What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone........

Timmy arrived today!!!!  He flew into DC for the first time and the smile on his face when he arrived just made our hearts swell.  Timmy is the epitome of sweet love.   I was able to get through security and meet him as he exited the plane.  Heather, unbeknownst to Timmy, was waiting in the Terminal.

My 30 minute wait for Timmy seemed like hours.  But soon a steady stream of passengers appeared and there was our sweet Timmy.  The look on his face as he exited the terminal was priceless.  Finally, Timmy was back home with us.  As I was hugging Timmy, a nice woman approached and said "you must be Lisa."  She told me she had a delightful conversation with Timmy and she said she was so thankful that she met him.

Timmy also told me that he introduced himself to the flight attendant and said "Hello, my name is Timothy Loughlin and you get to help me today."  How sweet is that.  Timmy proudly announced that the pretty flight attendant even gave him a big hug after they landed.  

Timmy and I then exited to the terminal and Heather was waiting with sign that said "Welcome Timmy!!."  Timmy was so surprised to see Heather.  He had no idea she was at the airport.  They both cried tears of joy.  People actually stopped and smiled.  Imagine that.

As we continued to baggage claim, Heather, Timmy, and I walked hand-in-hand.  We were giggling, smiling and sharing stories.  I can't tell you how many people paused and watched this precious moment.  It is almost like they wanted to partake in our journey.  They saw the joy and love.

A bonus was arriving home and Mick joining us for the weekend.  Perfection.   Timmy and Lassie's cousin Mick.

I hope you experience some love today.   I will.  As I have said before, everyone should spend a day with Timmy.  Timmy's world is filled with love, not hate.  He doesn't have a mean bone in his body.  He doesn't live with regret or fear.  He looks forward to what tomorrow brings. He cherishes his time with family and friends.  He accepts and welcomes everyone into his life.  

As the song says........What the world needs now is love, sweet love.....No not just for some but for everyone.

xo

Lisa   

Lyme update on Heather

Before we begin, this is one of my favorite professional pictures of Heather from 2002.  Those eyes, that smile, the hair, the innocence (hmmmm, she was 20 and living in NYC we will leave innocence alone).  

Yes, I have been absent from blogging for a few months.  It's difficult for Heather to read about her medical journey while she is living with her diseases each and every day.  She loves spreading awareness and giving updates for friends and family, but we both just needed a break and.......we're back!!!!

Hopefully you heard through social media and the news that May is Lyme Disease awareness month.  I have been going through my earlier Lyme blogs and it just makes me so sad that there hasn't been  much progress with affordable treatment plans, many main stream doctors are still uneducated about Lyme disease, there is still denial that chronic neurological Lyme is a real medical condition, tests are unreliable, and there isn't a cure.

It breaks my heart that  three and a half  years later I still see Heather struggle with chronic and sometimes extreme nerve pain.  She also has pretty bad fatigue issues.  This is 100% Lyme.  I could go on and on with my frustration, but my focus needs to be on helping Heather, being her advocate, and making sure she continues to have the best health care and doctors.  Seriously, her medical team rocks.

Heather is strictly following a new diet to help with Lyme and Liver disease.  They ran some crazy Food Inflammation Test that measures the IgI and Complement reactions to 132 foods and additives.  For some people (Heather) the immune complexes may lead to various symptom that can affect any tissue or organ.   From what I understand,  there are foods that aren't the best for Heather's already compromised immune system.

They aren't food allergies, just foods to avoid.  Heather's list of restricted foods include wheat, cow's milk, pear, raspberry ( her favorite), cabbage, almonds, Aspartame, basil, flounder, pecan, safflower seed and scallops.  I know, all very random, but she is following these restrictions and feels she gets some relief.  The cow's milk was difficult to navigate, but who doesn't love goat cheese and if you can find Sheep or Buffalo butter, it is pretty amazing.  We have all been eating better with Heather's diet.  Lots of protein, potato, rice, salads, veggies, shell fish, salmon, etc.  We also watch our salt intake.  Amazing how you don't need food to be super salty.

Heather is now seeing a holistic Doctor for her Lyme treatment.  Remember, when she was first diagnosed, she had a PICC line for her antibiotics for 6 weeks.  Sadly, that was probably not the best for her liver, but who knew she had a bad liver, and she was so sick the treatment was necessary.  Since additional rounds of aggressive antibiotics aren't for Heather, her holistic Doctor is helping her with supplements, vitamins and diet.  They are working towards a healthier gut which is a crucial part to maintaining overall wellness.

Heather still has extremely painful nerve pain episodes and extreme bouts of fatigue.   All of that is 100% Lyme in fact is related to the Bartonella co-infection.  People with Lyme also have several co-infections and they very difficult to treat.  Recently, on one of the Lyme groups I follow, people were discussing nerve pain in their feet.  There were hundreds of responses with people talking about the varying degrees of pain.  Heather's description is that sometimes it's just tingling.  Sometimes the pain is like intermittent stabbing in the balls of her feet.  On her worse days it can feel like  hot nails or fireplace pokers shooting up from her toes to her knees.   I can't even imagine.  

On her recent visit with her neurologist, they did another prick test to see what she can feel.  Sadly, she still has loss of sensation from her feet to her mid-calf in both legs.  This was one of her initial symptoms with Lyme Disease.  We are still hopeful that the nerves can regenerate. 

Tick are no laughing matter.  I don't want to spread fear about the Lyme disease, just awareness.   Please check yourself, your kids and your pets for Ticks.  Trust me - nobody should have to deal with the long-term effects of undetected and untreated Lyme Disease.  It wreaks havoc on your mind and body.

Bottom line - we must find a cure.  Heather is tough, but living with Lyme and Liver disease is extremely tough.

Please continue to keep my sweet Heather in your prayers.

xo
Lisa

Here are some excellent sites about Lyme disease

http://www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-quickfacts.php

http://www.tickencounter.org/prevention/protect_your_yard

https://lymelightfoundation.org/about-lyme/ten-things-you-should-know-about-lyme-disease/

http://livlymefoundation.org/ticktracker-app/

http://livlymefoundation.org/resources/

Heather with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck

First - I adore this picture of Heather taken during her junior year.  I mean seriously, those dimples, that smile, and oh what a mischievous look on her face.  

Heather was pretending to be a model and I was pretending to be a photographer.  One thing hasn't changed since this picture...... I still adore taking her picture.

Back to the blog

Heather booked a job as an extra in the movie "Forces of Nature" starring Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck.   I can't even explain how excited she was to be working with both of these actors.  The film is about a soon-to-be-married man who encounters an exciting stranger after his plane suffers an accident on takeoff.   Filming was at Dulles Airport. 

When we arrived at the airport, Heather was whisked away to a small terminal where filming would take place.  There were probably 40 extras and Heather was one of the few teenagers on set.  Since she was under 18 years old I had to stay near the set.  The other stage moms hung around the perimeter of the set and I went into the main terminal to work on my computer.  

A couple of funny things happened.  In one of the scenes the actors were rushing one of the ticket counters to catch a different flight.  Heather was placed directly behind Ben Affleck.  Each time they shot the scene they were instructed to get closer to each other.  My naughty Heather said they were so close to each that her hand may have gently brushed Ben's derriere.   She figured he wouldn't have any idea if it was her  thigh so why not touch a celebrity. hahahahah bad Heather.  Ben never noticed. 

Heather said that Ben and Sandra were so nice to the extras. Heather truly was in awe of them both. 

Back to me.  So there I sit in an empty terminal for several hours.  Every 15 minutes one of the airport security guards walked by with his dog.  Eventually he stopped and asked why I was sitting there for so long.  I explained that Heather was on the set of the "Forces of Nature" film.   

We talked for a bit, then he asked if he could mess with Heather.  Of course I am always up for a joke and said "yes."  He spoke to the crew before he entered the set, then he walked into the area where Heather was sitting.  He looked around and asked if there was a Heather Dolan on set.  

Her eyes got so big and she quietly said "Yes."  He then asked if her Mother was Lisa Dolan.   She nodded her head.  Then he said can you come with me?  Your Mom got into some problem - then he pointed to his drug sniffing dog.  She stood up and then he laughed.    Heather busted out laughing, the entire crew was laughing, especially the Security Guard.

Heather and I are really enjoying this stroll down memory lane.  She never really shared her acting stories with many people so we figured why not share them now!

Coming up we will share the following:

• Heather and Oprah in a "I love Philadelphia" commercial
• Heather and the West Wing
• Heather and the Red Cross infant CPR video
• Heather at a bar in "The Wire"
• Heather in the National 4-H Center promotional video

xo

Lisa

P.S.  Health Update - Heather's nerve pain is awful this winter.  Imagine stabbing pain from your feet to your knees that lasts for hours and nothing takes away the pain.  She lives with a pain level of 7 most days and 10 for the awful days.  One small tick, one damn unknown tick bite, years of pain and frustration.  Heather is the best patient I know.  She always finds a way to smile and stay positive, despite her pain.  I love you Heather.  We will continue to find the best health care available and I will never stop being your advocate.  

The camera loves your beautiful smiling face and I love you too.