Adrianna Fights to the Finish
By: Callie Duke
Adrianna Henderson has been fighting Chronic Lyme Disease for almost 3 years now. Lyme Disease is an inflammatory disease characterized at first by a rash, headache, fever and chills, and later by possible arthritis and neurological and cardiac disorders and is caused by bacteria that are transmitted by ticks.
Before Henderson was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, she was a typical teenager. She loved playing softball, basketball, cheering and long distance running. She enjoyed hiking, shopping with friends and biking.
One bite by a little deer tick changed her whole life.
In August of 2011, Henderson’s family went to the beach for her 14 birthday. The day before they left to come home, Henderson noticed a tiny deer tick attached to her leg. Thinking that it was no big deal, she pulled the tick off and went on with her packing.
Within 48 hours, Henderson had flu-like symptoms. Her joints locked and she was unable to move. Unable to eat, Henderson lost 11 pounds in two weeks.
Henderson went nine months before being diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases, such as Babesia Bartonella Mycoplasma and Protozoa Rheumaticam, by a specialist in Washington, D.C.
Henderson began treatment consisting of multiple antibiotics and supplements to boost her immune health. After 18 months on antibiotics, she experienced some improvement.
The symptoms Henderson deals with on a daily basis are headaches, joint and eye pain and light and sound sensitivity, cognitive issues like not being able to remember or focus, problems with reading, extreme fatigue, night sweats, nightmares, insomnia, muscle spasms in her back, face and legs, rashes, new allergies and a weakened immune system. Because of her medical condition, Henderson has to be home schooled.
After a lengthy search, Henderson and her family found a more effective treatment in Germany. The cost of the treatment is $35,000 and consists of biophoton therapy as well as several different intravenous therapies lasting for 12 weeks. Henderson and her family will leave for Germany in May for her treatment.
Henderson is raising funds for her treatment in Germany. The fundraiser is a formal spring dance to be held April 5 from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Asheville Ballroom & Dance Centre on Sweeten Creek Road, across from Fun Depot. Tickets are $30 and available through Brittany Ledbetter or Brent Metcalf.