HELP PARKER (aka SPARKY) OUT-CLIMB LYME

Dear Friends and Family,

There's a few people out there who truly understand how Lyme has impacted our family. Christine Lindberg is one such person. A few months ago, I (Graham) shared with her how overwhelming the financial struggle is. A few weeks later, she informed us that she would launch a fundraiser to help us with Parker's ongoing and past medical expenses. It took me two months to actually give her permission to do this - my wife Shannon and I find it horribly scary to publicly acknowledge our need and ask for help. If you can make a donation - awesome and thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Make sure to SHARE Parker's story via this fundraiser on your FB wall and/or via email. Please be informed about Lyme Disease - we do not want Lyme to impact your family the way it has ours. (Canlyme.com or ILADS.org)

Thank you very much to those who have already stepped forward to help Parker out-climb Lyme. We solidly believe that Parker's 9 month remission (May 2014 to January 2015) is a clear indication that he can beat Lyme! Last summer, after years of being wheelchair bound, we felt like we were witness to a miracle each time he conquered a new mountain top or ripped single track down trails all over the lower mainland.  He is fighting hard to get back on top. By way of donating you are being the hands reaching out to pull him up and the feet to journey alongside of him as he sets out to out-climb lyme once and for all. 

CLICK HERE TO HELP PARKER OUT-CLIMB LYME.


Please say NO to Lyme and Yes to Parker!

Love,
Graham Goertzen & family

Parker - Summer 2014
The Stawamus Chief, Second Peak, Squamish, BC

The following is a note from Christine Lindberg, the organizer behind this fundraising endeavour for our son, Parker aka Sparky.

Dear Friends and Family of the Goertzen Family,

My name is Christine Lindberg and I am writing this as a concerned friend of this beloved family.

This week, I launched a fundraising site at youcaring called, "HELP PARKER GOERTZEN OUT-CLIMB LYME", in order to raise much needed funds for their son, Parker's medical treatments.

The Goertzen family is so grateful for the support of many over these long years of illness and suffering. I know that many of you have watched them endure this fight for so long and you have faithfully persevered in prayer for them. As their community you have ridden the emotional highs and lows of this journey with them; celebrated the victories along the way and cried out and pleaded for mercy on their behalf inthe deepest depths of their suffering. Quite possibley, you may be feeling discouraged, uncertain or even somewhat complacent about their battle against Lyme. I know many of us have often felt like helpless spectators on the sidelines, not knowing what else to do or how to help. 

Well, this fundraiser is a way to be there for them in a very tangible and crucial way!

Our family is asking you to join us in donating money that will be used to help Parker fight his recent relapse in his very long battle with Lyme disease. Currently, it is taking $3,000 per month just to keep Parker from further decline - they need help to continue this plus explore other options that their medical team wants to implement in order to move Parker from 'survival mode" into a sustained recovery and healing.

Is healing from Lyme disease even possible?
The answer is YES! 

Parker - Summer 2014
Train Wreck Trail, Whistler, BC

As a mom of a son who endured the agony of Lyme Disease for years on end - but who now has before me a thriving, healthy and healed son, I can say the answer is YES! A resounding YES!  

Our family went through this battle for years, I can assure you that we were able to "leave no stone unturned" in seeking medical treatment options for our son Riley because of the financial support of our community. I will forever be grateful for the people in our lives who supported our family in such a tangible and real way...even when there seemed to be no end in sight.

Parker - Summer 2014
Lynne Valley Peak, North Van, BC

Please stand with us and say NO to Lyme and YES to Parker. Though the climb has been long and arduous, the reality is there is so much hope. Parker out-climbed lyme before and we believe wholeheartedly that restoration and a sustained recovery and healing is fully within his reach. There is hope that Parker can out-climb lyme once and for all and be able to thrive and lead the life he is called to - with joy and abundance.

The bottom line is that they need our help to leave no stone unturned. It has taken them a long time to agree to this fundraiser - as they are not the type to ask for help. They are incredible human beings who give so much to others - Let's shower them with love and financial support. 

Please click HERE to follow the link to complete details of the 

HELP PARKER OUT-CLIMB LYME fundraiser

If you have any questions or can help spread the word, please do not hesitate to contact me, Christine at cklind47@gmail.com!

On behalf of Graham, Shannon, Taylor, Parker, Avery and, of course, Harrison, I thank you in advance for your consideration and support!

Christine Lindberg and family

THE LAST 2 WEEKS ON THE FEARLESS FRONT

Here's what's been happening on the fearless front over the past 2 weeks:

"courage is standing at the bottom of the mountain, knowing that the climb is going to hurt like hell and climbing anyway."

there was much to explore on top of the mountain (in Whistler)
there were breathtaking views of the valley below
and
the snow capped peaks of the mountaintop that still towered above us
and
there was a craggy, boulder strewn hill before us



it wasn't long before the kids were wanting to "hike" up it
no one expected me to go along
no one even dreamed that it was possible

however
i was profoundly aware that i had to climb it

i didn't know why
i didn't know how
but
i knew i had to do it

i had to do it for my family
i had to do it for me

i had an innate sense of God's calling;

"TRUST me to give you the strength to climb this mountain."
and so i climbed.



when i reached the top, taylor remarked;

"wow, mom. all summer you were practically bedridden and now you just climbed a mountain."

it was (is) remarkable. it was (is) miraculous.

i climbed because i was called to
and
now i know why

conquering that rocky, boulder strewn hill on that mountain top is our family's tangible, visual symbol of the victory that is ours through Christ.


we can trust him to give us the courage to face the mountain and the strength to keep climbing until he ultimately gives us victory over it.

"one day at time - this is enough. do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. live in the present and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

since starting my pre-digested goo, i am continuing to see a steady improvement. my blood work is continuing to show improvements. better than that, i can feel it. i am experiencing some semblance of "wellness" for 2-3 hours just about every day.

yes, little by little i am making progress.
it's quite remarkable.

physically, i no longer feel like i have one foot in the grave...yet after living in the valley of the shadow of death for so long, it is challenging to fear no evil.
it is not an irrational fear to have. it is perfectly understandable

while i hope the remarkable improvements that i have experienced over the past 4 weeks, mean that the worst is behind me, i recognize that i am not out of the woods, that there is still more mountain left to climb - and just how big, how high, how rocky and jagged it is remains to be seen. and i carry with me the knowledge that what lies ahead may be just as painful as what lies behind. abilities gained and improvements seen may once again be (temporarily) lost.

yes, everyday, i have a moment (or 2 or 3 or 1,000) where these fears overwhelm me just as surely as my everyday episodes of pain, fatigue and general retardedness do. i can look at my life - what is has been and what it is and what i hope for it to be and i can become easily overwhelmed with the mountain that still lies before me...and i fear plummeting back into the darkness and pain of the valley...
and i am not alone in feeling these fears
my kids
my husband
my family
feel and face these fears too

living in the valley brings with it a mountain of grief, pain, sorrow and loss for each of us - and some days that mountain can feel just as insurmountable as my physical fight.
yes, we're in this fight together
while we can claw, climb and fight our way up it together
ultimately
healing in the valley and victory over the mountain
comes only through complete reliance and trust in God

just as surely as i must
TRUST Him to carry me up this mountain
i must also
TRUST Him to carry my family up it too



here's a small picture/video montage of our mountain top experience: