her ability to walk without support of a wheelchair and walker. Upon her release from the hospital she moved to BC to seek treatment from Canada’s few Lyme specialists at a cost of thousands and thousands of out of pocket dollars, as these medical bills are not yet covered by our health care system. While these doctors helped Vanessa to leave her wheelchair, the treatments could only take her so far. She still struggles daily with the remaining symptoms of Chronic Lyme that will not allow her to move forward with her life. Lyme is a progressive disease. Without proper treatment her symptoms will continue to worsen, and as a result, she fears the further progression of her MS which could land her back in a wheelchair for life.Vanessa has been seen by well over 20 doctors over the course of her illness, but lack of willingness, research and funding in Canada has not yet armed our physicians with the knowledge to help those afflicted with Lyme disease. This is slowly changing as there is more and more awareness of the increasing tick population and the growing Lyme epidemic in this country. But Vanessa can’t wait that long.The good news is, Vanessa still has a fighting chance if she can access the best possible care at The Sophia Health Institute in Seattle WA. This is a highly regarded clinic that has healed the lives of hundreds of Lyme patients from around the world. Here Vanessa would receive top notch care from a whole team of highly trained specialists at the top of their fields. It could take up to a full 2 years for her to achieve full recovery...but at a great financial expense. Currently she has exhausted all of her funds on her disease and needs help with not only the cost of future treatments at this clinic, but hotel and travel to and from the USA on a constant and regular basis.Her family is asking for your kind donations to help us raise $40,000 which we estimate would take her far into her first year of treatment based on the costs outlined by the clinic. We are confident The Sophia Health Institute is the best chance of ending her illness once and for all and to put her on the path to a normal productive life again. She dreams of starting a career in which she can utilize the experiences she gained through her life changing struggles, to help others in need and to give back to society. On behalf of her family, we would like to extend our whole hearted gratitude for your kind donations and/or sharing Vanessa’s story.
For more information regarding Lyme disease and The Sophia Health Institute, please see the following links:
www.canlyme.com
www.sophiahi.com
Organizer
Nadine Coculuzzi-Laporte
Organizer
Burlington, ON