Post by josej on Mar 14, 2008 23:37:32 GMT -5
A few days ago we met a young couple from Hillsborough Beach, Sam and Sophie (not their real names). Sam has a really virulent case of Morgellons; Sophie's is less noticeable. These two've had one bad thing after another.. and they found themselves at the very bottom of the pit.
Both sick, without money, out of work due to health reasons, no family support, and living in a bug-infested dilapidated hotel from which they were being evicted. They were down to their last 25 dollars and no food in the fridge except twinkies and cokes. Out of desperation, Sophie called Patrick Fraser for help. Patrick emailed me asking if we'd call and try to help them. I called and was moved by the horrible condition of their lives. So, I made ourselves available to them.
That same evening they drove 75 miles down to our home in Kendall. "Drove" in a beat-up junk of a car, with only one tail light working, door handles missing, and no windows (yea, Sam had previously smashed them out with his fists during a tormenting fit of being stung & bitten by critters). Worst, he was driving with a suspended license and expired plates !
I answered the knock on the door and invited them in. Sophie was pretty, neither thin nor heavy, only a little disheveled.. kinda like a flower child from the sixties. Sam had long hair that hung past his shoulders, a scruffy beard, and tattoos stretching up half his right arm. His skin was covered with sores. Some open; some scabbed over with a dark brown crust. He couldn't stop itching. He scratched the sores and twitched his head with a tic. He started talking and couldn't stop the rush of words that came out as he nervously described what their life has been like. She joined in and told of the hellish life they've had over the past four months.
They told us how they thought they got Morgellons. And for the next five hours we all talked, compared experiences, and shared what information we could about this disease. (Isn't it strange how we now bond with complete strangers, but it's as if we'd known them all our lives? All because of this horrible thing we call Morgellons.)
We first fed them some Jewish penicillin (chicken noodle soup). Then got down to the various forms of treatment that help us survive this plague. We talked about antibiotics, antifungals, antihelminthics, as well as other therapies like applying bismuth subgallate to the skin, bathing with sea salts, and disinfecting the carpeting with apple cider vinegar. Truly, we could have gone on and on for hours.
After a long and exhausting evening it was time for them to go. Sam had quieted down and was remarkably peaceful. I think he had just needed to talk to someone (other than a dermatologist) about this disease. Sophie and Kathy had also done quite a bit of talking and were actually devising a way to start a non-profit organization to educate people on Morgellons. So, it was a very positive evening after all. We walked them out to the door, we forced them to take some cash from us, and said our good-nights.
They phoned us later that night, just to let us know they'd made it safely back to their home. They thanked us and said we had saved their lives and had given them hope where there was none. They sounded giddy, and happy, and joyful.
Then, the following day, everything drastically changed.
There was a notice taped to their door advising that between 10:00 am to noon a pest control man would be spraying insecticide in their apartment. They were somewhat pleased thinking that maybe some of the bugs would be exterminated. So, when the doorbell rang at 11:00 that morning, Sophie went and opened the door. Shock waves of fear shot through her body as she saw that there were three uniformed officers from the sheriff's department. They stormed inside and put handcuffs on Sam, who had just woken up and was still wearing his pajamas.
Sophie could only watch in disbelief, as they hauled Sam out, down the elevator, and off in their squad car. She was screaming at them that Sam was sick and wouldn't make it if he was thrown behind bars. The only thing she was able to do was to give the officer in charge two prescriptions (which hadn't been filled) that Sam needed.
She phoned me in tears and relayed that there was a bench warrant out for Sam's arrest because he had missed a court appearance. (Missed it because at that time they were at a hospital unsuccesfully trying to get treatment for Morgellons.)
So now Sam's behind bars. No one at the jail has ever heard of Morgellons... not that they would really care if the had... and Sam is totally vulnerable. As I write this, it's past midnight here in Florida. I just called Sophie to check up on her. She's numb and scared that Sam is going to die in the county jail.
I don't know how this story is going to end. I only know that we are sharing Sam and Sophie's terror. How horrible it must be to have Morgellons and to be locked up behind bars.
Both sick, without money, out of work due to health reasons, no family support, and living in a bug-infested dilapidated hotel from which they were being evicted. They were down to their last 25 dollars and no food in the fridge except twinkies and cokes. Out of desperation, Sophie called Patrick Fraser for help. Patrick emailed me asking if we'd call and try to help them. I called and was moved by the horrible condition of their lives. So, I made ourselves available to them.
That same evening they drove 75 miles down to our home in Kendall. "Drove" in a beat-up junk of a car, with only one tail light working, door handles missing, and no windows (yea, Sam had previously smashed them out with his fists during a tormenting fit of being stung & bitten by critters). Worst, he was driving with a suspended license and expired plates !
I answered the knock on the door and invited them in. Sophie was pretty, neither thin nor heavy, only a little disheveled.. kinda like a flower child from the sixties. Sam had long hair that hung past his shoulders, a scruffy beard, and tattoos stretching up half his right arm. His skin was covered with sores. Some open; some scabbed over with a dark brown crust. He couldn't stop itching. He scratched the sores and twitched his head with a tic. He started talking and couldn't stop the rush of words that came out as he nervously described what their life has been like. She joined in and told of the hellish life they've had over the past four months.
They told us how they thought they got Morgellons. And for the next five hours we all talked, compared experiences, and shared what information we could about this disease. (Isn't it strange how we now bond with complete strangers, but it's as if we'd known them all our lives? All because of this horrible thing we call Morgellons.)
We first fed them some Jewish penicillin (chicken noodle soup). Then got down to the various forms of treatment that help us survive this plague. We talked about antibiotics, antifungals, antihelminthics, as well as other therapies like applying bismuth subgallate to the skin, bathing with sea salts, and disinfecting the carpeting with apple cider vinegar. Truly, we could have gone on and on for hours.
After a long and exhausting evening it was time for them to go. Sam had quieted down and was remarkably peaceful. I think he had just needed to talk to someone (other than a dermatologist) about this disease. Sophie and Kathy had also done quite a bit of talking and were actually devising a way to start a non-profit organization to educate people on Morgellons. So, it was a very positive evening after all. We walked them out to the door, we forced them to take some cash from us, and said our good-nights.
They phoned us later that night, just to let us know they'd made it safely back to their home. They thanked us and said we had saved their lives and had given them hope where there was none. They sounded giddy, and happy, and joyful.
Then, the following day, everything drastically changed.
There was a notice taped to their door advising that between 10:00 am to noon a pest control man would be spraying insecticide in their apartment. They were somewhat pleased thinking that maybe some of the bugs would be exterminated. So, when the doorbell rang at 11:00 that morning, Sophie went and opened the door. Shock waves of fear shot through her body as she saw that there were three uniformed officers from the sheriff's department. They stormed inside and put handcuffs on Sam, who had just woken up and was still wearing his pajamas.
Sophie could only watch in disbelief, as they hauled Sam out, down the elevator, and off in their squad car. She was screaming at them that Sam was sick and wouldn't make it if he was thrown behind bars. The only thing she was able to do was to give the officer in charge two prescriptions (which hadn't been filled) that Sam needed.
She phoned me in tears and relayed that there was a bench warrant out for Sam's arrest because he had missed a court appearance. (Missed it because at that time they were at a hospital unsuccesfully trying to get treatment for Morgellons.)
So now Sam's behind bars. No one at the jail has ever heard of Morgellons... not that they would really care if the had... and Sam is totally vulnerable. As I write this, it's past midnight here in Florida. I just called Sophie to check up on her. She's numb and scared that Sam is going to die in the county jail.
I don't know how this story is going to end. I only know that we are sharing Sam and Sophie's terror. How horrible it must be to have Morgellons and to be locked up behind bars.