Post by 0happyday on Apr 16, 2007 23:10:42 GMT -5
There I finally did it! Sent so I can't back out now.
Dear Oprah,
I always thought that the saying “patience is a virtue” was true, but in my case and others like myself, Patience may have become suicide. I started this letter to you 4 years ago. I have struggled with what to say and how to tell you about this most horrific travesty. I have searched for an answer to my illness for 5 years and several times I had actually found the answer, but manifestations of this disease seemed to lead me on yet another wild goose chase. I only found out definitely what I am afflicted with when an angel, Billy Koch, (Oakland A’s) put his pride and reputation aside and disclosed his most intimate secret, a disease that is not only humiliating in itself, it is a condition that sets the victim up for continuous abuse and ridicule by the very people we were raised to trust with our health as well as with our life, the medical community. A disease named Morgellons. Oprah, I do not write this for myself. I am a Christian and with the suffering that I constantly live with, I would gladly go to live with my heavenly father and to be relieved of this pain and devastation that I endure each and every day. I write to you in hopes of validation of this disease in order to help my children, my grandchildren, my dear friends, and the other people that I love who may also be infected with whatever this is. My original title for this letter was to be “If I shall die before I wake” But with changing circumstances it became “Who shall die before I wake?” The reason being that a girlfriend from church who was 32 years old, a pediatric nurse, died in her sleep at my home in October. My child found her and it has been very tough for her to handle. The details of my friend’s death have been questionable to me.
Oprah, before my affliction I had been in sales most of my life. In 35 years I had never been out of work, never drew unemployment, and if switching careers It was always to better myself. Ten years of the 35 were spent in insurance and 3 in real estate. I have always followed a very strict Code of Ethics, and any client or customer who has known me or has ever done business with me would attest to my honesty, confidentiality and sincerity.
We, the victims of this horrific disease have been so abused and humiliated by the medical community, that it in itself is criminal. I was raised with Christian values, and one of the hardest parts of this disease is to be told that it is all in your head, you’re delusional, or in other words you are a liar.
Before I became infected with this horrific affliction, I had beautiful skin, my face broke out at 12 years old when I started my period, other than that was always completely clear, and there were 2 small scars on my hands, I looked 10 years younger than my actual age, and was a very functional attractive single woman who’s life consisted of work, church, my daughters, and on weekends either riding my horses or working in my yard.
In the last 5 years I was put on long term disability gave my horses away because I had become unable to care for them My body is now covered in scars. I live with excruciating pain in my feet and legs every day. My eyesight has deteriorated to a point that I question if soon I will lose it altogether. I have had 5 teeth just fall out or break off. Where before a normal dentist visit would be 2-3 cavities it is now 20 cavities. I have no back teeth and am unable to chew. I have had numerous episodes where my blood pressure drops to 50-60/20 with no explanation. 1 of the episodes was in the cardiac unit of Wake Forest and the other was during a heart cath at Forsyth Medical Center, only to conclude both times no abnormal findings in my heart... I have debilitating fatigue and have trouble waking up. I have had my legs give out while walking several times now. I suffer from severe short term memory loss as well as what the call “brain fog” I am starting to have trouble spelling words. My speech is slurred at times and sometimes I am unable to say a word or finish a sentence.
My story and those of my new found friends can be viewed at the Morgellons Group, under Personal Stories. As well you will find tons of information and the latest in Scientific Research and findings.
I question everyday if it will be my last. I am sending this with the hope that my life and the lives of all the other victims of this disease will not be in vain.
Oprah, I pray that you will tell our story.
Sincerely,
0happyday
Dawn
Dear Oprah,
I always thought that the saying “patience is a virtue” was true, but in my case and others like myself, Patience may have become suicide. I started this letter to you 4 years ago. I have struggled with what to say and how to tell you about this most horrific travesty. I have searched for an answer to my illness for 5 years and several times I had actually found the answer, but manifestations of this disease seemed to lead me on yet another wild goose chase. I only found out definitely what I am afflicted with when an angel, Billy Koch, (Oakland A’s) put his pride and reputation aside and disclosed his most intimate secret, a disease that is not only humiliating in itself, it is a condition that sets the victim up for continuous abuse and ridicule by the very people we were raised to trust with our health as well as with our life, the medical community. A disease named Morgellons. Oprah, I do not write this for myself. I am a Christian and with the suffering that I constantly live with, I would gladly go to live with my heavenly father and to be relieved of this pain and devastation that I endure each and every day. I write to you in hopes of validation of this disease in order to help my children, my grandchildren, my dear friends, and the other people that I love who may also be infected with whatever this is. My original title for this letter was to be “If I shall die before I wake” But with changing circumstances it became “Who shall die before I wake?” The reason being that a girlfriend from church who was 32 years old, a pediatric nurse, died in her sleep at my home in October. My child found her and it has been very tough for her to handle. The details of my friend’s death have been questionable to me.
Oprah, before my affliction I had been in sales most of my life. In 35 years I had never been out of work, never drew unemployment, and if switching careers It was always to better myself. Ten years of the 35 were spent in insurance and 3 in real estate. I have always followed a very strict Code of Ethics, and any client or customer who has known me or has ever done business with me would attest to my honesty, confidentiality and sincerity.
We, the victims of this horrific disease have been so abused and humiliated by the medical community, that it in itself is criminal. I was raised with Christian values, and one of the hardest parts of this disease is to be told that it is all in your head, you’re delusional, or in other words you are a liar.
Before I became infected with this horrific affliction, I had beautiful skin, my face broke out at 12 years old when I started my period, other than that was always completely clear, and there were 2 small scars on my hands, I looked 10 years younger than my actual age, and was a very functional attractive single woman who’s life consisted of work, church, my daughters, and on weekends either riding my horses or working in my yard.
In the last 5 years I was put on long term disability gave my horses away because I had become unable to care for them My body is now covered in scars. I live with excruciating pain in my feet and legs every day. My eyesight has deteriorated to a point that I question if soon I will lose it altogether. I have had 5 teeth just fall out or break off. Where before a normal dentist visit would be 2-3 cavities it is now 20 cavities. I have no back teeth and am unable to chew. I have had numerous episodes where my blood pressure drops to 50-60/20 with no explanation. 1 of the episodes was in the cardiac unit of Wake Forest and the other was during a heart cath at Forsyth Medical Center, only to conclude both times no abnormal findings in my heart... I have debilitating fatigue and have trouble waking up. I have had my legs give out while walking several times now. I suffer from severe short term memory loss as well as what the call “brain fog” I am starting to have trouble spelling words. My speech is slurred at times and sometimes I am unable to say a word or finish a sentence.
My story and those of my new found friends can be viewed at the Morgellons Group, under Personal Stories. As well you will find tons of information and the latest in Scientific Research and findings.
I question everyday if it will be my last. I am sending this with the hope that my life and the lives of all the other victims of this disease will not be in vain.
Oprah, I pray that you will tell our story.
Sincerely,
0happyday
Dawn