The parents of quadruplets say a camping trip has resulted in all four of their kids diagnosed with Lyme disease, several years after exposure.
Peter and Deborah Hrychiw are from Canada, and are currently getting treatment for their kids in the Bay area. They want parents to know their story, to prevent it from happening to others.
Siblings Isaac, Eli, Rose, and Judah have something in common other than being quadruplets. The 10 year olds all have Lyme disease. Their parents have had quite the journey to get them diagnosed, and treated.
"It's been a big education for us, and lots of ups and downs," said Peter Hrychiw.
The Hrychiws said it all started with an overnight family camping trip near their hometown, and an encounter with ticks.
"The next morning, Judah had a tick burrowed in his belly," said Deborah. "We didn't know anything about Lyme disease or its effects and so we just thought, ‘We got it out.’"
It wasn't until more than a year later that Judah started showing symptoms. First, they were subtle, then severe.
"He was having really severe chest pain, difficulty breathing," said Deborah. They said there was also blurred vision, memory problems, and joint pain, among other symptoms.
Still, the parents said they faced obstacles within their own health care system to get a diagnosis.
It wasn't until numerous costly doctor visits and a trip to the U.S. for testing that they discovered Judah and his siblings had contracted Lyme disease. Judah and Isaac were suffering the most severe symptoms. Rose was less severe, and Eli is not requiring medical treatment at this time.
In April, the family traveled to the Sponaugle Wellness Institute in Palm Harbor, where three of the siblings are being treated.
"We focus more on optimizing the brain and body function so we can enhance the kill-power or the immune-system, so the patient can more readily kill the Lyme infection," said Dr. Rick Sponaugle.
The family said their quest to treat the kids has taken its toll financially. The family had recently lost their family business and their home, before the medical bills began to pile up. Their hometown has raised more than $90,000 for the family. The Hrychiws are hoping the help keeps coming, to continue treatment in Florida.
Most of all, they hope their story is a cautionary tale for parents, to watch out for bug bites, and know the signs.
"Check your kids when they come in from outside,” said Peter. “If you do find something, please go to your doctor and if they can't do something, you fight for your child."