Our story is long & complicated, but I’d appreciate you giving a few minutes of your day to take a glimpse of our situation.

Our son, Simon, has always been quite a pepper- both a challenge & a joy. He has devotedly served at Our Lord’s altar since the age of 7, often multiple Masses a day, and we discovered when he was 11 that he had prodigious music ability. He always had a project or three brewing—a deep thinker, competent at all he attempted. I couldn’t keep up with him most of our homeschooling days. He was an excellent student, altar server assisting at 2 wonderful parishes, exceptionally gifted pianist & organist, and a thoughtful young man who deeply loved Jesus and His Holy Church. His zeal for God & life was inspiring!

In his last years of high school, he noticed slight neurological issues. Several doctors dismissed his concerns, attributing his observances to his giftedness & being “hyperaware” of insignificant changes normal to everyone. These were quite subtle, so he learned to deal with it. He was tired & lacked energy, but most teens do. He suffered with treatment-resistant acne, & after 3 years, multiple doctors & treatments, he asked for Accutane his senior year. Though I had expressed concerns over the years, doctors said I worried too much.

Simon received merit & music scholarships to prestigious universities but chose to enter a pre-seminary formation program to discern what God might want for him as he had felt a call to a vocation from a young age. Only a few weeks in, Simon discontinued Accutane as prescribed. While cleaning the basement, he was bitten (possibly a spider) and developed swelling that moved from his ankle to neck with fever for 3 days. It seems that high levels of free-floating cholesterol coupled with fever triggered a metabolic crisis, but it took many months to put these pieces together. Simon started exhibiting symptoms that affected his cognition, including his ability to pray & focus. He wasn’t sleeping, had episodes of vomiting, & noticed he was unusually clumsy (odd for someone so coordinated). We knew something was wrong, but initially many of his circumstances seemed to explain things. Until they didn’t.

When Simon returned home (Christmas 2022), he had lost 20 lbs- considerable given his stature. We consulted a specialist in GA who found some clues. However, Simon went from bad to worse over the course of several weeks, his body in a catabolic state. Nothing flagged abnormal on standard bloodwork. Doctors said, “He looks good to me!” His cognitive abilities were rapidly declining. I told him that I believed him & promised I wouldn’t stop looking for help. My primary physician here in Louisiana wept with me & apologized, “They don’t teach much about metabolics in med school. But I believe you know your son & will order whatever tests you want.” I am grateful for her humility & assistance.

I gave up my normal routine of daily Mass and getting our house in order after 23 years of homeschooling, again delaying repairs needed from Hurricane Ida, in order to care for Simon. I began studying functional medicine & biochemistry, though NOT my gift. Everything we asked him to do- nutrition, exercise, prayer, etc. he did…until he literally couldn’t. He complained about his brain “burning.” He couldn’t read as his vision was skewed, nor could he retain information. Eventually physical symptoms manifested- high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, insatiable hunger, face flushing so hot it felt like a stove top, erratic driving, inability to write, unexplained tightness in right extremities, to name a few. The wiz kid who could do a full day’s studies & practice organ for 3+hours suddenly couldn’t play for more than 15 minutes without being wiped out physically & mentally. He became a shell of who he once was. He could barely speak, his executive functioning which had always been superb was GONE. Nowhere to turn, FIFTEEN doctors later, I kept researching as my son disappeared. One day he muscled up the energy to say, “I am at peace dying, but I’d like to know what’s killing me.”

We eventually learned that Simon had experienced adrenal failure and began a journey of multiple tests, none covered by insurance. Following a trail of breadcrumbs, trying various vitamins & amino acids, Simon started to slowly reemerge. His response to vitamin B1 was remarkable as he literally woke up for the first time in months! Our primary was amazed at his progress, helping as she could. We were on a long wait list for a functional medicine doctor, but I wasn’t willing to waste time while his brain deteriorated, so I kept at it.

Simon’s liver is likely damaged as a pharmaceutical injury from Accutane, and we suspect a form of myocarditis. His body does NOT break down protein correctly, creating an excess of ammonia which permeates mitochondria, resulting in encephalopathy & neurotoxicity, damaging Simon’s central nervous system & brain. Testing revealed this & was confirmed with his response to specific amino acids, but we have been unable to find a doctor to figure it all out. His hepatologist is stumped because Simon doesn’t fit the typical profile of an inborn error of metabolism & thankfully there is no evidence of cirrhosis yet. “This is rare,” they say. We are waiting on more test results & a physician who can help--all time consuming & frustrating. His adrenal glands need at least another year to heal, but imaging is delayed until we can be certain his liver can handle contrast.

This past February, our family prayed a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, after which Simon began a very limited LOW protein diet—difficult for a 19-year-old, 6’2” lean young man. Whole lotta avocado & salad going on! It has made a HUGE difference in his symptoms, esp. in decreased heart strain & brain burning. Energy levels are improving, but still not typical for someone his age or former ability. Keeping weight on is tough. This is a chronic condition, a daily battle.

We are grateful for much though this suffering has tested our faith. I never knew how much I missed Simon's smile until it finally returned! We are exhausted, tired of asking for help only to be left disappointed or told these things are not happening because, “He looks good to me!” My husband works hard (shift work) to provide for our family, and the salary I earn from a part-time job I took in order to fund Simon’s educational needs is now being used entirely for his medical needs as most of his care is not covered by insurance. Our grocery bill is exorbitant, and we will likely need to travel out of state for a metabolic specialist. In the meantime, we keep begging Our Lord to show us the next step. Simon is suffering & sacrificing nobly; nonetheless, I want my son 100% restored… I want him to live a full life with all of his amazing gifts—giving glory to God in the many ways he always did. We have decided to turn to Our Lady now in a BIG way.

Throughout these 19 months I have repeatedly said that if it weren’t cost prohibitive, I'd take Simon to Lourdes and just dunk him! But again, all of our resources are depleted by his daily care, consisting of mega doses of 60+ supplements distributed 8 times throughout each day and strict diet- mostly organic, high fat, low protein, which never seems to be sufficient calories, but we keep trying. None of this is cheap, fast, easy, or convenient. Recently I messaged several friends, asking if they knew of any groups that sponsor people for pilgrimages to Lourdes. No one did, but some said they’d love the opportunity to pitch in to get Simon there—a thought I dismissed as asking for financial assistance weighs heavily on me. (The Order of Malta is a long wait until May 2025 with limitations.) I spoke with one of our pastors recently, seeking spiritual solace as I am running on empty, struggling to press on. This is physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. He said, “Yes, you should go to Lourdes!” His joy & enthusiasm lifted me momentarily, but the reality of the cost seemed unattainable. He found a pilgrimage, told me to get a passport, but I laughed through tears and froze, and the next day…

I remembered the rosary from Lourdes my grandmother, who died last month, gave me when I was 19. I prayed on those beads—lost, broken, begging to know the love of God—and Our Lady led me to her Son. I recalled how the learned & powerful did not believe my sweet patroness, St. Bernadette. “For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.”

Simon is now stable enough to go beg Our Lady for healing, whatever that might be. We are depending on the generosity of friends & strangers to make something mighty happen here! Our family has an opportunity to join a pilgrimage to Lourdes in a few weeks, but we need the funds to do it QUICKLY! Simon cannot travel such distance alone for an extensive time as he is still dependent upon me for his care. I realize times are difficult for most of us now & we do not take any contribution for granted. If you can help and want to be a part of the next chapter of this story, we will be eternally grateful. Each of your names & any prayer requests will travel with us to Lourdes, present at each Mass there.

Please also forward a link to this request, even if you cannot donate. Additionally, if we do not receive the needed amount & cannot travel, we’ll return donations, remembering you in prayer with a Mass offered for your needs & intentions.

Thank you for reading this snippet of our long, mind-boggling journey. Please pray for Simon’s perseverance & healing, an accurate diagnosis & helpful treatment should he not be granted a miracle. It is only the constant prayers of a few faithful friends that have sustained us thus far. And please pray for me, his mother, who feels so deeply privileged to have brought him into this world and held him as the saving waters of Baptism were poured upon him.

Just a mom,

Lori Templet

This campaign is unpublished.

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