An Update, Finally

This is Tina.  I apologize for the lack of updates.  My mom was sick while caring for my children and I have been gone every day for 2 weeks, all day long.  I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support.  I have often felt overwhelmed to the point of tears thinking of the love being shown to us for the past weeks.  

I went through two weeks of intense treatments, therapy and testing.  Every day I was surrounded by amazing staff who shared my faith in Jesus Christ.  I was often encouraged in the Word by those who were working with me daily.

The way I like to explain my care at the Hansa is I had a doctor who viewed my health as a big puzzle.  A puzzle that is broken apart with some pieces missing.  The doctor is spending time every day finding those pieces and working at putting the puzzle back together.  Some of the health issues are greatly related to the trauma of illness years ago.  Some are related to a weak immune system.   Some are just "little" things that make a big difference in the whole picture of things.

When I first walked into Hansa I was in a lot of pain.  I was extremely fatigued, finding the simplest things in life extremely difficult. 

The first day of treatment it was clearly evident to me that the doctors and staff at Hansa care very much about their patients.  I knew I was in a place where we were going to figure things out.  The first thing the Dr. began to address is my weak thyroid.  By day 4 I had amazing results.  The first thing I noticed is clear vision.  SO clear I had a headache!  I also lost all mental confusion and fog.  I was so excited1  By the first Friday I was feeling so well that the doctor sent me home early.  Some of the therapies are detox therapies and he did not want to mess things up by doing this.

I did well until Saturday afternoon and I crashed.  My second week was up and down.  Wednesday I had what is called a pseudo stroke after one of my treatments.  I was falling over and experienced the right side of my face going "dead".    It was then that the dr. found out my blood is really thick and deoxygenated (my blood is actually purple).  The blood pooled up in the base of my skull causing a pseudo stroke.  This, obviously, is not normal.  Figuring out why is a process.

So, long story short, some of the puzzle pieces are as follows:

~I am anemic.

~My thyroid is weak.  

~I have weakened organs, but with treatment I am getting stronger!

~I had toxic levels of bacteria causing ammonia in my system.

~I had toxic levels of barium in my system.

~Epstein Barr Virus is wreaking havoc in my system.

~I have systemic poison ivy, which amazingly causes a myriad of health problems!  The doctor is treating my husband and older sons as well for systemic poison ivy.

~I am dealing with asthma.

~I have a wheat allergy.

~Tests revealed some certain chemicals are taking a toll on my system.  

There may be more issues that I am forgetting at this late hour but these are the major ones.  The doctor is working with me to resolve these issues.  Some things are going really well.  Some things are going to simply take time.  I spent the whole day today in a great deal of pain.  My pI go back to the dr. on Thursday and Friday for more testing and treatment.  

We were so very blessed by the doctor this past week as a family.  When it was discovered that I had barium poisoning my doctor asked how hard it would be to bring all of my children in to my next appointment.  He wanted to test them as well and offered to do so for free.  That next day my husband brought my precious 11 children to the clinic during my appointment with the doctor.  

He tested each of my children and my husband for barium poisoning (some were positive, some were not), chemical stress and the wheat allergy.  Every single one of my birth children tested positive for wheat allergy.  I was not surprised.  Everyone tested positive for the certain chemical of concern.  He not only tested for free, but gave every single member of our family what we need to combat the barium and chemical toxins but deal with the wheat allergy as well.  He also noticed a need in my 3 year old son and worked on his skull to release pressure.  He was a completely different boy that night!!!

We have all been so blessed by this place and feel confident that it is where The Lord wanted me to be.  I am thankful the doctor has not given up on me and is determined to figure out some of the hidden issues, like my pain (which is and the swelling of my lymph nodes (which IS getting better with treatment as well).

Thank you, again for your thoughts, prayers and financial support during this difficult time!  God is so faithful!

From Tina

I want to thank everyone for their love, care and concern during this difficult time for my family.  I wanted to explain a little more what is going on, so those who have heard of my situation through others can better understand our need. 

Eight and a half years ago I was bitten by a brown recluse spider.  Instead of opening up, like a brown recluse spider bite will do, mine internalized.  The bite became red, hot and swollen within 24 hours.  Within 48 hours I was extremely ill.  My temperature was 105, I was swollen twice my normal size and was covered in a sunburn type rash.  I was vomiting and experiencing extreme pain all over my body.

Upon arriving at the hospital I was immediately admitted into the trauma unit.  My regular doctor believed my kidneys were failing.  My blood pressure was drastically dropping and my heart was racing.

Doctors struggled to figure out what was wrong with me.  They began trying several rounds of different antibiotics and narcotics for the agonizing pain I was in.  Nothing worked, even the pain medications.  My regular doctor came in at one point and admitted that they did not know what to do for me, but would keep trying. 

After several days I continued to vomit and experience overwhelming pain.  I knew I was dying.  It wasn’t until 4 days later, when the infectious disease specialist came in, when my story would change.  He asked me how I was feeling and I told him it felt like my tongue had been scalded.  He asked to see it and it was then that he told me that it was raw and bloody.  He turned to the doctor next to him and told him they needed to begin treating for staphylococcus toxic shock immediately.

What happened in the several hours after this were torment.  First I had to have a vein catheter in my arm so the chosen medication could be administered straight into my heart, as the medication would destroy the veins.  It was extremely painful.  I sobbed through the whole procedure.  Next I had a spinal tap done.  I was already in so much pain, but this seemed more than I could bear.  As soon as that was done doctors wheeled in an ultrasound machine and gave me the news that they got the wrong vein.  They had to pull out the catheter and redo it.  Again, I cried through the whole thing.

After 12 hours on this ($19,000!!!!) medication my fever went down, as did the swelling of my body.  While I was showing signs that the medication was working on the infection, my heart was showing great stress.  I was hooked up to heart monitors.  I would suddenly feel like a pile of bricks were placed on my chest and my heart rate would drop into the 30’s.  I felt like I was going to die.

After an expensive week I was released from the hospital with the orders that I was not being released because I was well, but because I was better.  It was true.  I went straight home to bed and continued to suffer the effects of the infection.  My heart was obviously under stress.  My head pounded in agonizing pain.  I could barely see.  I struggled to walk on my own.  I was afraid to go to sleep at night for fear that I would not wake up again. 

A couple weeks later I found out I was pregnant.  I was terrified for my baby.  I spent the entire pregnancy very ill and terrified for her life.   My pregnancy ended with a cesarean and a difficult recovery.

Over the years the story has been much of the same.  In and out of emergency rooms and hospitals with complications.  More surgeries.  More antibiotics.  My system was down and had no fight left.  My immune system was down and any “normal” virus ended up in a huge ordeal for me.  Last year I ended up with a mono infection that left me in terrible pain for 4 months and an affected liver.  I spent hours throwing up, in and out of the emergency room and struggling to move because of the pain I was in.

Recently, after the birth of my last baby 3 months ago, I felt my health start to decline more rapidly.  The pain returned.  Sometimes I sat in my chair and all I could do was cry.  The fatigue was overwhelming.  My heart seemed to work so hard to do anything.  My lymph nodes started swelling throughout my body.  One in my neck swells to the size of a golf ball sometimes daily.  I cried out the Lord for help and for guidance.

A friend of mine had recently gone there for treatment of her debilitating Lyme Disease. I personally saw an amazing transformation in my very sick friend.  This is when my husband and I started to consider the Hansa Center for treatment.  I have been there for 3 days now.  Daily I find myself surrounded by strong Christian doctors and staff who deeply care about what is going on with me.  I begin each day with the doctor who spends an hour or longer with me.  Through testing we are finally getting answers. 

So far we know that the infection weakened my organs.  My heart, as the doctor explained it, is running on 1% battery power.  My kidneys are very weak and my thyroid is low functioning.  My liver and spleen are overloaded.   I am also suffering anemia.  The infection also caused a build up of ammonia in my system. 

Answers.  We are finally getting answers!  I am finally feeling hopeful and I am so thankful I can do so while openly sharing WHERE my hope is coming from with those who are working to find answers for me. 

I am still undergoing tests and treatment and will continue to do so for another week and a half.  I am noticing small changes right now.  Last night I slept for 5 hours.  It was the first time in years I woke up feeling really rested.  My body slept.  It was amazing!

I am still experiencing pain, but not the extent I was when I walked into the clinic.  My lymphatic system is still fired up.  The lymph node in my neck and the glands in my mouth were very swollen throughout today.  We are trying to figure out the issues with my heart and how to treat them.  I am still tired but feel periods of relief that give me so much hope!!

More than anything I am so thankful for what the Lord is doing through this decision we have made.  I am away from my children, and that is hard, but this time has been a wonderful time to focus on Him and His Word while I am away.  My mom is here for as long as I need her to be and she is an amazing help with the children!  She has even been organizing the house J. 

I am so thankful for the love and support that has been shown to us during this time!  I am humbled and just so thankful!  I hope writing has answered questions for those who do not know me.  More than anything, thank you for praying for me and my family during this time!

Donating options available!

In the right sidebar you will now see options for donating through Fundly or Paypal.  These funds go directly to Tina.  We have not yet figured out how to add the funds we have already received in the Fundly tracking.  So far we are near $1500!  Praise the Lord for His provisions!

A Fresh Hope

Please read Why 1000 People? if you are not yet familiar with this need.  

Tina's treatment begins Monday morning at 10:30am.  A few days ago she was in constant pain.  The ups and downs of pain have been pretty constant for her over the past year and a half.  The past few days she has been able to move around easier and has even gotten out of the house a couple of times.  She has trouble with trying to climb or go down stairs.  Her lymph nodes are still swelling and she is extremely tired.  We are all eager to see what is in store for her through this treatment!

Be sure to like the facebook page for updates.  She will be going through diagnostic testing on Monday.

We also hope to have a donate button up shortly.  If you wish to donate please contact me at 1000peoplex10@gmailDOTcom and I can tell you how to go about that. 

We are tracking the numbers coming in!  God is working in amazing ways already and this is only day 2!!!