Please help us get to India! Any little bit helps! This will be Gavin's third trip to India to undergo Stem Cell therapy.
You can follow our travels by reading our blog at gavininindia.blogspot.com/
Gavin Peters grew up with a passion for movement. From an early age he demonstrated fluid grace on a skateboard and quickly learned to make precision moves on the high ramps and rails that are the staple of the skating life. His superior skills ultimately earned him the ranking of a passionate skateboarder.
In the mid 1990’s Gavin was hired at the former Skate Street in Ventura to skate for no team. He mentored younger skaters and was known for his generous and supportive advocacy of the sport he loved.
But now, at 32 years old, Gavin is confined to a wheel chair. Nine years ago he began experiencing neurological symptoms that were affecting his balance and coordination. He lost control of the left side of his body and could no longer pursue his skating passion.
Eventually Gavin was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He received medication but his symptoms only grew worse. With his condition deteriorating and symptoms continually increasing Gavin spent time researching his symptoms and came across similar stories that led him to a medical doctor who happened to be a recovered Lyme disease victim. It turned out that Gavin had been mis-diagnosed. He didn’t have MS, he had Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Late, delayed, or inadequate treatment can lead to "late stage" or "chronic" Lyme disease that can be disabling and in some cases considered untreatable by the conventional regimen of antibiotics. The body’s main defense against Lyme is a strong immune system.
Unfortunately there is scant information available to the public and the medical profession in Ventura County about the presence of Lyme disease carrying ticks inhabiting the local mountains. Lyme disease is also known as the great imitator because the symptoms mimic so many other diseases such as fibromyalgia, lupus, arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Increasing numbers of cases of the disease showing up in the county have led several doctors to take the necessary training to become “lyme literate.”
Gavin is currently living at his parent’s home in Ojai and has been confined to his wheelchair for the last two years. He has undergone several proven alternative treatments and is continually striving to rid his system of Lyme. But heat is a trigger to Lyme and when temperatures reach 80 degrees in the Ojai Valley life gets much much tougher for Gavin as his pain and discomfort becomes unbearable. Because his home does not have air-conditioning except for a window unit in his bedroom, he is confined to that room all summer long.
Gavin has not worked since 2003 and his wonderful caring parents are both retired, living on a fixed income, providing 24 hour care for him making sure that at least one of them are with him at all times. To help make Gavin’s life more tolerable one of his friends has launched an appeal to raise funds to purchase a high efficiency central air conditioning unit for his home and to up grade the family bathroom so it is safe and accessible for Gavin. The bathroom is the second most important goal. Currently it is too small for wheelchair access and Gavin falls regularly trying to enter the tub or use the toilet.. So far the campaign has raised about half of the funds needed to complete the job. Corporate sponsors are also being sought to provide the components for the air conditioning unit, and to install a solar system to help with the utility costs of running the air conditioning system. Any additional funds will go towards the treatment that Gavin needs to get healthy again.
One would think that after all he has endured, Gavin would be very depressed and upset from suffering all these years. But after all the challenges he has faced he is a very positive person. Every day he wakes up to pain and restrictions but still believes he will walk and skate again.
It is possible to get him back on his feet!,
Please make your donations out to Gavin’s father “Bill Peters” and mail them to my address,
If you have contacts with companies that could donate any equipment or services mentioned above please contact me to discuss.
Mike Rubalcava
405 Corto St.
Ojai, CA 93023,
if you want to help please send your donation to the above address or just message me and we will work something out. Please make checks out to"Bill Peters"
infinite thanks.
