CONTAGION

In the year 2006, the year Noah was admitted to the hospital, the Mayo Clinic put out a statement that said, 

"97% of all diseases are caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the body at some point."  

Keep this in mind as you read this post...

Alright, that's it!

I've seriously had it and don't feel like staying silent any longer.

My disclaimer is I am not a scientist or biologist or biophysicist, so take it or leave it.

I have researched the world of viruses and bacteria now for almost 6 years.  When your kid dies of "unknown causes" but Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antigens (Lyme's Disease) were found in his blood and yours...not to mention dozens of mice died at the CDC as a result of being injected with your son's stool,  well, let's just say, your former life of caring about what's going on in Hollywood is shadowed by your secret love of research and the world of biology.  Geeky, I know.  But I eat it up!

I'm not a conspiracy theorist like some out there who think the FDA and CDC are out to kill everyone, or make millions off "creating" or releasing diseases for which, they in turn, design a drug to kill it off, and make even more billions.  That's not my gig.  Entertaining movies.  Whether it's true or not, life's too short to waste my time wondering if Big Brother is Satan or not.

And, I do not think everyone and their dog has Lyme's disease, though a lot more people do than they realize.  But Bb, (a spirochete) or the spiral shaped organism inside of a tick, biting fly, spider or mosquito, (not just ticks, people) which passes to a victim, whether it be an animal or human being, is only ONE OF OVER 300 spirochetes researchers have discovered, each of them contributing conditions and symptoms which either present or mimic an already existing disease, thus, why we have a plethora of misdiagnoses in the world today.  (This will have to be a chapter in my book...)

This only scratches the surface of why I'm worked up today, but a friend posted this on Facebook.

One, this isn't the 80's.  It's not "Forrest Gump," people.  Everyone in Africa does not have AIDS just like everyone in Russia or Ireland is not an alcoholic.  Just like every Italian guy in America isn't in the Mafia.  Just like everyone in Asia doesn't have Bird Flu.  Just like every person south of America's borders does not have Tuberculosis.  Just like every citizen of Connecticut does not have Lyme's Disease.  Just like every person in San Francisco isn't gay.  Just like every woman in Texas isn't a "Good Christian Bitch."  Just like everyone who attends church isn't righteous.  Just like every homeless person isn't unfit for society.  Just like all Right Wing Republicans aren't crazy...just like all Left Wing Liberals aren't crazy.  Just like...just like...

Just like every other ignorant stereotype that causes fear to rise up in people, often truly crippling people to the point of disease and disability, incapable of living this life to the fullest, because they are paranoid and gripped by fear.


Fear because of only knowing some of the truth, though believing they know it all.

We have friends who adopted twins from Uganda.  They were born HIV+.  They are flourishing now in the US because they have a loving family, balanced diet, and access to great medications.  And their numbers are undetectable.  If we lived in the same part of the country, you better bet your ass we'd have them over for barbecues and birthday parties and slumber parties, and I'd be devouring those sweet babies with smooches like crazy!

But guess what?!  They aren't, "My friend's kids with HIV."  They are my friend's kids.  They have names.  They are created by God just like you and I.  They aren't even defined by being adopted.  They are my friend's kids.  She doesn't have "biological kids" and "adoptive kids" she has KIDS!

If Noah had lived outside the hospital in the state he was in when we removed him from life support, would he have been defined as "that kid on life support" or would he have been Noah?

To be UNinvited to a party because a person is HIV+ is probably a blessing because, though the bloggers heart is to love those people still, it's more of a lesson in knowing who your true friends are.  And knowing who your true friends are in this life is one of the greatest gifts of all...

It's also a lesson in the reality that some people get their facts from forwarded emails that have been forwarded and forwarded and forwarded without ever going to the source and learning for themselves.  Regurgitated puke.  Lovely.  Not facts.  Fear.

Here is how HIV is spread.  

UNinvitations are how hatred is spread.

Here is how LOVE is spread.


IT'S TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR CONTAGION...

Hey Everybody!

So, not sure really who or how many are out there anymore, but in the next few days I have a couple favors to ask. The only way I can repay you is to thank you in advance for taking the time to read this, take action, and hopefully help make a healthy and lasting impression on other people's lives because you spoke up...

The first favor has to do with raising awareness for Lyme's Disease. As you may know from reading here, Noah's stool killed dozens of mice at the CDC but they never determined why. He had something infectious, but they used all his stool in the first round of testing, so never figured it out. Well, through further testing and blood work, we did find that Noah was born with the antigen for borrelia Burgdorferi, aka Lyme's Disease which was somehow given to him from me. I didn't realize it had been dormant in my body for years. Many people don't!

Continued research is being done regarding Lyme's, if it can transfer to a fetus during pregnancy, if it's presence in a small child, undetected, is the link to Autism through vaccinations and a slew of several other genetic disorders and diseases. The problem is, starting with the FDA and the CDC, not enough attention is being paid to this disease. So many people are being told it's just in their heads or have been given faulty clinical diagnoses for other things like MS, Lou Gehrig's, Rheumatoid arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, among other things. In some cases, OBVIOUSLY, those are the proper diagnoses, but in others, it's a misdiagnosis and it's the person and their family that miss out on the truth and on health.

So, yes, you know I don't watch Oprah anymore, not because I hate her, because I don't. Mostly it's b/c I rarely watch TV, but I know that is rare. We all know that in the media, if Oprah endorses or draws attention to something, it becomes a household name. Well, I am part of a Lyme Network. I receive emails, and as you all know, I still do research because I want to spare any other parent the journey I have travelled and continue to walk. Well, apparently there's a 'call' for topic interest on Oprah's web site and Dr. Oz is looking into bringing up Lyme's on the show. Below is the info. Would you please, please, PLEASE write in? You don't even have to have suffered from Lyme's but just writing in that you know of families who have been affected by it is so helpful. Believe me, I don't think that this is the only way to raise awareness, but it is a step forward.

Forwarded from Open Eye producer Kris Newby
Thanks to all of the people who wrote in to Oprah! We need to ask you another favor -- to write in again! Dr. Oz will be looking at this link!

Even if you wrote before, write again and ask Dr. Oz and Oprah to do a show on UNDER OUR SKIN and the controversy of chronic Lyme. Dr. Oz is interested but needs to see bigger response. Our last community page had 140-some comments. There were 150 people who wrote in to a recent question about toilet paper -- certainly we can get more people to write in about something as serious and life changing as Lyme disease.

Everyone spread the word! Write in and ask your friends to write in. Please - we don't have much time!

Click here to go to the link.


Believe me, I could write a dissertation about the effects of borrelia Burgdorferi on the human body. It is not just a little bug that attacks the body, like catching a cold. It's a stealth organism that attacks the cells of the body, can sit dormant for YEARS undetected, and when imbalance takes a toll on your body, it's activated to wreak havoc. It is not a respecter of persons and IT IS NOT LIMITED TO LYME, CT, or the Upper Northeast! People from every state in the union have tested positive for the antigen for Lyme. We all hate the word 'CANCER'. We all need to hate the word 'DISEASE', in general!

*You don't have to give your street address on the email link form above. If you'd like a suggestion as to what to say, shoot me an email at: adexoxox@gmail.com

Here's what I wrote, fyi:

Hello Dr. Oz. Apparently for the last several years I have had Lyme's Disease. I say 'apparently' because one, I didn't know I had it, and thus, didn't know it could sit dormant for years. I had symptoms over the last 20 years but never thought they were anything other than the average flu or strep infections. The only reason I was made aware of my condition was due to a 5.5 month stay in the hospital with my 7 wk old son, Noah. I took him in for chronic diarrhea but he was admitted for nystagmus testing. Then, his stool killed dozens of mice at the CDC (sent in for botulism, as a precaution for his hypotonia). To make a very, very long story short, after one and a half months, the ICU physicians, neurologists and geneticists were at a loss for diagnosis. They clinically wanted to call it a leukodystrophy, but couldn't because of normal lab test results, including DNA sequencing, and the infectious stool at the CDC, which was inconclusive. Finally, we sent our own samples to reputable labs for testing through outside doctors. Noah's blood and mine both showed the antigen for borrelia Burgdorferi, but not the antibodies. There are so many schools of thought on how Bb is transmitted. I don't really care about that. There will always be politics in medicine. My concern as a mother of a deceased child (we ultimately had to remove Noah from life support after 5.5 months w/o answers) and as a woman considering pregnancy in a later stage of life now, though Lyme free, is the lack of attention the FDA and CDC pays to this devastating disease. My question for you is why is Lyme's so 'hush hush'? There are many speculations, including some research, regarding Bb's link to many other horrible conditions. Are you willing to raise awareness, to think outside the box, and to educate the many millions of people who watch Oprah daily about the truth about Lyme and how it silently affects thousands, if not more, of people everyday? I appreciate your time.


The other favor is about the book. I'll ask later this week...Thanks, you guys!

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!

So...I'm clean! By natural testing, the homeopathic remedy worked and Doc Julie cannot detect borrelia Burgdorferi, aka Lyme's Disease, in my body! I asked her if she was sure! I mean, REALLY? Seriously!?!? For as much as I know I've had it my whole life, but all I know now is...I DON'T! She assured me that I test just like Em and Jason and all her other clients who have always tested negative. She said she and the traditional doc she works with in California with Lyme's patients have had huge success, even the ones on years of antibiotics, with this homeopathic regimen. Of course, being that Doc Julie is my dear friend, she said, "You know what this means..." And proceeded to do an interpretive dance for a big, round pregnant belly! I told her to slow down...to at least let me enjoy the moment!

I listed it before, and it can only be given to you by a licensed naturopathic doctor, but here is the information, again, for anyone wanting to try an alternative treatment to the traditional regimen you've been on...

I think I'm still in shock so have to just go on a walk or sit in my room and process it all...as far as the 'big, round pregnant belly'...I'd be foolish to think that I'm in control of that :)

Lyme stuff...sorta...

Well, I'm sucking it up and FINALLY going back to the doctor (naturopath) today to see how the homeopathic remedy worked, if it's active, if it's weakened or worsened. Yeah, I did the treatment in October, and A LOT of people in my shoes probably would have run right away upon completion of treatment to learn results...I'm not them, and that's okay. Not obsessing about it for the last several months but being able to just enjoy one day at a time has been good for my heart and mind. I feel good, but for the most part, save a few flare ups that resembled long-lasting flu or mono type symptoms, or sporadic strep infections, I've felt 'good' all along. That is what is so interesting to me. The guy on the subway in NYC who asked me, "Is it possible that Noah was simply born with the antigen (for borrelia Burgdorferi, aka Lyme's Disease)?", his question is so intriguing to me. Maybe today when I go to see Doc Julie I'll learn that the Bb is still present in my body. Maybe it will be gone. Maybe I was born with it? Who knows? (Theory* Maybe being born with it is something quite common but the introduction of other bacterial infections and viruses trigger it's activity and depending on the fortitude of the host, determines the extent of its damage.)

What I do know is that regardless of how that antigen worked in my son's body, it didn't define him and it doesn't define me. We all struggle with different things in life, different struggles, fears, diseases, ailments, battles, physical and spiritual, but the truth is, those things, all of them, no matter their outcome, they help mold us and shape us but they don't 'define' us. I may be the mom of a little guy who died of an unknown disease, and yes, I talk about it and continue to do research to help others, but when it comes down to it, it's Who I met face to face, intimately, passionately, in the midst of that journey that allows me to see my worth in Him and point me on the path He has drawn out for me. What we do with the life we've been given is IMPORTANT. But, it is Christ in us, the hope of glory, that gives that life eternal value.
(Random thoughts...as usual...)

Kind of a big deal

Well, long story short, Noah had the antigen for borrelia Burgdorferi (Bb) in his blood. He did not have the antibodies. Bb is a spirochete (a spiral shaped organism) that acts in a stealth manner and attacks the body at the cellular level. Bb morphs between a cystic phase where it is dormant and an active phase. Bb can remain dormant for years in your body, many times with the infected person not even knowing of its presence, until a flare up occurs, which can be aggravated by different things. Bb is the reason for Lyme's disease...it is what lives inside the infected tick, or other vector, that delivers the disease to the infected person. We sent my blood off while Noah was in the hospital...they found over 6 spirochetes in my blood...theoretically, my breast milk should have provided Noah with the antibodies to strengthen his sweet little body...but my body wasn't producing the antibodies because it obviously wasn't recognizing Bb as foreign. Does this make sense?

Well, doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer was great, but it also took a toll on my body and aggravated my Bb. And, I'm finally going to do something about it. It's taken me a while, obviously, to take this step. Seeing as how I don't have a lot of confidence in traditional Western medicine, I've chosen not to follow their Lyme's protocol which is 3 weeks of antibiotics, covered by insurance. That 'protocol' works only if you've just been infected, not in the case of chronic Lyme's disease. Chronic Lyme's patients usually need months, even up to a year, of hard core antibiotic treatments, and even then, relapses may occur. And besides, I tested 'negative' on the ELISA test, having only one antibody, therefore, according to their standards, a negative result...though my blood was sent to the guy's lab in CA who invented the ELISA test for the CDC, and that's where the spirochetes showed up in my blood. Interesting! I won't go off on many of my conspiracy theories...

Anyway, the reason I am sharing this here is because for over two years now I have done countless hours of research on this topic. Tomorrow is another part of the puzzle, and since many of you were here during the journey, I wanted to include you in this, as well. Tomorrow I will begin a homeopathic remedy for Bb. There are ten vials in all and I need to take one every three days. I am going to journal how I feel as it's possible that I may not feel amazing during this treatment. After one month, my doc will test me and see if I need to do another round. I am really excited and nervous at the same time. The part that will be the most difficult is the way I have to eat during the treatment. I have to avoid all things white, meaning; flour, sugar, processed carbs, white rice, and dairy. For the most part I eat this way, which means I'll be eating meat and veggies, which I like, but it's the chocolate that I don't know how I'll do without :)

For the record, one, I don't ever recall being bit by a tick, though it could have happened. Two, Noah never got bit by a tick, obviously...I've been bitten by countless mosquitoes, a few nasty spiders, biting flies, and hundreds of ants, but don't recall a tick bite. And three, Jason and Emily both test negative for Bb.

Depending on how or if this treatment works, which, by the way, a doc in CA and my doc here have had success with...well...

***10/13 a.m.: I already found a loophole! Ghirardelli natural unsweetened cocoa with 100% lactose free whey protein, stevia extract, ice, scoop unsweetened almond butter, original rice milk, and a Tbsp of Udo's 3/6/9 omega oil (and a banana if you aren't worried about glycemic index issues)...for anyone wanting chocolate and not able to eat the foods I mentioned above. I'm good at finding loopholes!