Brain: Re: Re: Why is paralyzed?

[Guest guest]

, I will put this on my website as well.  I think, like Dr. Thrasher had

suggested, if can not travel if they could at least make phone contact with

Dr. Gray it could help.  Darlene

From: tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...>

Subject: [] Re: Why is paralyzed?

Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 10:31 PM

,

Thanks for posting this. I have spoken to one of the family members

a little while ago and one problem is is to sick to travel. The

website is http://www.caringbr idge.org/ visit/angelsfora lex It is

one of those cases you just don't know what to do.

KC

--- In , <brianc8452@ ...>

wrote:

>

> I wanted to share this story.  They are asking newspapers around

the country to publish this letter on January 2.  is paralyzed

and has had many tests, but they can't find a cause.  She has had

several genetic tests and all have been negative.   and her

family were exposed to toxic mold in their home in 2004.  Maybe

that's what caused her paralysis.  Maybe not.  If you have any

ideas, please contact her family.

> ************ ********* ********* **

> 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 our 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:alexsarmy@ ... 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

> http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Lq6qotHIiCM

>

>

>

>

>

>