Local Family in Need

Hi friends and family.

My name is Lynelle Blumenthal, and I’m here to share my husband Trent’s health journey. Anyone who knows Trent would affirm that he is a skinny guy, and if he was a cowboy, his name would be “SLIM”. Ha! Please join me as I share with you the story of “slim” and the health crisis we are in.

Trent grew up with three brothers who loved outdoor activities like hiking, biking, dirt biking, camping, and more. It was common for Trent and his brothers to get tick bites. It seemed like no big deal until one tick bite in middle school, when a tick got “stuck” in the soft part behind his knee. Trent remembers itching and rubbing the back of his knee, trying to ignore it and hoping whatever it was would just go away. It didn’t go away, so Trent’s mother and brother took the time to investigate and removed the tick with tweezers. However, the tick was deeply embedded, and they were only able to pull out part of it. The bump stayed there for most of Trent’s life until it dissolved in his late 30s early 40s.

In the past, Trent and most of us didn’t think much about tick bites. But now we know that ticks can carry serious parasites, bacteria, and co-infections, which can often lead to mold as a byproduct. Who would have guessed that something so small could cause so much harm! We now know this is Lyme disease.

From the 1990s to 2010, Trent experienced strange pains and gut-related issues that would last a few weeks before disappearing.

Since 2010, the symptoms have hit Trent harder and more frequently.

We’ve seen doctors and specialists, undergoing colonoscopies, blood tests, stool tests, and visits to specialists to check for rheumatoid factors. Trent has had his upper spine checked, met with a nutritionist, and undergone many other tests. Unfortunately, these were inconclusive, leaving us feeling lost and without answers.

Twice, Trent ended up in the hospital with muscle and joint pain so severe it caused him to black out. Pain meds only worsened his gut issues, increasing the pain and leading to blood in his stool. Doctors have done their best to help, but we now understand that if a tick bite is caught early and treated with antibiotics, a full recovery is likely. Unfortunately, this isn’t Trent’s story. The parasites have reproduced over time, causing significant harm.

During an attack, which we attribute to Lyme, Trent experiences muscle and joint pain, gut issues, extreme diarrhea, gas pains, sometimes blood in his stool, weight loss, cloudy thinking, slower walking, and heightened sensitivity to noise, light, and stress.

In 2015, Trent was referred to a local naturopath to treat a Lyme attack. To our relief, Trent found relief, and over the course of 10 years, the naturopath has typically been able to help him recover from an attack within two weeks of treatment.

Trent’s Lyme-related flare-ups have similar characteristics each time, but with a twist, and they seem to hit him harder each time. In 2018, our family was in the USA for a ministry furlough to share about our outreach in BC. Trent was hit with an attack that left him barely able to walk. He passed out from the pain, and at first, I thought he might have died! After a series of events, Trent returned to BC in a wheelchair, received treatments from the naturopath, and within two weeks, he was up and running. He returned to the States without any issues, back to his normal self. We were amazed by such an extreme and rapid improvement in his health!

All of this to say, since late July 2024, Trent has been struggling for over 12 weeks with a severely damaged gut and pain in his knees, hips, back, and neck, making it incredibly difficult to function. Trent keeps hoping it will pass, but it hasn’t. The naturopath is helping with Vitamin-C IV therapy to keep him hydrated and provide some nutrients, but other treatments have had little success this time. This is by far the worst attack, and we’ve been praying for a breakthrough.

Trent doesn’t need a weight loss program, but his frequent trips to the bathroom with diarrhea have left him with a significant loss of muscle, leaving him at just 105 pounds—skin and bones. As his wife, I’ve seen him in this state, and it reminds me of the images of prisoners of war I remember from high school history class.

I’ll be honest—this time, I feel we are fighting for Trent’s life. His health is at a critical point, and after over 10 years of this struggle, I know something must be done SOON, before it’s too late. I don’t want to see Trent in a wheelchair again or back in the hospital with no options left. I know the time to act is now.

We have been seeking the Lord for wisdom, knowledge, truth, help, and His will for Trent’s healing. Trent has been prayed over at a tent meeting, by various Christian fellowships, the elders at church, and many friends and family. A few weeks ago, I privately asked God, “Please show us who, where, and what to do, because Trent is emaciated and wasting away, slowly starving to death. I don’t want to lose him. I want to finish my days serving in ministry side by side, not alone. Our boys still need their dad while they grow up. God, please help!!”

Two weeks ago, God answered our prayers when I dropped the kids off at Awana. I ran into a friend who asked how I was doing, and I started to cry as I shared Trent’s story. She told me about a clinic in Mexico that had helped her sister-in-law with a very difficult case of cancer. In fact, the results were so remarkable that within a few weeks, 3 of the 6 lung tumors were gone! I truly felt God smiling at me, whispering, “For such a time as this.”

So, I went home and began researching the Sanoviv Medical Institute in Mexico. At Sanoviv, there’s a wide range of modalities, doctors, specialists, and treatments all under one roof—things that aren’t readily available in Canada. Their integrative approach addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms. You can learn more by visiting sanoviv.com.

Sanoviv eliminates the stress of bouncing between hotels, B&Bs, doctors’ offices, and all the logistics that would be too much for Trent to handle in his current state—pain, constant need for the bathroom, and overwhelming weakness. They create an environment conducive to healing, with a peaceful, restful facility, room and board, kind and caring staff, and a professional team working together to facilitate recovery.

The good news is that they have an 85% success rate in healing Lyme and other degenerative diseases—not just remission! This is so exciting to think about—a future free from Lyme. We are weary and discouraged because, after Trent seems to heal from a Lyme attack, we gain momentum and carry on with life, only to spiral downward again after a year and a half. We need a better solution for healing—one that offers more than temporary relief that eventually lets us down again.

We discovered that a Vitamin C IV can give Trent enough strength to handle a trip to Mexico for 2 weeks of tests and treatments. This past week, Trent had a half-hour Zoom interview with one of the doctors at Sanoviv. The doctor wants to see Trent as soon as possible due to the severity of his weight loss and inability to gain any weight. The team will begin by confirming Trent’s Lyme diagnosis using the best test available, which will eliminate the guesswork and provide more accurate results. They will also perform a mold test to ensure they are on target.

The doctor is especially concerned about Trent’s extreme gut issues, and the medical team plans to conduct their own tests, including an endoscopy and colonoscopy. After these tests, they will begin Trent on an Integrative Gastro protocol. Once they have the results, they can proceed with the other treatments Trent will need to start his healing journey.

After the doctor interview with Trent, we were connected with an intake specialist. Below is what Dr. Q has recommended so far:

• Integrative Physical
• Gastro Module
• Lyme test
• Mycotoxins/Mold Test
• Detox
• And more …

Dr. Q is deeply concerned about Trent’s continually deteriorating health, particularly the gut issues with blood in the stool. The intake specialist has urged us to arrive at Sanoviv as soon as possible. While the team won’t know exactly what treatments Trent will need until after the diagnostic testing, we are confident that they will be able to provide a clear plan. Once we have more information about the treatments at Sanoviv, we will send out updates to keep you informed.

Collectively, with all the necessary tests, treatments, travel expenses, and more, we are aiming to raise between $30,000 and $40,000 US. While some costs are still unknown, we now have a clearer understanding after speaking with the doctor and intake specialist. Any contribution you can make will be a huge blessing in helping us get Trent the care he urgently needs. Thank you for your support during this critical time.

Thank you so much for taking your time and money to invest in Trent’s healing journey. We have been running full speed since we began our ministry here in Canada 17 years ago, and it’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. Now, Trent is in desperate need of what the team at Sanoviv is calling a cellular-level “RESET” and “RESTORATION” to help him recover and heal. It’s incredibly encouraging to know that Sanoviv has the tools and resources to facilitate healing that go beyond what we can access here. Your support means the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for your investment in Trent’s health and future.

Ironically, the sermon on Sunday was about remembering and returning to life. We ask that you please help us do that with your love, prayers, and financial support. Your help will bring us closer to a future where we can continue serving and living without the burden of this health crisis.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-trent-fight-chronic-lyme-disease-gi-complications

Thank you for investing in Trent and our family. We truly can’t do this without you! Your support means more than words can express.

With love and gratitude,

Lynelle Blumenthal