Chase Gouin Recovery Fund.

[B-random Fantom]

     Friends,

  This letter is to inform you of Chase Gouin’s battle against illness and his current health condition. On December 12, 2009, Chase woke up with a severe headache and was feeling ill. For the next fifteen months he saw more than twenty different Doctors and Specialists who did every kind of traditional test and scan that they believed to be relevant and yet they found nothing that they could diagnose. At one point during that time, Chase decided to move out of his basement apartment and discovered what appeared to be mold in two locations in his bedroom, one being in the wall merely three feet from the head of his bed. Petri dish lab results confirmed three types of mold that are known to be pathogenic to humans under conditions like the ones he was living in (i.e. an old building basement with poor ventilation).

  He soon began to suspect that his illness might have been caused by the prolonged close proximity and breathing in of mold spores. A Naturopathic Doctor ordered an advanced DNA based stool sample analysis that he sent to a high tech lab in Georgia. The results confirmed much more and worse than he expected. Results showed the highest possible concentration rating of yeast/fungal overgrowth throughout his body; in the cells, tissues, and bloodstream. A parasite was also found, that may be from the numerous mosquito bites he received one night on an island in Panama in November, 2008. The yeast/fungi and parasite consume most of his fat soluble vitamins which causes a mal absorption disease. The constant and relentless symptoms that Chase has been suffering with include a toxic feeling headache, a cracking kind of facial pressure/pain, numerous sinus issues, tearing goopy eyes, chronic fatigue/weakness, debilitating lethargy, and others. These kinds of infestations can and have resulted in cognitive impairment, memory loss, lack of concentration and disorientation. The immune system also becomes severely weakened and goes into a hyper defense mode which causes multiple environmental chemical sensitivities along with food allergies and devastating reactions to many typically harmless substances that have had him bed ridden for days and even weeks at a time.

  The suffering he has endured along with the apathy, denial, and lies he has encountered in the health care system have put him in a desperate situation in which he is racing to find real answers and a cure. Ninety five percent of what he has discovered has been through his own research while enduring the host of symptoms listed above, he barely props himself up at the computer, makes phone calls and writes letters, all of which are only possibly due to the minor relief provided by taking prescription pain killers and sedatives. He has been on a restricted diet of no yeast or sugar, as well as a custom protocol of anti-fungal and anti-parasitic supplements. For over a year now he has lived in a new apartment with all laminate flooring (can't have carpeting), with an expensive air purifier, all natural household cleaning products, spotless living quarters, and he must bring a medical mask with him everywhere he goes. Nothing has yet changed or improved his health in any way.

  He thought it was good news when he got the diagnosis five months ago, but it turns out that most modern western Doctors are not educated in the types of diseases Chase is dealing with. Because of this they are actually known as "the quiet epidemics". Even an infectious disease Specialist was not familiar with the lab results or methodology used, and she did not accept his plus four fungal overgrowth rating. She ordered blood tests unrelated to evidence he presented to her and ordered him to do three more inferior culture based stool tests which he had already done and which failed to detect what is there. He even printed out information from the Metametrix lab and submitted it to the I.D. Specialist in an attempt to inform her. It has been a struggle trying to convince and educate the Doctors so that they can help him. Many of these encounters have left him feeling that such efforts have been utterly futile and that the health system is severely broken.

  The pain medication he is on is interfering with the metabolizing of the food he eats and supplements he takes which renders them ineffective but, he needs the meds simply to function and to continue the mission to save his own life. Besides that, the side effects and withdrawal symptoms of the pain meds makes it difficult to decipher the real pain from the symptoms of his disease, so it is difficult to determine if he is making any progress.

  What he needs to do is find what's called an integrated Medical Doctor who knows about these diseases and how to treat them aggressively and successfully, which may require heavy duty intravenous medications. He is currently in debt due to all the medical costs not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan and unable to effectively pursue a solution to his condition. He cannot even try to ride or exercise because if he does in this weakened state his symptoms become ten times worse. For a high-level professional athlete known for his aggressive and intense riding style, not being able to ride or be active at all for the past fifteen months has taken a serious toll on his physical fitness and emotional well-being. In the face of these extreme obstacles Chase is holding out hope that he may find some real help soon to eradicate these insidious infections, and get back to the love of his life...riding.

  Chase has brought so much to the world of flatland and BMX in general. He has inspired many and he has been dedicated to pushing his own limits of potential. He has also been encouraging and helped others to do and be their best. More than that, he has been a true friend and a genuine person. He has been a flatland icon for many years, helping flatland to stay alive in its lowest points. Now I am sincerely asking you to help Chase stay alive through what is no doubt his lowest point. With your help, Chase can continue to pursue the additional medical attention he needs to try and conquer his debilitating condition. The Athlete Recovery Fund has agreed to financially assist Chase towards his cause, but he cannot depend on that as the only source for help, so that is why we need your help. We ask that you please donate to Chase’s recovery fund today. Please give anything that you can so that we can help to get Chase to return to good health and hopefully one day he will be able to get back on his bike and be that amazing rider we all know him to be. 

  Donations may be sent via paypal to the following address: chasegouinrecoveryfund@gmail.com
Chase’s close personal friend Ryan Quinn has set up the paypal account on Chase’s behalf since Chase doesn’t have a credit card. So don’t be alarmed if Ryan’s name shows up on your paypal receipt. All of your donations are going directly to supporting Chase’s recovery mission.

 Sincerely,
 
   Brandon Fenton

***Attention*** We got our wires crossed about the right e-mail address for paypal. It has now been corrected. For anyone who has donated already to the other e-mail please cancel your payment and make it out to the correct e-mail address above. Sorry for the inconvenience.
 

[Mr News Bot]

Brandon Fenton posted a detailled letter on Chase Gouin's health condition in our forum. Chase is suffering from a medical condition that was caused by breathing mold spores in his old basement apartment. It seems like he is in a very bad condition at the moment and is struggling to find qualified medical help.

You can find the letter in the forum as well as information on how to donate if you want to support Chase. Maybe one of you happens to know more about the medical condition he describes and can recommend a good specialist who's able to help him since that seems to be a major problem so far.

We wish Chase all the best and hope he'll be back on that bike soon!

Further information: Chase Gouin Recovery Fund 

[anthony]

agghhh why whyyy???
get well chase get well... and soon please.

[Luis Elías]

Hey Brandon,

Chase phoned me the other day to inform me of his situation. He also mentioned that he wants me to translate a letter into Spanish. Do you have that letter? Or it's the same one you posted here?

[Flatgod]

Is he seeing doctors from Canada? Maybe he should try the US -- just a suggestion, although I don't know if he would be able to do that or if it would even make a difference. I tend to agree that the medical system is broken. Maybe he could try "alternative" regimens i.e. herbal, acupuncture, etc.

[JUGGARNAUT]

He and I have been corresponding for months now. It has been a few weeks since I had heard anything so I Emailed him this morning to see if there was any good updates....I guess not.. He truely treated me as if we were friends since childhood when we speak,he's truely a Pro that you could have dinner and chill with. He is the VERY reason I got back into riding after seeing him on the cover of Ride onthe Purple Morales, breakless at the time..He will pull through this and come back to riding better than ever (if better is even possible).
  Chase, Thank you again for Everything!!

[B-random Fantom]

Hey Brandon,

Chase phoned me the other day to inform me of his situation. He also mentioned that he wants me to translate a letter into Spanish. Do you have that letter? Or it's the same one you posted here?

He has a shorter one for you. I imagine he will be contacting you soon with the shortened letter.

[danger-us]

 Luis,
 
 check your email because i sent you the shorter version for translation.
 
chase

[danger-us]

"BMX Friends,

 This is Chase Gouin, i am writing quickly to say that the letter from Brandon Fenton is the truth of my situation, just in case some people think it's a joke. This is a real and serious matter. Just for the record, i fully realize that i have not been an active/popular or relevant Rider according to modern Flatland, and i do not expect that the sport owes me anything. I am simply in need of help right now.  Brandon is a long time friend of mine who has agreed to help me by reaching out to the BMX public. Also, my good friend Ryan Quinn from my hometown has set up a pay pal account and will transfer any donations into his bank and the money will be given directly to me for medical expenses only. I will be keeping all receipts so that i can prove my expenses to anyone who needs to know in the future.I thank you all for your time and consideration regarding my health problems.

 In addition, i cannot legally cross the border into the U.S where there are more doctors who deal with this. This border issue goes way back to 1993 when i had already left the U.S customs (where you merely pay a toll and leave the country). While waiting on the Canadian side for inspection of our tour equipment, the U.S side unethically and illegally came onto the Canadian soil i was on (the borders where within a 100 yards of each other and they were bored out in the woods) and called me back for "re-inspection". Inspection is not done when leaving (and especially after having left the U.S side) rather done by the customs officials of the Country about to be entered. They called me back and found an empty container (accidentally left in my shaving bag) that was dipped in a solution testing positive for pot. it fell under the newly passed zero tolerance law (passed by Bill Clinton who "never inhaled"). In 2008 after 2 years of waiting and paying a lot, i got a border waiver but it expired after one year, Then i got sick and could not channel my energy and pay more money for another waiver. They strip searched me and threatened to called the drug dogs if they found one seed. It was a totally bogus bust back then and now i need to enter the states to save my life and i can't. I actually just started another waiver process through a better agency but it could still be 18 months waiting and by then i'll be dead. I admit i have not always made wise decisions, but that border issue was flat out wrong on their part.
 
 Thanks for all your concern and advice. Believe me i have tried every mainstream and alternative treatment you can think of. Systemic fungal infections are extremely difficult to eradicate from the human body. There are immediate lethal versions and then the one i have which kills slowly and which most MD's don't accept. When my organs fail and they rush me to the hospital, the idiot doctos will say "hmm, i wonder how this could happen so suddenly to healthy man", when i tried and begged them to acknowledge it waving the proof lab results in their face all along. This is not even talking about the separate issue of the parasite which is also something they ignore.
 
 
 
chase.

[Rad255]

This may be a dumb question but does Chase get any kind of kick backs from Odyssey? Like even a few bucks here and there? They should look out for the guy who's name is on the most popular flatland handlebar and tire.

[Nails]

Lets all write to Odyssey and share this idea. Who knows, they might even be able to help him with a temporary work visa or something to get into the states with less waiting time?

[Jason Rideout]

Chase i dont know if this will help or not .but i could sent you this . may be able to get a few hundred out of it on ebay or bmx museum.   could probly send it on sept 2. lmk                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

[danger-us]

 Hi Guys,
 
 I receive royalties for my parts and a small salary that helps with basic expenses. For reasons too complicated and personal to explain i cannot apply for a work U.S work visa. I thank you all for your thoughts/ideas/advice.
 
 There was a temporary glitch in setting up the pay pal and matching email account but now everything is connected. Again, i turned to this whole fundraiser thing out of desperation and do not expect anything. Who knows, maybe all the money in the world can't get fungal infestation out of cells, bloodstream and tissues. My ND was honest with, as well as other sources when they said it's possible that i might not be able to get rid of it. When it becomes systemic (like any diseases that spreads throughout the body) the prognosis is not good.
 
 again, i thank you all,
 
chase.

[rideflat43]

CHASE
THIS IS MUTT AND WE TALKED ABOUT OUR CURRENT RESPIRTORY PROBLEMS FOR
HOURS ON THE PHONE IF YOU REMEMBER THAT.....I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSIS WITH
COPD AND ENDISM..TWO CONGESTIVE RESPIRTORY DISEASES....STAGE 1...CONGESTIVE
OBSTRUCTIVE PULMINARY DISEASE(COPD) AND ENDISM IS BASICALLY LIQUIDIZATION
OF YOUR LUNGS.

I am sorry your medical problems continue and being on this side of the border..I told
you that their is a huge difference in the medical programs and systems because of
Canadian being Socialists and it sounds like you have to sort out those legal problems
like i told you and ask for temporary pass so you can get proper medical help outside
Canada!

I AM NOW ON A RESPIRTORY MACHINE THAT PUMPS A SULFATE MIXTURE INTO MY
LUNGS TO CLEAR OUT MY LUNGS AND BROCH TUBES OF CONGESTIVE MATTER...2
TIMES A DAY.

I WILL CALL YOU SOON AND WE WILL TALK!

[byke]

I have only scanned over the symptoms briefly, but wonder have you been to a tropical diseases hospital?
As while I am sure you believe that mould spores caused this issue, but On first reflection wonder if there was an underlying issue that was tipped over the edge by more drain on your bodies immune system.

I know there is a Place in London, England .... http://www.thehtd.org/
But I have no idea if Canada has such.

I am almost betting this issue is a neurological one based and could be from being infected or bitten in a foreign climate your body is not used to.