This plumfund is closed.
Make Your Own!
A medical fund forSarah Churng
Bringing Sarah Back to Life
Started by: Amirali Java for Sarah Churng
Bringing Sarah Back to Life
The following script is based on notes from a voice-recorded interview with Sarah in August 2016 about her ongoing battle with Lyme Disease:
//-----------------------
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS ARE MY LIVELIHOOD. For most of my life I have worked hard to be a contributor, a helper, and the orchestrator of solutions for complex, even seemingly intractable problems. I've always felt compelled to make things better than how I found them. So the reality that I've remained unable to fix or even improve my own health has been extremely embarrassing to admit, even to myself. But, I've come to a point in my life where I now need others to help make me better.
I HAVE LATE STAGE AUTOIMMUNE LYME DISEASE. A degenerative disease about which I knew very little before my diagnosis. (Links at bottom)
My doctors tell me that the Lyme and co-infections are closely tied to over 25 years of undiagnosed/misdiagnosed symptoms. From a very young age, I have had auto-immune symptoms that eluded doctors. It started with frequent fevers and lung infections when I was 9, followed by decades of joint pain, fatigue, and waking up feeling often like I’d been poisoned, stabbed, and thrown under a bus. Despite chronic symptoms, I learned to mask my pain, and I prevailed in taking care of myself and pursuing my goals. But this facade has come down now, as my symptoms have become debilitating. Worse still, I am told that my condition is progressing, putting me at a daily increasing risk of succumbing to sepsis or developing cancer.
Right now my best two options for moving forward are both cutting edge, end-of-the-line treatment options.
• Connors Clinic for Lyme and Cancer: http://connersclinic.com/lymes-disease/
• Lyme and Cancer Clinic of Germany: http://lymeandcancerservices.com/
Both treatments have high success rates for many chronic sufferers and are for me my first glimpse of hope in what has been a truly disheartening prognosis. Autoimmune Lyme is incredibly complex to treat, and relapse is a scary and common reality. In addition to addressing the infections, I have to be properly treated for immune support and detox. But, treatments are unfortunately highly expensive. This is because even though the CDC recognizes that Lyme can result in organ failure and death, the Infectious Disease Society of America does not recognize Lyme in chronic stages, which allows insurance companies to reject coverage of longterm treatment.
Although I’ve come to accept that my life now is not what I've worked for, I’ve also come to realize that I still have more fighting to do. I do not know what is in store for me next, but I DO know that I cannot continue to live the way that I am. *This* is not living...
A TYPICAL DAY NOW:
• If I'm lucky, I sleep for more than 3 consecutive hours. Joint pain, inflammation, headaches, and weird muscle tremors wake me up consistently.
• I carefully roll myself out of bed—methodically so as not to strain the inflamed areas in my neck, shoulders, and hip—slowly so as not to get too dizzy.
• My parents, both in their 70s, help me move to a reclining chair, where I eat my meals, because sitting up brings back stabbing pain in my hips, and holding up my head feels like I’m balancing bricks.
• I spend a lot of time reading and researching treatments. But by afternoon a fever is ramping, and reading screens aggravates the headache and nausea. Typing sends fire ripping through my wrists and fingers.
• On good days I only have to deal with crippling fatigue or pain, not both. I can walk a bit, sit in the yard, even fall asleep. On bad days I have fevers and chest pains and throbbing joints that I just ride through.
• On days I have medical appointments, it's all I can do. I’m just tapped out from the travel and movement. I get taken to these in an old wheelchair that used to belong to my 95-year-old grandmother.
• I get some moments of peace towards dusk, when I feel some relief and even mental clarity. But, it’s not enough...
I’m seeking help for reversing this degeneration.
I’m seeking help because I can’t live this way any longer.
Please help me find a way to come alive again.
I would be forever grateful.
THANK YOU for taking the time to read my post and if you cannot donate, that’s ok, but maybe you can forward my post to someone else who would be able to.
-----------------------//
SOME LINKS ABOUT LYME DISEASE:
• What is Lyme?
https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/about-lyme/
• The Truly Complex Puzzle of Treating Lyme:
https://kimmiecakeskickslyme.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/common-abnormalities-found-in-people-with-lyme-disease/
• CDC and Lyme
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cdc-evades-accountability-lyme-epidemic-jenna-luche-thayer
*Finally, thank you to the wonderful people—Sarah's friends, former students, and coworkers who helped create this funding page.
** Note: The Wishlist to the right provides an outline of treatments Sarah needs funds for. To make a custom donation, just enter the desired amount in the payment field at the top of the page.
Wishlist
232 Supporters
- Karen Cheng6 years ago I hope your new treatments are helping you, Sarah! Yours, Karen Cheng
- Melinda White6 years ago Best wishes.
- Anonymous6 years ago
- Essy Hart6 years ago xxo E
- Camilo J Garcia6 years ago Best wishes. In lieu of contribution for scavenger deal.
- Nicole Gray6 years ago
- Erin M. Murphy6 years ago I'm excited for your event, Sarah. Best wishes. Erin
- Natasha Abner6 years ago It's gonna be awesome when you're in fighting shape again!
- Anonymous6 years ago
- Anonymous6 years ago
- Show 222 more supporters
Latest Update
Friends, Thank you for your support. It’s been another year of progress. New/s: _I DON’T have muscular dystrophy 🙂 _My body DOES degenerate connective tissue and a neuropeptide that regulates organs, nerve stress, and body temperature (likely triggered years ago by Lyme). Dang. _Sunshine restores the neuropeptide; exercise stabilizes tissue. So I take short 20min daily walks using my (Alice) walker. _I’d like to try forearm crutches for short durations. But the brand my drs recommend for EDS (smartcrutch.uk) don’t ship to the US. If you or someone you trust live abroad and can receive some highly sought-after crutches and mail them to me, I’d be so grateful—and I’d cover shipping. _In June my dad was diagnosed w/ Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and my mom became bedbound w/ spinal fractures. We’re ok. We’re also fragile and resilient and sighing a lot. _In sum, I’m ok. The situation with my parents is hard; I could use support, and visits. If you’d like to help, please reach out. Love, s
Posted by Amirali Java
July 19 at 5:50pm
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
Dear friends, One year ago today, on July 27 2017, I underwent stem cell therapy as part of a longterm protocol for systemic chronic illnesses. It is not straightforward to describe what the expedited degeneration & regeneration of damaged cells feels like. But I imagine, it’s like adding rocket fuel to an ailing Gremlin. Without careful overhead and support, all that volatile combustibility is just that—fire. I’m fortunate that, for all my "fire" moments, I’ve had so much support. (So. Much.) Here's a summary of what your contributions have helped enable: I can breathe without fear of stopping, eat without fear of not swallowing. I can listen to music again, read again, digest again. I can see the personalities in trees. I can love. I can care. I can imagine. Next week I begin neuromuscular rehabilitation. Neuro weakness still causes atrophy, myopathy, myotonia, cardiopulmonary issues, etc. Thanks to SVF, I'm ready for a more physical kind of therapy. I love you & I thank you. sc
Posted by Amirali Java
July 27 at 10:26am
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
UPDATE 3v2: Apologies for multiple posts, as my last was too long to fit in a plumfund update. Please disregard if you've already responded. Dear Friends, A NEW HOPE: As many of you know, this summer I plan to undergo a 2-week stem cell treatment at Infusio Clinic in LA. As my body degenerates unrelentingly, stem cells offer hope of real recovery: * Stromal vascular fraction cells recalibrate the body to self repair * on stem cells: https://goo.gl/xm7KPl * on SVF: https://goo.gl/2tuPws * Infusio's comprehensive program combines SVF's regenerative properties w/ immune modulation and autoimmune suppression * on Infusio: https://goo.gl/DXgiba * The success rate is high for even my decades of autoimmunity. REACHING OUT AGAIN: This new hope is the only thing that pushes me past the discomfort of asking for more support. The reality is that this is a very expensive therapy. I understand if you cannot give again, but I hope you might share my story. In gratitude & hope, SRC
Posted by Amirali Java
April 24 at 10:43am
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
Update 2: Dear friends, I know I had said previously I would be writing to thank each of you individually, but I lost wind part way and got overwhelmed with doctors and treatments. But please know I'm still deeply grateful for all your support. Progress: The past couple months I've been working primarily and extensively on stabilizing my immune system, a necessary step in autoimmune cases, to build my strength up before the surgeries and eradication work. The great news is that, despite an often 2 steps forward, 1-3 steps back pacing, it's slowly but surely taking hold; I need less frequent help with walking and am able to sit up to eat. Upcoming: There are some complications with the main surgery, however, which I was hoping to have had done in October. But I have another consultation at the end of December, and am hopeful that this new surgeon will be willing and able to proceed. Love, Sarah.
Posted by Amirali Java
December 13 at 2:53pm
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
Heather Howe — 7 years ago
h, I know you have gone through hell...but reading that blow by blow of of what your poor body has suffered breaks my heart. Your resilience through this journey is incredible- no one should have to endure such torture while also living in fear that their illness will be discovered. We had to live these cruel double lives; giving our all to behave "normal", then collapsing and getting more ill because of the forced facade. I know the charade well. I hope you get these stem cells and a chance to return to your life, live a day ( all the days!) without pain, and continue making a positive difference in this world. Love, hope, and healing to you. Give this woman stem cells!
Sarah here. Thank you all for donating. The outpouring has farExceeded what I could have hoped for-- far more than what I could have anticipated, and I am just overwhelmed in the best sense of the word. Please know your generosity and the opportunity to re-/connect with so many of you has given me a lot of pause, and gratitude, and awakened a new sense of vitality. I'm working slowly on thanking each of you individually. Please bear with me as I take my time to do so with as little copy + paste and Siri corrections as possible. Moving forward: I've begun vision pathways rehabilitation. Hoping to see a lot less double vision and move with a lot less motion sickness soon. Also, started treatments to suppress some of the worst of the autoimmune responses. Seeing some relief from the burning neuropathy already. And finally, got a new set of wheels! A tiny transport chair, that's far lighter than the one I was using before. Love and hugs, Sarah Churng
Posted by Amirali Java
September 8 at 10:46pm
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
Niki Rogers — 7 years ago
Sarah are you focusing on nutrition? Are you supplementing on a regular basis and working to restore your digestive system? There is a diet called core-22(.com) which is more of a whole body restoration. I highly recommend it, there is a guy named Sky Canine that has coached individuals with Lyme's Disease, one of which was bed ridden for over a year, and he is now a yoga instructor in California. I gain nothing in this endorsement, I just want you to feel better!
Shane Herr — 7 years ago
<3
Use Facebook to add your own comment.