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Amanda’s Story

Site created on September 13, 2019

Amanda Lynch on her 18th birthday became sick. This sickness has led to a sever Listeria Meningitis infection attacking her spinal fluid. This blog of Amanda's struggle is written by her mother Alisha and father Dave. Hopefully soon Amanda herself can contribute to the journal entries expressing her own thoughts and feelings as she recovers.

Please follow the medical updates, thoughts, fears, frustrations and joys we experience throughout this challenging time.
Please also record your own thoughts, kind words and encouragement. We hope Amanda can read these postings to gather strength, courage and encouragement during her healing process.

Amanda finally returned home on November 17th from acute rehab.

This is Amanda's autobiography written when she was 9 years old.
My name is Amanda A. Lynch. When I was born, Daddy cut my umbilical cord. I was born on September 10th, 2001. I was very small, weighing only 5 lbs. In 2005, my sister was born. Her name is Marni. Daddy didn’t cut Marni’s umbilical cord, he thought it was gross.

Yankee, the family dog, lived from 1998 to 2009. He was our black- lab husky mix. Now, we have Trooper. He is a cattle dog, Shiba inu, and husky mix. My cat Tatertot is a male tabby, medium hair. We got Tater from Daddy’s friend’s farm. Tator’s “father”, Deuce, is also a male tabby. We also have a Leopard gecko named Skeeta and a Bearded dragon named Spike, and if the beardie is a girl its name will change to probably Spika or Spikalina. I am training Trooper to be a sled dog, guide dog, AND police dog. When I’m ten, Daddy will buy me a rabbit I will name Quickster and he will be white with grey spots. Now he regrets ever even TALKING about a rabbit, but he’s stuck with his deal, so HA! HA! , Daddy! I love animals. Mama and I go to the Humane Society frequently. When I grow up, I am going to be a farmer. The name of my farm will be: Retired Racehorse Racing Stables or Triple R Stables. I plan to make lots of money.

I like to write story’s with Daddy. I have a great imagination. My grandma LOVES to knit and sew. She taught me how to use a sewing machine. Both my grandpas died before I was born. One died of a heart attack and the other died of cancer.

I am in Girl Scouts (GS), baseball, choir, and religion. In religion, Mr. Meisinger teaches us and gives us a quiz. I usually get the answers right so we get gummies. In Girl Scouts, I have already earned 3 GS patches. My favorite one is the Minnesota Zoo patch, because I got to sleepover at the MN Zoo. For choir, my favorite song is: Maria Walks Amid the Thorn. When I played baseball, in the last round, our team came in 3rd place. My dad was the coach!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Dave Lynch — Mar 2, 2021

The Lynch family has declared this day a day of Thanksgiving. Our heroine fought and conquered her illness coming out the other side a strong independent woman. Amanda has proven that her illness was truly a temporary set back to a life full of promise and new adventures. Today is the 1 year anniversary of Amanda coming home from her last stay at St Joseph's Hospital. Since that day Amanda has grown stronger, wiser and is defining who she has become. She has changed from a very creative person, head in the clouds living an alternate fantasy world in her head, to a person more down to earth and present in the moment experiencing the world around her. Unfortunately, this leaves Amanda with the challenge of re-discovering her pleasures and future plans.

The source of Amanda's illness was never discovered, reinforcing the notion, if COVID wasn't enough, that the world is still full of forces powerful enough to bring us to the edge of existence. As I finish this entry we finish this journal of Amanda's saga. Alisha, Amanda, Marni and I thank everyone following our journey and pray that you and your own stay healthy, happy and appreciate each day for the life it gives.

Read More of the journal titled "A saga ends and a new journey begins..."

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