Lyme, you can't kill me.

Part 1: The Sickness

Part 2: The Healing

Part 3: The After

In Part 1 and 2 you can see all that I had been through to get to "the after" of having Chronic Lyme Disease for over 10 years. At this point, my body finally went into self- healing mode. It was becoming strong, free of Lyme, and their was healing going on in my whole body. It was still a rough road, and I had days I would crash so hard. My body had to pretty much get used to not being sick. The littlest things would trigger it to freak out and have a flare up. Most of these flare ups were because of Adrenal Fatigue, which can happen when your body is over- worked, stressed, or in my case, my body had been stressed from being in survival mode for about 10 years. These also would come up because of having to be careful not only about what foods I was allergic to, but also the source of them. Smells, perfumes, cleaners and water would also trigger these. My body was getting the hang of things, and I too, was getting used to no longer having relapses or pain.

The summer of 2015 when I was going through extreme healing through a natural, holistic approach, God called me to go to college. Not just any college, but He placed a dream in my heart. To go to California. I wish I could explain more about this, but that is for a different post! ;) All I know, is that it is only a miracle my body was able to heal this fast. Natural approaches are known for being more time consuming... It heals the whole person, not just cover symptoms. It was truly a miracle that I was well enough, and a month before I had to leave, my body was in self-healing mode!

At the time I left for college, I was still a stick, my skin, eyes, and hair were looking better. But I still looked sick. My body was just starting to absorb protein and foods. Looking back at just how sick I was, I can't believe I went all the way to California! Not to mention, I never wanted to go to college, I was a homebody, and had intense food allergies, it just shows how faithful God is when He calls, and we trust Him. Through all the hardship I had been through, He was going to stretch me, and grow me even more! His dreams were becoming my own!

It was a rough first semester at school, but by the second, I was getting the hang of not only surviving, but also thriving out there. My body went through some major up and downs, but for how well it handled it, is a miracle in itself! I finally reached a healthy weight as well, this was weird to me because I hadn't gotten over 100lbs for a couple of years. To finally have a body that looked like a 19 year old, was new to me! I have to say, my hormones were still regulating so it felt like I was going through puberty again, but I knew that it was only my body fully healing from a long haul of being sick.

Now I am going into my Sophomore year of college, my body is getting stronger and stronger everyday. I am still being reminded just how fearfully and wonderfully made we are. I still have my off days, days I crash. But I remind myself when I am frustrated that this used to be my everyday life, now it only happens every few weeks- God is healing, God is doing! Currently, I have none of the issues I listed in Part 1 and 2. Everything that pops up now, is minor. My hormones are still healing, and my food allergies and sensitives to smells are something I deal with everyday. But I feel better than I EVER have in my whole life. I feel alive, alert, and excited to be on this adventure.

I look back at this last year, and am truly blow away. Not only was it my first year in 10 years without Lyme, but I also had life-changing experiences! God's blessings were almost too much to handle! I went off to college, moved out of state, went hiking to amazing places every weekend, met some awesome people, went on two backpacking trips and a two week hiking trip! I also learned to fly alone, fix my bike, and shrink a sweater.. ;) (It's part of learning right?!)

There were days when I was younger that we thought this was my life. I thought I would continue to get worse, or never get better. We had been told time after time that nobody could help. Let me tell you something- God always has a way! I am so thankful for my family, and the faith they have in trusting God with decisions that is different than the status quo. Because we didn't give up, because we knew the heart of God, I am healed. Yes, it took a while, it was a process, but I would never trade it for anything. I learned more about myself in these last 10 years than I ever would have if I never had a Chronic Illness. Seeing what God did in my life, gives me this hope when I see all of peoples situations. God always has a way.

My hope in sharing my story, is that more and more people would see that their is hope. This world's definition of 'hope' is not my Gods definition. I don't just 'hope' things get better, I don't just 'hope' this won't last forever. My hope is anchored in Christ. It says in the Word that it is like a sure anchor. We can hope in Christ. He is with us, He will lead us. At times we just have to be willing to take a different step than this world. We have to be brave enough that our God is bigger than any sickness or disease. We need to be brave enough to trust in what He is calling us to do, and trust me, the fruit that comes from that, is overflowing.

" Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."- Isaiah 43:18-19