Summer's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Dear friends,
First of all, thank you for taking the time to visit our site.
Some of you may know my friend, Summer. She’s my bestie, my BFF, my sister-from-another-mister. She has been a pillar of strength and support during my diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Lyme. Whether it’s offering to accompany me to a doctor’s appointment, calling frequently to see if the most recent Herxheimer reaction has passed, binge-watching sitcoms together, or just letting me cry and vent about the challenges of Lyme, this girl is my rock. I would be lost in this disease without her.
What you may not know about Summer is that she has Chronic Lyme Disease as well. Chronic Lyme Disease is a multi-systemic disorder causing severe cognitive memory dysfunction, full body pain, inflammation and deterioration. Her current doctor believes that she contracted Lyme as a child, perhaps even as a baby, contributing to a lifetime of illness.
Several years ago, she experienced fainting spells. After lots of tests, doctors concluded that her heart was misfiring, which required immediate surgery. The doctors assured her that after heart surgery, she would be able to be active again; to hike, practice yoga, to run, to be a normal 20-something year-old and that all of the symptoms (too numerous and personal to mention here) would be gone. She had the surgery and sadly did not feel “all better” as the doctors had promised. Despite not having a diagnosis Summer has always worked, sometimes three jobs at a time, to make ends meet. She is fiercely independent, never relying on family, friends, or a significant other for financial assistance.
A few years back Summer finally received a Lyme diagnosis and everything began to make sense. While her doctor didn’t have the best bedside manner, he was the only “Lyme-literate” doctor within her network so she decided to stay with him. For three years she has undergone grueling therapies, working as a high school math teacher and bartender the whole time. Regardless of pain, nausea, cognitive issues, headaches, dizziness, memory impairment, and crippling fatigue, she still supervises sports (because her kids love her and request her), teaches yoga classes to the kids after school, and has even fostered two of her students when they had problems at home. When she’s not working, Summer is devoted to her friends and family. She always makes food for gatherings because “food is love.” She has spent her whole life giving, never asking for anything in return.
That’s where this GoFundMe account comes into play. After three years of treatment with a not-so-great doctor, Summer wishes to find a new doctor, but realizes that she must ask for help for that to happen. Most Lyme-literate doctors are Naturopathic Doctors and are not covered by many insurance companies. This is completely absurd as an ND is educated in all of the basic sciences that an MD is, plus has education in holistic and nontoxic therapies, but this is not the platform for my diatribe on the socially unjust treatment of Lyme patients.
All of the money donated to Summer’s GoFundMe account will be used for her treatment and well being. Your generosity will pay for office visits, any and all medications not covered by insurance, IV antibiotic treatments if necessary, prescription vitamins and supplements, prescription probiotics, organic food (diet is critical to Lyme patients), as well as any other unforeseen medical, physical, or mental health support required (such as massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, counseling, ER visits, etc.)
My best friend is an asset to our community in so many ways, and it pains me to see her struggle. Please consider donating whatever you can. Think about it; if 10,000 people donated just one dollar, we would be at our goal! Thank you so much for taking the time to read her story. If you or anyone you know has been touched by Lyme or chronic disease, please invest in the cure.
With love and gratitude,
Raea Zani
First of all, thank you for taking the time to visit our site.
Some of you may know my friend, Summer. She’s my bestie, my BFF, my sister-from-another-mister. She has been a pillar of strength and support during my diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Lyme. Whether it’s offering to accompany me to a doctor’s appointment, calling frequently to see if the most recent Herxheimer reaction has passed, binge-watching sitcoms together, or just letting me cry and vent about the challenges of Lyme, this girl is my rock. I would be lost in this disease without her.
What you may not know about Summer is that she has Chronic Lyme Disease as well. Chronic Lyme Disease is a multi-systemic disorder causing severe cognitive memory dysfunction, full body pain, inflammation and deterioration. Her current doctor believes that she contracted Lyme as a child, perhaps even as a baby, contributing to a lifetime of illness.
Several years ago, she experienced fainting spells. After lots of tests, doctors concluded that her heart was misfiring, which required immediate surgery. The doctors assured her that after heart surgery, she would be able to be active again; to hike, practice yoga, to run, to be a normal 20-something year-old and that all of the symptoms (too numerous and personal to mention here) would be gone. She had the surgery and sadly did not feel “all better” as the doctors had promised. Despite not having a diagnosis Summer has always worked, sometimes three jobs at a time, to make ends meet. She is fiercely independent, never relying on family, friends, or a significant other for financial assistance.
A few years back Summer finally received a Lyme diagnosis and everything began to make sense. While her doctor didn’t have the best bedside manner, he was the only “Lyme-literate” doctor within her network so she decided to stay with him. For three years she has undergone grueling therapies, working as a high school math teacher and bartender the whole time. Regardless of pain, nausea, cognitive issues, headaches, dizziness, memory impairment, and crippling fatigue, she still supervises sports (because her kids love her and request her), teaches yoga classes to the kids after school, and has even fostered two of her students when they had problems at home. When she’s not working, Summer is devoted to her friends and family. She always makes food for gatherings because “food is love.” She has spent her whole life giving, never asking for anything in return.
That’s where this GoFundMe account comes into play. After three years of treatment with a not-so-great doctor, Summer wishes to find a new doctor, but realizes that she must ask for help for that to happen. Most Lyme-literate doctors are Naturopathic Doctors and are not covered by many insurance companies. This is completely absurd as an ND is educated in all of the basic sciences that an MD is, plus has education in holistic and nontoxic therapies, but this is not the platform for my diatribe on the socially unjust treatment of Lyme patients.
All of the money donated to Summer’s GoFundMe account will be used for her treatment and well being. Your generosity will pay for office visits, any and all medications not covered by insurance, IV antibiotic treatments if necessary, prescription vitamins and supplements, prescription probiotics, organic food (diet is critical to Lyme patients), as well as any other unforeseen medical, physical, or mental health support required (such as massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, counseling, ER visits, etc.)
My best friend is an asset to our community in so many ways, and it pains me to see her struggle. Please consider donating whatever you can. Think about it; if 10,000 people donated just one dollar, we would be at our goal! Thank you so much for taking the time to read her story. If you or anyone you know has been touched by Lyme or chronic disease, please invest in the cure.
With love and gratitude,
Raea Zani
Organizer and beneficiary
Raea Zani Yoga
Organizer
Dunbarton, NH
Summer Whitmore
Beneficiary