Ava – A Family’s Faith for her Healing

After many years of struggling with my own mysterious illness that included many doctor’s visits, misdiagnoses and medical gaslighting I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and co-infections. It wasn’t until I received my own diagnosis of Lyme, and after finding out that it can be passed congenitally, did I realize that my daughter was suffering from the same horrible disease.

In 2021, at the age of six, I had Ava tested and it came back positive. She was diagnosed with congenital Lyme disease and co-infections, that I unknowingly passed to her in utero. Ava had many symptoms over the years that we just didn’t piece together. As a baby, she had stomach issues and had very bad reactions to vaccines. At age two, we noticed that Ava didn’t develop her speech like other two-year-olds her age. She could only say a few words. By age three, we took her in to the doctor with these concerns and they diagnosed her with moderate to severe autism. Ava had cognitive difficulties and learning disabilities. She struggled with her expressive and receptive language. She had trouble focusing, sitting still for even short periods of time, communicating with others, and forming friendships. She was also sensitive to sound and very emotional. We came to realize that Ava did not have autism, she had symptoms of congenital Lyme disease.

We now had two people in our household that were positive for Lyme disease and at that time I was unable to work due to my health issues. We are a one-income family living in the affluent Silicon Valley, CA and the financial burden that fell upon my husband’s shoulders to treat both me and Ava was overwhelming.

While I was doing a google search on Lyme disease, I stumbled across LymeLight Foundation. I read how they award families with grant money to help with testing and treatment. I decided to apply. We were overwhelmed with joy when we received the news that Ava had been awarded a grant. Receiving the grant money opened so many doors for us. It has allowed us to take Ava to see an LLMD in Arizona that specializes in treating children with Lyme disease and co-infections. Ava has been able to get the proper testing and is now on a specialized treatment protocol.

Ava has been making great gains. She has come a long way in her speech and is able to effectively communicate with others now. She enjoys forming friendships with other children, she is also growing academically whereas before she had some significant struggles. She now enjoys participating in sports and is currently in gymnastics and thriving.

We know that “faith is the substance of things HOPED for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).” Even though we didn’t know how it would happen, we had the faith to believe that God is faithful and that He would bring healing to our daughter. “For we know that with God all things are possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23).” That hope wouldn’t have been possible without the kindness and generosity of the LymeLight Foundation. They have truly been a Godsend for our family. We cannot thank them enough for the lifesaving grant that they gave our daughter. We will forever be grateful for this life-changing opportunity that she has been given.