After a lifetime of her family searching for the root to her suffering, Heather was clinically and laboratory dx w/Late Stage Lyme disease at age 15. By this time, the stealth pathogens, as with so many who are diagnosed in the later stages, had disseminated deep into her body, involving every system, causing life- threatening complications and systemic injury to her organs.
The Lyme and co-infections (to include Babesiosis, Bartonella, Mycoplasma) and a number of other vector related virals, crossed her blood brain barrier, inducing encephalitis, swelling of her brain lining and severe papilledema. She was going blind. “Lyme-induced complications” led to severe drug reactions, even at pediatric doses. Today she is drug resistant. Heather’s LD medical team have worked together to save her life; each one has honored an agreement to ensure open communication with one another, in spite of the fact that the team are geographically far apart. This was to ensure that no contraindications would be allowed to occur. Over the past 4 years, Heather’s family has had to research into the depths of the disease and study all methods of treatment.
She continues her battle, but has come a long way. Her vision has been restored. She is on a customized, lab-monitored, herbal and complimentary medicine protocol to include several physical therapies.
“Heather is a stellar patient” is a common comment from her docs as they have seen her fight through the pain and complexities. Her attitude is one of determination to win the race set before her. She has hope and inspires others by choosing to allow her experience to be shared, so that Lyme disease education can spread. She fights daily, as do so many of our beautiful young people, to win her battle. It is a difficult disease to understand if one has not experienced it personally. Lyme patients, like Heather, push themselves often at a cost, but, there is a determination to win in spite of the realities that most do not see. Heather relies on her unshakable faith as a young Christian woman.
Her hope is to earn her degree as a Stylist/Runway Coordinator and Fashion Designer. Sharing her gifts of artistic, elegant modesty is unwavering. She is excited for God’s plan for her life. Granted a Make-A-Wish in 2008, Heather, with the help of Pure Fashion and many volunteers, raised research funds through her fashions. http://www.facebook.com/l/602ea;www.stylebyheatherrose.com tells her story & offers LD education.
Her charity: The Lyme Disease Association.
A warrior, role model for LD children, young adults and families across the U.S., she advocates for you. She hopes, as her body heals, to premier some of her fashion designs on a runway in Fall of 2010. This, too will be a charity event for Lyme research.
She is really quite understated but recognizes the political warfare of the disease that her body has had to fight. “I share my story, because my hope is for no one to ever know the suffering that my Lyme friends and I have known. My dream is to contribute towards the research for that gold standard test and a cure. My family serves as Lyme disease educators to help get the word out about the importance of early detection.” My favorite quote from Pamela Reeves is: 'Faith is realizing that I am useful to God not in spite of my scars but because of them.'
"I love the necklace that The Mah family has designed and I hope that if you choose it as a gift for a loved one, you will be blessed.”
Heathers necklace is an antique brass rose with Swarovski crystals and antique gold rose and awareness ribbon. It is 20 ½ inches to the bottom of the rose. The chain is 17 inches to the top of the rose.
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