Yesterday was our semi-weekly visit over to the West Coast of Florida for our in-office Lyme treatments. Our normal 3 hour drive ended up taking closer to 4 hours, between dealing with traffic and frequent potty stops. It’s quite the trek ,but I really enjoy the time with my kids in the car. We love singing through our favorite soundtracks and the time in the car provides opportunity for invaluable conversations. The drive home almost always includes a shared appraisal of the gorgeous colors painted across the sky as the sun sets. In a world that is constantly bombarding us with more and more to do, and less time to simply “be” together, these trips are becoming treasured 
moments with my kiddos. But not everything about these trips is fun and games…
When we got to the medical center yesterday my 9 year old started to panic about getting her IV placed for her UBI (Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation) treatment. She has Asperger’s which affects her ability to regulate emotions and any change in routine greatly increases her anxiety. She has always been the second one in our family to get her IV placed, but yesterday they wanted to do her IV first. This just about caused her to have a complete melt down. I went ahead and had them place my IV first, and then sat her on my lap to calm her down.
“Why do I even have to get an IV? Why don’t the other girls have to get UBI? It isn’t fair….” and on she went. I was calmly reminding her that she needs it to fight her Lyme, but she just continued to work herself up with all the ways it was so unfair. It was at this point that I was likely deemed a very uncaring mom by everyone else in the IV room. (I honestly didn’t look around for their reactions because I wasn’t parenting for their approval.) I firmly told her to look at me. When her eyes finally locked into mine I told her directly-
“You are right, it’s NOT fair. Life is NOT fair. It will NEVER be fair! But that is why we have to look for the good things, the positives that we have.”
It may seem harsh to tell a nine year old that life will ALWAYS be unfair. It certainly goes against our current culture that wants to make everyone a winner and not cause discomfort or distress for anyone. But it won’t help my child to teach her anything but the truth. LIFE IS NOT FAIR! But that doesn’t mean that life is not good or beautiful. If we live life always looking for it to be fair, we will always be disappointed. But if we understand that life can be both unfair and blessed, we can focus our attention on looking for the blessings. She calmed down as we discussed how she would likely get over her respiratory infection faster because of the UBI. And how blessed we were that God answered our prayers by allowing Mr. Frank to be working. Mr. Frank is phenomenal at placing IVs! I helped support her arm, and counted as she attempted to deep breathe (she needs more work at this), and within seconds her IV was in and her treatment was started. My little guy was a trooper when it came time to start his IV, and within minutes they were both quietly playing their Kindles while their UBI treatments were underway. 
They hooked up my IV with a Meyer’s Cocktail followed by a hydrogen peroxide treatment. I usually only do IV treatments about once a month, because our first priority is making sure the kid’s treatments are financially covered. Last month we got word that each of our children received a grant from the Lyme Light Foundation, to help cover their supplements and treatments for the next few months. This is a HUGE help! In September we also had an anonymous giver offer to do a matching gift up to $3700 for all funds raised during the month. Thanks to SO many generous donations we raised the full matching gift amount! I can’t even begin to tell you how overwhelmed with gratitude both my husband and I were at the loving generosity showered on our family. We were not only able to get the sauna we had been needing for over two years, but now I am able to get treatments twice a month as well. The cost of supplements and medications for a family of 6 with Lyme is crazy high, and that is before we add in any in-office treatments, lab work or extra doctor appointments. It would be so easy to look at the financial burden of treating a family with Lyme and think about how unfair it is. It’s unfair that all four of my children contracted congenital Lyme! But I can’t even type those words without reading the “blessings between the lines”- I have four children! I am so beyond blessed to be their mommy! 
So many women with chronic Lyme struggle with infertility and multiple miscarriages. We miraculously have had 5 children, and were allowed to keep and raise 4 here on earth! And we have certainly seen God show up in BIG ways to provide through the love and generosity of so many amazing people. My blessings far surpass the inequitable circumstances in my life!!!
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:8 & 19 (NIV)
Resources:
- What is Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation? https://innovativemedicine.com/solutions/ultraviolet-blood-irradiation-therapy/
- What is a Meyer’s Cocktail? http://www.theremedyroom.com/2014/01/what-is-a-meyers-cocktail/
- More information on Hydrogen Peroxide Therapies: http://drglennwilcox.com/index.php/What/Hydrogen-Peroxide-Therapy.html
- Information about the Lyme Light Foundation: https://lymelightfoundation.org/
- Our Medical Treatments Fundraiser page – set up and managed by my dear friend Megan: https://www.gofundme.com/Ginger-Jesse