When I first got sick it took me a long time to admit it to myself. I was so scared of what it would mean to admit there was something chronically wrong that I continued to suppress what my body was telling me, allowing my sickness to continue to worsen from within. At the time I thought I was being strong, living in faith, and walking in obedience because I was just fulfilling a commitment I made to God and to YWAM. The day before I had to get on a plane to lead my first outreach team to the second poorest country in the world I was in the emergency room in so much pain not sure how that would even be remotely possible. The doctors told me no matter what I did that I could not get on a plane and fly but that i needed to go see a ENT specialist. Again, thinking I was walking in full obedience decided to get on a plane and lead that outreach. This however, was truly the first time I slowed down and admitted to myself ‘Lexi you are sick and something isn’t right’. 

Before that visit to the ER, I had been seeing doctors for months. I started seeking help in August, just two months after I first noticed the symptoms. Fatigue, an increased heart rate, nausea, and rapid weight gain—the weight gain was especially noticeable and became mentally overwhelming. I first met with my family doctor, who was concerned about my heart rate. She ran some tests and put me on a two-week heart monitor, hoping to uncover something more serious. But the results came back normal—nothing alarming at all. The doctors told me I was a perfectly healthy 19-year-old. So, I pushed it all aside.

Then, in November 2023, after an outpatient procedure to biopsy my colon and intestines, everything came back normal. The following week, I caught what seemed like a regular flu. I didn’t see a doctor. I just rested and hoped for the best. But when a week passed and I still felt awful, I went up to Mauna Kea, one of the Hawaiian volcanoes, and on the way down, my ears wouldn’t pop. This lasted for a week, and when the flu-like symptoms became unbearable, I went into urgent care. The doctor didn’t see an infection behind my ears, but there was noticeable pressure and buildup. She prescribed me a 10-day course of antibiotics to treat a sinus infection.

But the symptoms didn’t improve. They got worse. By day 7 of the antibiotics, I was back in urgent care. This time, they told me it wasn’t a sinus infection, and they couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting better. They gave me a stronger set of antibiotics, the kind typically used to prevent malaria. Nine days into those, I was still no better. That’s when I ended up in the ER. They ran labs and did a chest X-ray, but once again, nothing came back abnormal. The only thing they could say was that the pressure behind my ears was concerning, and they suggested I see an ENT as soon as possible.

Throughout all of this, I was on outreach, trying to push through the pain, fatigue, and sickness to serve in ministry. I was doing my best to show up, even though every part of my body was screaming to slow down. Eventually, I was brought to the Burundi hospital, where they treated me for bronchitis—yet another misdiagnosis.

Back in Minnesota, I saw my family physician again. She ran labs and found no major issues, other than the fact that I had contracted some parasites while in Africa. We treated that, but I was still sick. When I returned to Hawaii, I continued to downplay my health to my friends and loved ones, but deep down, I knew how debilitating it had become. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep this up. In Hawaii, I saw my physician multiple times. She ran more tests, put me on another heart monitor, but still couldn’t find anything wrong.

That summer of 2024, I reached a breaking point. I was exhausted, physically and emotionally drained from the lack of answers. But instead of giving in to despair, I started doing my own research. For those who have lived through chronic illness, you know how disheartening it is to hear over and over from doctors, “There’s nothing wrong with you,” or “It must just be anxiety,” or any other dismissive remark. I was determined to find answers—whether that meant treatment or simply understanding what was happening in my body. I just needed to know.

As I did my research and opened up to friends about my symptoms, I began to hear stories from others facing similar battles. These conversations led me to two potential diagnoses: Neurological/Chronic Lyme Disease and Toxic Black Mold Poisoning. Both are often overlooked by Western medicine but are common in places I’ve lived, like Minnesota and Hawaii.

I was fortunate enough to have a friend in Hawaii who recommended a doctor in Minnesota—a Lyme specialist working in a functional medicine clinic. This was a crucial turning point. Western medicine hadn’t helped me, so I knew I needed to try a different approach. Through prayer and guidance from trusted mentors, I decided to move back home to Minnesota for treatment. When I met with the new doctor, he took an hour to listen to my entire health history. I will never forget the moment he looked at me and said, “This is not in your head.” Those six words brought me to tears. In that moment, I felt the weight of relief lift from my shoulders. Not only did he believe me, but he also spoke into God’s purpose for my life, understanding how crucial it was for me to return to ministry and serve God’s kingdom fully.

After more than a year of doctor appointments, ER visits, and countless hours of prayer, I finally got answers. Extensive blood tests revealed I had chronic Lyme disease. My heart, liver, gut, and kidneys were all affected. But honestly, by that point, I didn’t care about the details. I just wanted to know what was happening. I had been given a diagnosis.

Though this marks the beginning of my healing journey, I know many of you—maybe you or your loved ones—are walking a similar path. I hope that by sharing this part of my story, you will find encouragement as you search for answers, for a diagnosis, and for the right doctor. There are a few key takeaways that I believe will help anyone on this difficult journey:

1. Do your own research. If you have concerns, ask your doctor to test for those specific illnesses or refer you to specialists.
2. Look into functional, holistic, and practical medicine doctors. These professionals often treat conditions that are overlooked by conventional Western medicine. (If you’re interested, I’ll link my doctor below, who offers remote consultations.)
3. Pray for guidance. Ask God to lead you to a doctor who has a biblical worldview and will not only advocate for your health but also for your spiritual growth during this time of healing.
4. Release control to God. It’s easy to be consumed by fear and anxiety when dealing with chronic illness. But trust that God cares for you more than you do. He will provide the doctors, the resources, and the treatment you need.

We are blessed that God has given us doctors with the knowledge and wisdom to help us, but let’s not forget that He is the Great Physician. Just because you’re working with a doctor doesn’t mean that God has stopped healing. Continue to cry out to Him in prayer, continue to pray for others’ healing, and continue to seek His hope and strength in your journey.

– Faith over Fatigue