Why is paralyzed?

[Guest guest]

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.

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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