Lyme Disease Symptoms Took Over Her Life After Years of Misdiagnosis
A Canadian mother of two could barely walk or talk. A year post-treatment from chronic Lyme disease, she is training to run a 5K with her father!
Monique’s testimony is not that unfamiliar to the other patients that obtain treatment at Sponaugle Wellness Institute.
Monique said she was a child that was always sick. At 15, Monique lost her gall bladder. At 16, she lost her appendix after doctors discovered a tumor. At 17, she battled endometriosis. Multiple hospitalizations and symptoms surfaced that appeared to be Multiple Sclerosis.
A spinal tap indicated a negative result for Multiple Sclerosis, and the physicians in Canada told her it might all be “in her head.” Then there were multiple kidney infections and a loss of feeling in her arms, and she developed a “foot drop,” which made one of her feet drag when she tried to walk. This resulted in a one-month hospital stay for Monique. Walking without a cane was no longer an option.
Throughout Monique’s life, she experienced many times when she had to learn to walk all over again after an illness.
Neurologists kept throwing up their hands at Monique, unable to determine why she was experiencing what she was suffering physically and mentally, and she says she was told to even “knock it off” by physicians.
Fortunately, after multiple surgeries, Monique was able to conceive her children. However, the illnesses didn’t stop, and she soon realized that she had no energy to keep up with her two young children.
“Dr. Sponaugle and his staff, they saved my life saved my life! If I had stayed here (in Canada), I probably wouldn’t be here today,” Monique told a Canadian reporter in the video.
Monique, a 37-year old Windsor, Ontario resident, wife, and mother of two beautiful children ages 5 and 7, traveled from Canada to Oldsmar, Florida, to seek treatment for Lyme disease at the Sponaugle Wellness Institute in June of 2016.
If you’re like most of our patients, you already know a lot about Lyme disease. You might even be more informed than many medical doctors. Not only are you living with Lyme Disease, but you’ve spent countless hours poring over the latest treatment research in hopes of a breakthrough test validating your suffering or a novel therapy that will relieve you.
Perhaps you were only recently diagnosed after months or years of debilitating pain, fatigue, weakness, or frightening neurological symptoms. You wouldn’t be alone. Over 70% of Lyme Disease patients see four or more doctors before receiving a correct Lyme diagnosis. Many are accused of exaggerating their symptoms or are referred to a mental health specialist.
Even with a confirmed case of Lyme disease, you may have been excused. Unfortunately, to the mainstream medical community, Lyme disease is simply an illness that’s successfully cured with a couple of weeks of antibiotics. It’s an open-and-shut case in the minds of most physicians.
Serving as the last chance Lyme treatment center in Oldsmar, Florida, our practitioners recognize no two Lyme disease patients are the same. We respect every aspect of your journey to arrive at our doors and acknowledge you as an equal partner in care. We’re dedicated to unraveling the complexity of the most progressive Lyme disease cases, providing personalized care that considers your whole self...body, mind, and spirit.
Doctors Didn't Believe Monique
Monique heard the words “it’s all in your head”, from multiple physicians often. The underlying causes to her deteriorating health remained unknown. Fortunately for Monique, her sister Nicole is a PhD in Toxicology and simply wouldn’t accept no answer as the answer. She found Sponaugle Wellness Institute and read about Dr. Sponaugle’s integrative treatment protocol, and how it successfully took more than 30 patients out of wheel chairs who had suffered years of living with chronic illness.
Monique and Nicole’s parents happen to be in Florida as “Snowbirds” and visited Sponaugle Wellness Institute in April 2016. A quick and fast donation event was immediately set-up in Ontario, which raised enough money to cover Monique’s first few months of treatment. By June 25th, Monique was in Florida receiving her first treatment at Sponaugle Wellness Institute.
After years of searching for answers, Dr. Sponaugle ordered labs that returned positive for Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia. Monique stated that Dr. Sponaugle estimated that her chronic condition with Lyme and other co-infections had most likely been in her system since the age of 5. Therefore, affecting the last 30 years of Monique’s quality of life.
Lyme Disease And Mold Toxicity
To add to Dr. Sponaugle’s diagnoses, Monique had worked 10 years in a nursing home that was determined to be built over an old dumpsite and had multiple signs of leaking and moldy ceiling tiles. Dr. Sponaugle ascertained that Monique was in fact suffering from not just Lyme but also severe Mold and Industrial Toxicity. “Monique was releasing an alarmingly high level of Petroleum Toxins from her biofilm that would cause her frontal lobe to shut down like an anesthetic and put her in a frontal lobe coma,” explained Dr. Sponaugle.
By December 2016, Monique felt well enough to go home; however, Dr. Sponaugle advised against her leaving as he felt her treatment was not yet completed. Throughout her testimonial, Monique’s repeated message was that she just wanted to be with her children and have enough energy for them. She felt she needed to be home with them for Christmas.
Monique did go home and was able to surprise her children while they were at school. To her own surprise, her husband had diligently removed any signs of mold from their family home (as Dr. Sponaugle advises) after professional testing was done. Carpeting was removed and replaced with hardwood, as was their entire master bathroom when mold was discovered in their shower.
Not all cases are an immediate success, and in Monique’s case, her health status deteriorated by February 2017 and she was back in the hospital in Windsor, Ontario having a seizure after being resuscitated. Physicians in Canada would offer no treatment and would only offer to confine her in an ICU and leave her for dead. Confined to a wheel chair or walking with a cane; Monique was forced to travel back to Florida to complete treatment with Dr. Sponaugle. Remember, in Monique’s case it was determined that Monique had been exposed to Chronic Lyme, Mold Toxicity, Bartonella, Babesia, and heavy Petroleum Toxicity most of her life. When one is sick most of their life, one cannot expect there to be a quick and easy fix.
By May of 2017, Monique finished her treatment at Sponaugle Wellness Institute and said goodbye to her wheelchair and cane.
“Dr. Sponaugle was like a second Dad to me. Myself and my family love him dearly. I could never thank him or his wonderful staff enough who took wonderful care of me and stood by my side as well as my family’s side. We could never repay him. We love and miss them all,” Monique wrote.
Where is Monique Now?
So, where is Monique now after one-year post-treatment at Sponaugle Wellness Institute? Monique is not only walking, she is running and currently training to run a 5k this October with her father!
Her message to fellow Lyme warriors who are reading this, “keep fighting, us warriors, Lyme warriors, we don’t give up!”
Monique explained during her treatment testimony interview that she was always sick as a child. At 15, Monique lost her gall bladder. At 16, she lost her appendix after doctors discovered a tumor. At 17, she battled endometriosis. Multiple hospitalizations and symptoms surfaced that appeared to be Multiple Sclerosis. A spinal tap indicated a negative result for Multiple Sclerosis, and the physicians in Canada told her it might all be “in her head.” Then there were multiple kidney infections and a loss of feeling in her arms, and she developed a “foot drop,” which made one of her feet drag when she tried to walk. This resulted in a one-month hospital stay for Monique. Walking without a cane was no longer an option.
Over the years, she had many times where she had to learn to walk all over again after about with an illness. Neurologists kept throwing up their hands at Monique, unable to determine why she was experiencing what she was suffering physically and mentally, and she was told to “knock it off” by Canadian physicians.
Fortunately, Monique is married to a very supportive husband who has been by her side throughout her entire journey. Fortunately, again, after multiple surgeries, Monique was able to conceive her children. The illnesses didn’t stop, however, and she soon realized that she had no energy to keep up with her two young children. She stated that Dr. Sponaugle estimates that her chronic condition with Lyme and other co-infections had most likely been in her system since the age of 5. So, therefore, for the past 30 years, Monique has suffered undiagnosed.
Monique and her husband a happy couple before her condition worsened
Monique’s testimony is not that unfamiliar to the other patients that obtain treatment at Sponaugle Wellness Institute. Monique is a 35-year-old Windsor, Ontario resident. A wife and mother to two beautiful children, ages 5 and 7. Prior to a diagnosis of Chronic Lyme Disease and other co-infections, Monique worked for many years in medical administration.
While listening to Monique’s testimony regarding her treatment journey, I found myself hearing those voices from physicians I had visited in the past that repeatedly threw their hands up stating, “it’s all in your head” or “a prescription for depression may be needed” or “we don’t want your husband to have to suffer because of your condition.” My final diagnosis after visiting multiple physicians was fortunately easy enough to treat, which was determined to be hypothyroidism.
In Monique’s case, she was given the same messages from multiple physicians. Fortunately for Monique, her sister Nicole is a Ph.D. in Toxicology and just wouldn’t accept that diagnosis regarding her sister. The answer finally came when Dr. Sponaugle ordered the lab test for Chronic Lyme, and it was returned positive for Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia.
Monique and sister Nicole in Tarpon Springs near Sponaugle Wellness Institute April 2017.
Going back to Monique’s career in medical administration, please note she had worked for ten years in a nursing home in Canada that was determined to be built over an old dumpsite and had multiple signs of leaking and moldy ceiling tiles. After reaching Sponaugle Wellness Institute for treatment, Dr. Sponaugle determines Monique was suffering from not just Lyme but also severe Mold and Industrial Toxicity and many other co-infections that needed to be ridden from her body.
With Monique’s sister, Nicole, on her side, Nicole finds out about Sponaugle Wellness Institute (SWI) and the work of Dr. Marvin “Rick” Sponaugle. Dr. Sponaugle’s integrative treatment protocol has been successful in getting more than 30 patients out of wheelchairs and walking after suffering from years with chronic illness.
Monique and Nicole’s parents happen to be in Florida as “Snowbirds” and go visit SWI outside Tampa in April 2016. A quick and fast donation event is set up in Ontario, and Monique, and her family raises enough money to obtain Monique’s first few months of treatment at SWI. By June 25th, Monique is receiving her first treatment at Sponaugle Wellness Institute.
Monique begins to feel well enough to go home in December 2016, but Dr. Sponaugle advised against her leaving SWI as he thought her treatment was not complete. Through her entire testimony interview, Monique’s repeated message is that she just wants to be with her children and have enough energy for them and felt she needed to be home with them for Christmas. Monique was able to go back home and tells me she can’t believe how generous and wonderful her husband is as he had removed any signs of mold from their family home (as Dr. Sponaugle advises) after professional testing was done. Carpeting was removed and replaced with hardwood, as was their entire master bathroom when mold was discovered in her shower.
Christmas 2016 Monique and her husband enjoying his company Christmas party together in Ontario.
Not all SWI treatment cases are an immediate success as Monique’s health status deteriorated by February 2017 and was back in the hospital in Windsor, Ontario, having a seizure after being resuscitated. Physicians in Canada would offer no treatment and would only offer to confine her in an ICU and leave her for dead. Confined to a wheelchair or walking with a cane, Monique was forced to travel back to Florida to complete treatment with Dr. Sponaugle. Remember, in Monique’s case; it was determined that Monique had been exposed to chronic Lyme, mold, and toxins most of her life.
By May of 2017, Monique was once again able to go home after further treatment at Sponaugle Wellness Institute. Walking without a cane or wheelchair assistance in more than a year. As of June 26, while I speak to Monique, she is feeling optimistic about the energy she has for her children and husband and even excited to get back on her motorcycle potentially!
At Sponaugle Wellness Institute, no patient undergoes treatment alone.....patients become family and a team in an effort to obtain wellness.
Monique on the beach in Florida before heading back home to Ontario.