Last October, 13 year old Max Wheeler of Trumbull began experiencing agonizing pain, low grade fevers, nausea, migraine headaches, fatigue, a cough, lack of appetite and heart palpitations.
For a straight A student, and member of the school’s baseball team to be rendered home bound was frustrating, but nothing compared to the lack of a diagnosis.
Over the next five months, Max saw 18 doctors, before a diagnosis of Lyme Disease was made. But, the Wheeler family’s challenges were just beginning.
Their insurance provider denied coverage for Max’s treatments, resulting in thousands of dollars in out of pocket expenses each month. Fearing they would be forced to drain their retirement and college savings, they reached out to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D- CT).
Blumenthal’s office successfully convinced the company to reverse its previous denial, saving the Wheeler’s from financial hardship and enabling Max to continue his life-saving treatment.
Blumenthal is a vocal advocate for Lyme Disease awareness. And, on the heels of the Wheeler’s struggles, he has introduced the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education and Research Act, which he hopes will pass during the upcoming legislative session.
Max’s Pediatrician, Dr. Charles Ray Jones, of New Haven, has treated nearly 18,000 patients from all corners of the globe for Lyme Disease. He says bulls eyes, swollen knees, heart trouble, meningitis and facial paralysis are all signs of Lyme Disease, but that’s not taking it far enough