Silver and Gold Magazine Winter 2014-2015 | Page 16

‘Tis the Season for Giving.

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1) Helping a local family in need

A Glimmer of Hope
for the Tiessen’s

From L to R, Josh, Julie, Zac, Doug (seated)

– By Valerie Jones

Like most of us, I worry about my kids and grandkids.

We all want them to find their way in life and experience
happiness and success. And then tragedy strikes…
Our kids, the Tiessens, had worked hard to earn their
Doctorate and PhD’s, were working as professors and
humanitarians in Russia, and had two beautiful boys
who grew to be kind, talented, special young men. What
more could I possibly ask for?
Unfortunately during the decade they lived in Russia in
the 90’s, they contracted Lyme Disease from their guard
dog, whose owner took it pheasant hunting. In Ontario,
Lyme bacteria is commonly carried by deer ticks; in Russia, it’s pheasants. Over time, the spiral-shaped bacteria
bores from blood, into tissues, and spreads into organs
developing into the deadly Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD).
This nasty disease if left untreated, becomes a cruel slow
and painful chain reaction of illnesses which are commonly unrecognized, and often become life threatening.

The tight grips of CLD
Commonly called the “great imitator”, CLD, with
over 76 different symptoms, may present itself as MS,
Parkinsons, or ALS, to name a few. It has been referred
to as a “slow cancer”, with symptoms compounding over
time. Gabe Magnotta, of Magnotta Wineries, eventually
succumbed to his suffering with CLD, and although his
wonderful wife has tirelessly fundraised for a new Lyme
Disease research facility in Toronto, it will not come soon
enough for my family – all four now carry the disease…
Julie and Doug have been back in Canada for over 10
years now, and our medical system has failed them. It
took 18 specialists for Doug to be correctly diagnosed
with CLD, another 3 years for Julie, and still another
year after that to receive yet another huge blow – both
grandchildren Josh and Zac had also contracted the
debilitating disease. Having dedicated their young lives,

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energy, work and love, to help others in a country that needed
their expertise… it’s a true tragedy…

The system fails us
In Canada, there are no medical doctors to be found that
willingly will help treat CLD. Some doctors contacted through
the years, risk losing their medical licenses if long-term antibiotics are prescribed. Medications to treat CLD are required
for longer than one month in order to see positive results,
but our system will not allow it. Recently, 3 CLD medical
specialists have been reviewed by the medical board: One
had to cut 60 Lyme patients from his roster; two others were
forced out of their practices [See documentary “Under Our
Skin 2: Emergence”, which chronicles this travesty].
Time goes by quickly. The suffering continues. We are left
with one option: searching for assistance abroad.

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