Glenview Resident Starts Fundraiser For Sister In Lyme Disease Battle

GLENVIEW, IL — Inessa Kaufman knows a thing or two about long races. The Glenview resident competed in cross-country and track at Glenbrook South, from where she graduated in 2022, but a race against a chronic disease has proven to be her greatest competitor.

Kaufman, 18, who was featured as a Patch Star Student Athlete in 2022, was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease. According to her sister, Sarah Kaufman, the diagnosis followed a number of misdiagnoses. Sarah has started a GoFundMe campaign to help with the medical costs Inessa and her family are now incurring as a result of the disease.

"For the past eight years, she has been in and out of hospitals, placed on numerous medications, tried numerous treatments, and even travelled across the country searching for answers," Sarah Kaufman said.

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Sarah Kaufman, who started the campaign two days ago, is hoping to raise $250,000, saying "Lyme disease treatment is not covered by insurance companies and is all out-of-pocket."

Sarah Kaufman said throughout high school, her sister was hooked up to nasogastric tubes and IV's in hospitals, physically ill. Though this situation might lead one to give up mentally, Sarah said Inessa never has, and instead has used it as motivation to end up on the honor roll all four years of high school.

"She has a kind heart and would give the shirt off her back to help anyone," Michelle Kaufman, Inessa's mother, said last year. "She runs with the wind and studies hard to ensure she maintains her academic honor roll standing."

Now, Inessa Kaufman is a freshman in college on a medical track with a goal of finding a cure for Lyme disease.

"She wants to advocate for those who are being misdiagnosed like she was," Sarah Kaufman said. "Our sister is also a runner and committed to athletics, and this year she cannot compete due to treatment."

Sarah Kaufman said her sister has begun treatment for Lyme disease with weekly ozone therapy, which costs about $5,000 a month. She said specialists have told the family a minimum of 100 more hours is needed to start seeing results.

"Every dollar spent, is closer to her treatment and will hopefully lessen the stress our parents feel," Sarah Kaufman said.

To learn more about Inessa Kaufman's GoFundMe campaign and donate, visit here.