Educators in the Perham-Dent, New York Mills, St. Henry's, and St. Paul's school systems are working together to put on a benefit for Lyme Disease victim Lois Porath.
The benefit for the former Miss Perham and 1992 PHS graduate will be held Sunday, December 30 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Prairie Wind Middle School in Perham. A pasta bar and desserts will be available. Silent auction baskets will also be on hand.
Lois will be home in Perham for a short time over Christmas, before returning to Reno where she is receiving medical treatment. She will be at the Dec. 30 benefit.
In November of 2006, Lois was bitten by a spider. Following the bite, illness and fatigue began to set in. She was eventually treated for Lyme Disease with antibiotics. However, nine months after the bite and her antibiotic treatment, Trigeminal Facial Palsy set in.
Her friends describe it as a "medical nightmare."
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On November 28, 2007, after intense research, Lois traveled to Reno, Nevada, where she checked into the Sierra Integrated Medical Clinic. She was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease. Her earlier treatments were to kill the bacteria, but the virus remained.
She has also been diagnosed with four major co-viral infections. Almost all of her major organs have been seriously infected.
Her treatment schedule is rigorous, lasting between 8 - 10 hours per day, 5 days a week. Treatments include 4 - 5 shots per day and IV's for immune support and detoxification.
Lois is expected to go through 10 weeks of treatments with ongoing, long-term follow-up care. Insurance is not available for Lois at the clinic, and the cost of just the clinic treatments averages $2,000 - $3,000 per week.
Sierra Integrated is a medical clinic, so Lois has to cover the additional costs of hotel rooms, transportation, and food.
A 1992 graduate of Perham High School, Lois graduated from college in Duluth with degrees in International Studies and German. In 2004, she received her Masters in International Relations from Laval University in Quebec City.
Lois has studied languages since 1992, and now speaks six languages including English. She worked for two years at the Ministry of International Relations (otherwise known as the Bureau of Foreign Affairs) and is currently working on her PhD in International Studies.
A true Perham supporter, Lois was 1st runner-up for Miss Perham in 1992, Miss Perham in 1993, 4th runner-up for Miss Minnesota in 1994, and Miss Perham in 1996.
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Monetary donations for Lois may be dropped off at Perham Community Bank.
In response to all of the support she has received from everyone in Perham, Lois said, "I am moved beyond belief and moved to tears. Thank you to my community. Thank you."
