~ LIFE SAVING TREATMENT ~

Hi everyone,

My name is Wendy L. Derr. Right now as I write this, I need to step up take a deep breath and ask for your help!! My parent's motto growing up was “ If you can’t pay for it don't buy it”. that goes through my head writing this and almost makes me want to run. This is not something I can run from any longer though because It will continue to progress and silently ATTACK my body as it has for years lurking in SILENCE.

I now just want to Thank you for taking the time to read as I want to get my story out there.

My name is Wendy Lee Derr and I'm 38 years old. I am also a mother of three children, Hailey, Ethan, and my youngest Jase. Family means a lot to me so I need to make sure I get back to them as soon as I can.

Some of you may know me or have seen me taking care of one of your loved ones in the past because I am a CNA of 20 years. Taking care of Elderly, people with disabilities, and hospice care. I'm usually the one making sure everyone is taken care of, so being on this side is a lot different and tough. You never really grasp it or what it's really like until something happens to you or your own family.

Anyone who knows me knows when I wasn't working, I would find myself outside with my family hunting, fishing, taking pictures, or finding waterfalls. Nature is my happy place and the calm in my life. When you are outside doing the things you enjoy you don't go looking for ticks, they find you.

Here is a little about why LYME is STEALING MY SHINE!!!!

Little did I know the things I would be facing now in my life with the events leading up to now.

It all honestly is clear to me and the events that happened fit like a puzzle. A few short months ago I found out I have Late Stage Neurological Lyme disease. I also recently had Lyme meningitis, so it’s spread to my spine and brain. I’ve been told my case is rare and that I have been bitten by two ticks over the years that were. infected with this crazy devil disease. Come to find out the CDC doesn’t recognize chronic Lyme, therefore the insurance companies won’t pay for the extensive treatment that will be needed to get better. It’s truly heartbreaking trying to play it off to your friends and family while it's killing you inside silently. It's emotionally draining at the least.

Not knowing when it's going to spread to another part of my body always think to myself how long do I have with this disease constantly runs through my mind. It’s very emotionally draining for everyone around me right now. this all started with a series of events occurring in 2011. So it's been a total of twelve years now and I had no idea the hard part to swallow.

I"ve had years of progressing problems and symptoms with no diagnosis or answers until now.

Ya see back in the summer of 2011. I woke up and wasn't feeling great. fatigue, throwing up, and intense pain throughout my entire body. I couldn't settle. I had my youngest two at the time and my son Ethan was two years old I could not pick him up. I was showing signs of a stroke. I went to my nearest ER and they life-flighted me to get better testing and care. It was Pittsburgh PA. They did extensive testing there and I never got any answers as to what was happening to my body. Doctors ruled out having a stroke. Then they checked me for Guillain barre syndrome, MS, and everything came back ok. The symptoms I was bells palsy(right side) and severe muscle weakness and fatigue. I did not get any Diagnosis because they could not find anything wrong. I was honestly thanking god but at the same time, everyone was dumbfounded as to what is happening. I was sent home on in-home physical therapy and had that for about two months. As time went on my symptoms were disappearing and I was gradually getting my strength back. It was more of a miracle to me so I honestly went on living as if nothing ever happened. Kinda forgot about it. Just ruled it as maybe being allergic to the flu shot because that is the only thing I had during that time. People would often say wow that is weird aren't you afraid it may return? I never really thought of it that way at the time.

Years went by I was active and healthy.

A few years passed and I found myself going to the ER and my doctors a lot. I was having just different things My ANA was testing positive different labs were elevated, and I always had blood in my urine. I would never get Answers having these severe. symptoms I was having a high heart rate, body hurting neck cramps. The doctors said I had Rheumatoid Arthritis and Raynaud disease. In the winter I would be cold extremely cold I would lose circulation in my hands and feet. They would turn a bright white and hurt stinging. No answers to what was causing the symptoms. I would lose my hair a lot during the summer but fall it would seem to get thick and grow. Weird things happen but trying to explain and get people to believe you is almost impossible at times.

After years of going to Doctors and specialists, I backed away. I did not have trust when I would go they would look at me like I was crazy because of all of my visits. I was being called a hypochondriac and the girl basically who cries wolf. Knowone believes me in the things I would try to explain what was going on with my body. It caused a lot of stress on my family and me.

In 2022 I started getting sick again out of the blue. ER visits doctor visits. Well, I have had electrical shocks in my head from my neck up. When I say they hurt well picture being electrocuted by an electric fence and holding it. you can only imagine how I felt. I was going to the doctors they would give me meds for headaches muscle relaxers and send me home. saying I had migraines. If it doesn't go away return.

On May 2023, I woke up tired sleeping a lot my face was paralyzed again with bells palsy, my speech was off, it was hard to concentrate, and pain and tingling down my arms along with these headaches occurred still. My friend Tammy took me to the hospital. they again ruled out a stroke. so what is happening we both work in the medical field so at this point we know this isn't normal. At this point, everyone was getting a little fed up with seeing me sick. They are getting ready to send me home again with no answers or diagnosis. The doctor comes in she asks them hey what about LYME DISEASE can you at least check her for that. They added it to my labs and came and drew more blood. They explained it would take a few days like and I would be getting those back.

In the meantime, I was getting sicker. I was not able to eat. I could not taste my food. My eyesight was blurry, seeing double vision. my eyes would like free float I would call it. My family and I pray a lot and one night we prayed to god for guidance even if it was not what we wanted to hear. Guide me to getting a result or answer as to what is happening again. I called in after a week to the ER that had taken my labs for the LYME. They transferred me and I had to speak to a nurse the lab could not give me the results. I waited, and the nurse came on telling me Honey Im sorry you weren't called but your LYME antibody came back t 8.35 extremely HIGH. I was angry inside because no one called as I was getting worse like they did not care ya know. It went under the radar. as I did not know much about it. So many things go through your mind. what now, what is this DISEASE? She had told me to get in touch with my PCP which I did and they told me they had not received results almost like they did not believe me and I asked them to call the hospital. The receptionist told me to call back to the ER that had taken the test and that they would have to start my treatment right away. I was told that my PCP had to they cant.

Frustrated, I prayed it was all we did for a long while.

About a week passed i was declining, my boyfriend took me to OHIO HEALTH he was working near there. I said honestly maybe they will do something it's a bigger hospital. I had a team of doctors. by this point, I was extremely sick. they admitted me to doing extensive testing. I had a spinal tap because of Bell's Palsy and they wanted to rule out meningitis. well they did an MRI of my brain and found two spots on it. The spinal tap came back I have Lyme meningitis. They gave me iv fluids and treatment through IV for a week then sent me home. I seemed to be improving so I was lucky and happy.

I was guided to a diagnosis after 12 years. the only thing is now This Disease spread into Late Stage Neurological Lyme disease.

It's taking away my independence at the age of 38. I can't work I was working taking care of girls with epilepsy which I enjoyed. She was amazing and I learned so much about Epoilisy and her. I was let go because I was missing too much work. even though I tried making up every hour I missed. I was off work for a few months sick then I started back helping an 85yr old with cancer. That was when I started getting the migraines back and honestly, I could not lift her from her bed to the wheelchair and perform my job. It hurt bad but I wasn't reliable. I haven't been for a long time and this hurts inside. the family was mad they understood as they saw my health declining ad well.

When you are sick and your family on everyone sees it you go through a lot mentally and it's rough on not only me but everyone. I have learned that if I have this during the time my youngest was conceived it may have been transferred to him as well. So imagining that he could potentially have it is one of the, even more, scariest things because i know how I feel and I cant imagine him going through this.

I can't remember things. I have tremors in my body now. I can't eat., Extremely intense pain and my feet get pain not along with my head. shocks daily. My entire body gets chills and feels like it's a billion degrees on fire. I get sores when I am in the sun and that was my shine. My happiness and Im losing myself. It's hard to face the unknown. I have intense mood swings they call me rage and I get overly emotional. who wouldn't though? I can't sleep at night all I can do is Just Pray to God for a miracle.

Recently I made a call and was guided to this Envita Health in Arizona. Years of not getting answers they are willing to help.

I'm away from my kids for 10 weeks or more. These doctors are amazing and so is the staff giving us a better understanding of CHRONIC LYME. I did not realize the cost I thought with my saving and what I had that I could get my treatment would be so expensive. CDC doesn't recognize so insurance does not pay. I can't work and I'm not sure what to do from here. Even though it may be hard we are so ready.

I've tried for loans my boyfriend is trying he's helped so much. You can't imagine the stress he has also seeing me like this.

This Extensive treatment is $73,000. I thought what now??

That's why I took that deep breath and just started this. I typed it and would cancel out for a few days but I have to be brave what can it hurt getting at least my story out?

The cost of living. My hotel is $440/week. plus the expense of getting to and from the clinic.

Am I going to let two tiny little TICKS potentially kill my body slowly and let my family and friend watch me suffer slowly? I never thought this would happen or I would be asking but Can you Please help me gain my independence back?

I NEED MY SHINE BACK...

Let's fight please I need help Fighting as I can't do it Alone....

PLEASE HELP ME KILL THIS LYME and GIVE ME MORE TIME...

Thank you so much to my family for supporting me and helping me with this as we are all scared. I love you guys. It's a short time away as I will miss a few things but I have to return to good health to be the mom I was before this nasty disease. Hailey Nicole, my oldest daughter and I need to be there for her. E-man and I have to go hunting this fall archery is my favorite. Jase is missing your snuggles at night buddy. Jason I love you and with all we have been through thank you for trying to work and help and sticking with me through thick/thin. I have a twin brother I have to get home to because we have a birthday in November and I could not imagine not being there to blow out our candles and make that wish. It is a special gift to have someone growing up right by my side. Plus when I got in trouble I could blame you lol haha. my parents have my kids until I get home. signing that paper to give them temporary custody you don't ever think that day would come ya know.

Be mindful of those Ticks because they can TICK YOU OFF. If you have symptoms Your not crying wolf. Get checked and don't wait. Be persistent if not finding answers don't wait years. Be your advocate for your body because no one knows your body more than you!!!!

If you cant donate please just pray for me and my family because the power of prayer works too.

Thank you so much and God Bless.

Wendy L Derr.