One Dollar Warriors Fight for Ruby

Ruby is a 13 year old girl from Porirua. When Ruby was 7 years old, her family took a holiday in Australia, where Ruby cuddled a kangaroo. After the cuddle, Ruby’s mum saw a tick in Ruby’s hair, which she removed. What she didn’t know was that ticks can carry Lyme disease - a potentially deadly disease which can mimic Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinsons.

After they returned to New Zealand, Ruby developed a rash on her neck. Two weeks later she developed flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, headaches and more rashes - then seizures. Ruby was admitted to hospital where she had 65 seizures in a two week period. But still, no diagnosis. That didn’t come for another 7 months, and only because her mum (a registered nurse) sought a second opinion in Australia.

There, an infectious diseases expert diagnosed Lyme disease.

If diagnosed early, Lyme disease can be treated effectively with a quick course of antibiotics. Unfortunately, the diagnosis didn’t come quickly enough - because Lyme disease is not a notifiable disease in NZ, and there is a lack of understanding and testing available here.

Ruby went from being active, bright and happy to being unable to count to ten, or  to remember her ABC's, all the while having to endure up to 70 life-threatening seizures a month.

Ruby is now responding well to treatment, which she began in Australia in 2011. This treatment is very complex as her little body is also fighting a co-infection of Bartonella. The treatment is a fine balance of drugs which will lower the bacterial load and support and strengthen the immune system. The balance is tricky and getting it right is an unforgiving and constant struggle every day.

“It’s hell - watching your child suffer.” - Rachel Penney, Ruby’s mum

NZ doctors have a lack of understanding and experience with this deadly disease. This makes treatment in New Zealand near impossible and why Ruby needs to go the USA for an appointment with her neurologist and Lyme disease specialist, Dr Horowitz.

Warriors, we need to help Ruby raise $30,000.

Ruby, along with her Mum and Dad are leaving New Zealand on the 11th of April and will be away for three weeks. The trip is going to cost them between $30,000 and $35,000 and covers Dr Horowitz’ fees, accommodation, transfers, food and all the other things that you don’t think about when you’re preparing to leave the country for three weeks.

This trip to see Dr Horowitz will be the next step at getting Ruby back to school regularly, less trips to hospital, less seizures and most importantly more of living life as a young teenager and experiencing life the way she should be.

So come on Warriors, it’s time to become a part of Ruby’s journey and help her the way we do best.