Welcome to Angie and Chase's CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep friends and family updated in one place. We appreciate your support, encouragement and words of hope as we navigate this vicious disease.
Angie began developing a myriad of symptoms: flu-like symptoms, dizziness, relentless fatigue and muscle pain starting about 12 years ago. Doctors diagnosed her with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Medical specialists also felt adrenal burnout and a thyroid condition were contributing to her many symptoms. But the doctors could not improve her deteriorating health. For years she would tell me “it felt as if something were poisoning her”. Ten years later, it turns out she was right. She was finally diagnosed, by a neighbor, Abby Kranitz with Chronic Lyme Disease in 2015. Lyme disease was the “poison”. One year later, our son Chase was also given the same diagnosis. Experts believe he contracted it in utero or breastfeeding.
Over this 12 year span, Angie saw 25 highly skilled doctors around the country. They knew she was from Wisconsin and tested her for Lyme, but results were negative. We now know those older tests are highly unreliable. A more recent DNA test discovered the bacteria. Most people never see the tick or bite or rash. Most sufferers average 20 doctors and 9 years undiagnosed. There is no cure for Chronic Lyme Disease.
It breaks my heart to witness the endless devastating symptoms associated with the disease. Lyme is called, "The Great Imitator" as it mimics many other diseases such as MS, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and heart disease to name a few. It has taken away so much from Angie. The pain and debilitation is constant and no medications help ease the agony. We have seen a neurologic change too, as Lyme is able to break through the blood brain barrier. She fights a daily battle just to make it through the day and sometimes can not get out of bed; something I take for granted. Chase, newly diagnosed, is hanging in there but battling severe fatigue and flu-like symptoms. Each day is a full time job involving doctors, blood tests, labs, difficult experimental protocols, supplements, medications and IVs. We are presently working with doctors in Seattle using traditional and non-traditional therapies.
A hundred years ago, a popular and effective cure for syphilis was to intentionally infect patients with malaria . This caused a severe fever that killed the offending bacteria. This is the same concept used for treating the Lyme bacteria with hyperthermia in Germany.
June 3rd, Angie and Chase are traveling to the St Georg Klinik in Bad Aibling, Germany. It is a grueling two weeks of therapies, the main procedure being hyperthermia- the raising of their internal body temps to 107 degrees combined with intravenous antibiotics . This potent combination is effective at killing the Lyme causing bacteria. I am prayerful for healing.
In the past, Angie was terrific at communicating with friends and family, this has been very difficult for her to do these last few years with the crippling exhaustion and pain. So, we thank you for your patience as we've been in a "survival" mode ...Lyme has taken much, but our faith is strong and we're prayerful for healing. Your support and encouragement would mean so much to Angie and Chase. Thanks to my parents, Barb Nutting and Chuck and Karen Nutting who individually provided significant emotional and financial support .
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