Rest In Peace – Friend and Lyme Warrior
I literally just heard the news so I am at a loss for words. It’s been a rough week and this really saddened me to the breaking point.
Jeremiah Katches was a good friend, father, husband, photographer, lyme disease sufferer and lover of life’s beauty. He was one of the only Lyme disease sufferers I knew who was near by in California. We never had a chance to meet in person because one of us was always too ill and neither of us could leave the house.
I just talked to Jeremiah on Thursday night and by Friday he was gone. His last message was “I love u brother an don’t give up fighting …. I’ll keep u in my prayers an pray so hard something changes for u for the best”. That is the kind of person he was, always caring and thoughtful even in his suffering.
I wish doctors could help us and that even a psychologist could use their services for free to help those who are crying for help. Jeremiah was crying out for help the last few days and nobody responded to him. I had no idea until I just read his twitter. So sad and I feel like I could have helped had I known.
The first day I met Jeremiah he was always so supportive and optimistic. He talked to me about becoming a famous photographer. I hope his pain and suffering are gone and he knows that he was loved by many.
Jeremiah had been suffering from lyme and coinfections and he was vomiting frequently and had really bad insomnia like I do. I do not know how he passed away but i do know he was in a lot of pain the last few days and lyme was breaking his body down.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family, wife and two daughters. Rest in peace brother, I love you too….
Here is the last message from Jeremiah the day before his passing which I think speaks for us all and speaks volumes. May his death open more eyes and make people more aware:
“This disease like u said is destroying our lives an it doesn’t seem like anyone cares anymore. Not even our dr’s. I’m trying to stay positive just like I’m sure u are but it’s so hard to do when no one takes us serious. I’ll keep u in my prayers an pray so hard something changes for u for the best.”
______________________________________________________________________________
Read More About Jeremiah And His Story Below:
From lymedisease.org – HERE
From inannahouse.org – HERE
or visit these links (copy/paste)
http://lymedisease.org/news/touchedbylyme/another-fallen-lyme-warrior.html
http://www.inannahouse.org/july-2012.html
Sign A Petition For Jeremiah HERE
______________________________________________________________________________
49er Bryan
Lyme Inside - Living with Late Stage Lyme Disease 
Very sad to hear this news!
Very tragic! If….strike that….when I recover I will make it my mission to educate people thus improving the lives of people with this scourge. We are not alone!!!
very sorry to hear this. my prayers go out to his family and friends. rest in peace Jeremiah
I’m so very sorry. I also lost a loved one from this horrible disease. I also battled this disease for several years….it was like a nightmare that would never end. My heart goes out to his beautiful family…may he rest in peace. Terry
RIP Jeremy , so sad for your family , I’m sharing on my blog where I share all that I can find concerning lyme , so that people can know how terrible this disease is .
So sad. I will attach this to the Lyme Memorial Thanks for this post Bryan. Sorry for the loss of your friend. ❤
By the way after posting this story I have had two people come forward saying they were going to end the suffering soon. I hope to hear back from them.
Going to miss our friend.
So sorry for the loss of your friend. It sounds cliche, but I really mean it. My precious daughter died 31 days ago and the loss is indescribable! The last couple of her months consisted of relentless vomiting, indescribable pain and stark fear. Fortunately Hospice came on board and it helped making her passing more dignified and pain free. Is hospice an option? Good luck with your journey!!
Teri, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. Hugs to you. Do you mind sharing was it Lyme or another illness she passed from? Sorry if that is too personal. In Jeremiah’s case the military turned their backs on him and he had no money to pay for any treatment like many so I know he felt like he was a ghost and nobody cared but we all cared. I hope his passing will help boost awareness and open eyes.
I too am devastated to hear of his death; such a loving, gentle man. I headed the Lyme support group he sometimes went to, and I also have Lyme (though not nearly as badly). I was shocked and angry to hear of his death–angry that the military did not recognize his bull’s-eye rash when he first got it and did not treat his Lyme. His death was wholly preventable. Jeremiah reached out to me too in his last days, and I responded; so it’s not true that nobody cared or replied. Had I known that he was so close to death, I would have tried to do something; I don’t know what, since the e.r. could never help him (not believing his chronic Lyme) and I didn’t have any pain meds (which he wanted).
Sorry…what I meant that “nobody” cared was the medical community. I know he was looking for new doctors and asked about my doctor often.
My example is going to my Rheum after I had been crying myself to sleep in pain nightly (pre-lyme dx) and my rheum said “what do you want me to do about it I cannot help you”. After that appt it was the 15-20th doctor that wrote me off as it was all in my head so I felt alone and scared. I think with this disease doctors can hinder us more than they are willing to help. Where is the compassion? Why couldn’t a doctor say “well let me refer you to pain management and maybe another specialist who will actually listen” not just throw us out with no help. It frustrates me reading in all my support groups with different illnesses having the same issues. My lyme and co’s are bad/neuro (30 years old) but I will not let this beat me. I am here to help anyone.
I Am so sad and broken hearted today after hearing about my brother and friend Jeremiah Katches losing his battle to Lyme disease
I met Jeremiah on twitter and we had many talks on Kik and twitter about our struggles with Lyme disease
Jeremiah was kind and compassionate He loved the Lord His family and Photography. He had a burden for the Natives in Alaska and talked about getting healthy so He could go there someday and minister to those broken people
I felt so bad many times after talking with Him knowing How sick he was. There were times that he could not hold anything down and was throwing up all the time. He suffered a lot like many people do with this disease
I feel Angry and Sad, Angry that Jeremiah did not get the help he needed. How the medical community can throw people this sick under the bus is a crime
Lyme disease destroys peoples lives as these pathetic doctors and corrupt guidelines keep us from getting the help we need
Rip My friend and brother. I will never forget you and your courageous battle that you fought for years. Even in your struggle you were always reaching out to others trying to help and encourage them
I will miss you friend
John
Hey Everyone. Just wanted to chime in for a moment. I am Luke, Lyme sufferer, and advocate. I got to know Jeremiah through our Military Lyme Disease support group. It breaks my heart hearing of his passing and I had no idea it had progressed so far. If anyone ever needs anything or has questions feel free to ask. My entire family, 5 of 5, had Lyme so I have been versed in it for 12+ years now (East Coast and West). I myself am 29 now, still holding strong and gaining strength.
I have been battling Lyme, Bart, and Babesia for almost 5 years now. A few words of encouragement…….you can beat it!! I am not yet where I used to be, but with that said I am functional again. I was in that “black hole” for so long I thought I’d never make it out. Keep fighting, ask for help, and don’t ever give up. I know you don’t know me, hopefully we can change that, and if I can ever help please let me know. I am a law student now (God gave me my brain back so my life of public service can continue) and an advocate in the military and veteran communities. If you have connections with the military and need help with care find our group in yahoo groups: military lyme.
If you need doctor referrals, etc. feel free to contact me. I’ll do what I can.
“Despite the storm, clear skies are above.”
Here is a petition I have started in an attempt to use Jeremiah’s tragedy to help gain strength for all of us.
https://www.change.org/petitions/house-committee-on-veterans-affairs-allow-veterans-to-receive-prompt-and-adequate-medical-care
Thank you, I signed it.
Thank you for sharing. I linked back to this page from my blog. I wanted to share his story and the petition.
Cry 😢