[Fwd: FROM [txlyme] Prayer Request]

[Guest guest]

I received this heart-wrenching message this

morning, and with tears

running down my face, I'm forwarding it on to this group. I feel like

the moms here have faced so many frightening experiences with

their precious children, and so many have rallied and found

remarkable, cutting edge treatments that have produced nothing

short of miracles. Maybe someone will have a "miracle"

suggestion for this destitute little girl....??? I am praying it is

so!

with blessings,

Molly

---

[txlyme] Prayer Request

Date:

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:57:58 -0600

From:

Casey

Reply-To:

txlyme

To:

SmurfyTXMom@...

This was copied and pasted today (Dec 22, 2008) from a website for a

very sick 15yo girl. I've been following her story for about a year

now. Now I'm passing this along in the hopes that you'll take a few

minutes to read her story and join me in praying for a miracle.

Chris

~~~~~~~~~~

A couple of months ago, we got encouragement and re-energized. An idea

came to me before although I really didn't know how we would be able to

get it done. The idea was to write a letter to all of the large

newspapers in the country. I began composing a letter, however as I was

writing it, I began to wonder what would be saying if she had the

power to say so. After some revisions, the letter grew into a poignant,

heartfelt plea from a young lady whose courage and will simply cannot

be measured. The letter will be distributed to over 250 newspapers

across the country and hopefully printed in their January 2nd editions.

We would like to share the letter with you today:

Hi, my name is andria Hermstad but everyone calls me . I have

an identical twin sister named Jaci and we are 15 years old. I was

always healthy but for almost 4 years now, I have been fighting an

illness that nobody seems to know what it is or why it is happening to

me. I live in Storm Lake, Iowa and I am paralyzed. I have to use a

ventilator to breathe through a hole in my throat which sometimes gets

plugged and I can't breathe. I cannot swallow food anymore so my diet

consists of liquids through a tube in my stomach. My mind still works

fine and I understand everything that is going on around me. I can't

speak either, so my mom is helping me to put my feelings on paper.

Jaci and I used to love playing sports, riding horses, and

snowmobiling. When I turned 11, I began having trouble moving my left

arm. By the end of the year, I could no longer walk. We were told to

leave our house because the cause might be environmental, so we left.we

left everything! Our dog, Gracie, couldn't even come with us. After 9

months and being in 3 different hospitals, I finally went home.

Since my illness began, we have met so many caring people. We are very

grateful for all those who have reached out and shared whatever they

could give. I am very thankful for those who have tried to help me. But

at the end of each day.I am still here.

Many times I want to scream, but I have no voice. Many times I want to

hide away in my room, but I cannot move.

I want to hug my family and tell them I love them, but I can't.

I can still move a little corner of my mouth to answer "yes" questions.

I can still cry and tears can still roll down my face, but I cannot

wipe them away.

It takes a long time to be able to communicate with my parents. Many

times it's very frustrating to get my thoughts across and then for

someone to understand me. What is more frustrating is why do the

doctors and researchers we have written to and who have the capability

to help me, choose not to help me - like I don't exist?

I want to do so much but because I am trapped inside my body, I can't.

I have been ignored by almost everyone who has the power and knowledge

to help me. I used to watch medical mystery shows and was always

overwhelmed in seeing how a doctor on the show would come forward and

do a little extra to save/help their patient. I don't know why someone

won't do that for me.? What I do know is that my illness is "atypical"

and not the obvious, which seems to be why doctors are so perplexed,

but I can't get their attention to care enough to help me. I just need

someone to care. Even Make-A-Wish denied my wish. St. Jude's never even

tried to help me. President-Elect Obama met me in my home, took his

picture with me and promised to help me, yet I still wait. My own

governor looks the other way. Nearly every national foundation and

organization my family writes to responds back saying I don't meet

"criteria". Every major news organization we write to ignores me. They

must not believe 5 minutes is worthy of helping to save my life. Has ou

r society come to the point that celebrities become a higher priority

than rescuing a child with an extremely rare condition?

Celebrities, foundations, politicians, physicians, hospitals, and the

list goes on, does not find it in their hearts to get back to me. Why?

What would you do for your loved one? All I want is someone with the

power and knowledge, to help me. I have been rejected because I don't

meet criteria.how sick do I have to get to meet "criteria"?

Recently, a local charity has offered me and my family support by

trying to help bring about awareness to my story in hopes it will save

my life before it is too late. I am fighting so hard to survive, and

even though my voice is silent, I AM SCREAMING ON THE INSIDE TO BE

HEARD! PLEASE help me! So many people have told me they love me and

they can show this by contacting everyone they know about me so my

voice can be heard. There is strength in numbers. Something as simple

as taking a few minutes to send a message to all the people in your

mailbox could make a big difference.

I am also writing big newspapers. I am asking that all newspapers come

together for one day to do something that is completely unprecedented;

publish the same letter across the country so that all may hear my

plea, on the same day, January 2nd; a fresh start to the new year.

It may only take a few minutes, but sharing my letter with someone, a

simple random act of kindness, may very well save my life. Please

prayerfully hope that I can celebrate another birthday. another

Christmas.the day I prayed I would get to graduate from high school.

But even more- a miracle to share in God's glory.

I am respectfully and passionately asking people who have the power to

move- to move for me.

I am asking those who have the ability to scream, scream for me.

I am asking those who have the capacity to talk, to be my voice.

Everybody tells me to, "keep fighting ", so I do. I fight

relentlessly.each hour of every day.

Now, I am asking people to fight WITH me and FOR me.

I don't know why doctors won't help me.will you?

Last summer, my family began "'s Army". Will you join 's Army

and help me by contacting my email at: alexsarmyhotmail

with suggestions and your ideas on how you can help me? Hopefully, and

prayerfully, I can find someone who will be willing to help me.

Those who pray, please pray for me as my faith in God has helped

sustain me in this battle.

Thank you and God Bless

Hermstad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/angelsforalex

With God, all things are possible. 19: 24-26

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible" - Reeve

Hope

Hope is a word that every heart understands.

Hope shines brighter than the brightest star on the darkest night.

Faith is bigger than the highest mountain.

And God is greater than any obstacle in your path.

Anything can be accomplished by those who fully put their hearts into

it.

The time to start is now

The place to start is here.

May hope cast its special light upon your path and God bless everything

you touch in the days and moments to come.

-Margi Harrell

------------------------------------

In addition to passing it on through newspapers, we are requesting

everybody send it along to those in your email inbox, Facebook, My

Space.etc. Thanks.

Uncle Mike

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