An update from the doctors...

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[@GarethLeonard]

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[@PKNEXUS]

Glad your team is being proactive. Sounds like the team leader is being very cautious. Thank you for documenting your journey. With your age and based on my limited perception of your general health, I would expect those wounds to be fully healed within 2 months with normal healing. Something else is definitely at play with the increased wound healing times, if you calculate wound area size over time using your photos. Every patient needs a strong and focused advicotate that fights for high standards of care. It can be the patient themselves, or a family member or friend. Doing it yourself while being unwell is a tough journey.

[@spiritualrabbitt3765]

KEY STATEMENT...."I pressed and pushed"... until I got thru on the call etc. This would be the #1 message for patients to understand. I never let the docs just give me an answer and blindly accept it. I challenge, I keep asking questions, researching....It is MUST!

[@katheryn7318]

I am finding that more and more doctors get very snarky and angry if you research or advocate for yourself while at the same time are dismissive and don't even feel the need to discuss whatever tests show that are abnormal results. Medical care may be much more sophisticated now as the quality and concern for patients decline.

[@justmejust4553]

totally agree! they are more for supporting pharmaceuticals rather then patients!

[@Jeremiah7-ox2nj]

The number one best advocate for the patient is the patient. Be aggressive, be assertive until you get your needs met.

[@TheAmpharosFreak]

@@katheryn7318patients do a couple Google searches and think they know more than the decades of schooling doctors go through.

[@cooky4534]

I have always been terrified of swimming in foreign fresh waters. You proved to me that my fears are real.! I am so glad you’re better.

[@TanukiOfficial]

Unfortunately, staying out of the water won't save you. The Leishmaniasis parasite is spread through the bite of a species of sand fly. Dawn and dusk are the times the sand flies are most active, and you should wear light clothing.

[@-Hari-03]

your fears are real, though probably quite exaggerated, like someone's fear of shark attacks for example. while there IS a possibility, its remarkably low

[@wilsonfreitas8418]

In that case, swimming in US waters should scare you too. The brain eating amoeba is a real thing here.

[@MACRONOne]

the amoeba is present in soil/dust as well, threats everywhere, lol @@wilsonfreitas8418

[@beam3819]

It is not recomended to swim in sweet water in below equator. If you do it anyway consider taking de worm meds ( vets have cheap ones).

[@user-fj4xv5nu3w]

Your journey through this illness was inspirational. I am so happy you didn’t settle for the “let’s see what happens next”. Good luck and God bless you!

[@moniquemuramatsu8199]

Legal cheap marijuana. Bay city Michigan 71 years old!

[@GreatGreebo]

I’m an archeologist and worked in Central America with another archaeologist who had picked up *schistosomiasis* . It took many months, a few treatments and lots of self advocacy but they are okay today….hang in there!

[@danielsmommy2008]

Hi 😊. Thank you for posting about this. I am still trying to find answers for what is wrong with me. I'm having a hard time getting any doctor to help me.

[@robertzapata5238]

I spent 9 months in the Guatemalan peten jungle back in 1985,86. I feel so blessed that I never got anything like that. You are a very caring young man for helping people who are going through the same thing as what you went through. Keep up the great work, Mr. Leonard.

[@yurisucupira]

Here in Brazil, the standard treatment for leishmaniasis is Meglumine Antimoniate combined with Pentoxifylline. If the disease progresses to the visceral type, then Meglumine Antimoniate is replaced by Amphotericin B, which is also combined with Pentoxifylline for optimal effect. The wounds are frequently debrided and then receive an emulsion of Paromomycin 5%. Once the wound absorbs the emulsion, it's dressed with water solution of Potassium Permanganate 0.02% (it helps with cicatrization). Some doctors also administer IL-12 (it optimizes the topic effect of Paromomycin). Glad to hear that you're doing better. 🙏🏻

[@user-ps6om8qc6s]

Thank you for your vlog about this. I hope you are doing better and continuing to heal daily. Advocating for yourself is paramount in the health industry.

[@markg3025]

Some good news Gareth, we are praying for your complete cure!

[@tamiroupp2075]

Wow. This popped up on my feed. I’d not heard of you - or this disease before now. I’ve worked in health care for 35 years - and have learned that truth is so much stranger than fiction. Like the danger that was brought to you by some sand fly. You certainly have the best attitude! I want to send my healing thoughts of support to you! 🙏🎶🌈👍🏼♥️

[@sandravejin3555]

Sorry I missed your live chat. Thanks for sharing and wish you a fast recovery🍀🍀🍀

[@Rabies-gx5hy]

I’m so glad to hear you are doing better! I think I wrote on your leishmaniasis episode that working in healthcare, I could write a novel on how screwed up the system is. You absolutely have to be your own advocate. I manage a clinic, and my priority is to help navigate patients through the system. Whether it’s insurance issues, coordinating care with a specialist, help understanding a diagnosis and after care, etc. I hope if you seek care in San Diego, they have someone who can advocate for patients and help you. Cheers from VA Beach 🏝️ ✌🏼

[@wesleyverzosa]

You got this Gareth!!! Praying for 100% healing and recovery

[@nikita5662]

Hi Gareth, I think i had a similar case. I never seeked professional help or treatment. So it started with what appeared a small mosquito bite after a visit near a lake in south east Asia then it got bigger, deeper, to the size of a quarter. It was watery, bleeding, redness, pain, infected and sweeling around and just not healing for more than a month. The first few weeks I tried leaving it open after pouring alcohol and patting it dry with cotton pads but no progress so I started covering after pouring alcohol and patting it dry with cotton pads then I noticed some progress but I also noticed small bump appeared near the first wound which I'm pretty sure it was the same so I attacked it right away by spraying alcohol and covering it with bandaid every 6 hrs.. It didn't got bigger as the first one but still similar wound type. Then I started drinking water with a tablespoon of Braggs apple cider vinegar after breakfast and also Yakult a Japanese prebiotic milk after dinner, you can buy it in most Asian stores it helps strenghten immune system, i also changed my diet to foods that promotes healing and strengthen immune system. Also cut my sugars. After few weeks I noticed significant progress. When both wound was near dry and no more watery discharge I stopped using alcohol and just cover with fresh non stick bandaid every 8hrs. After 4 months since the onset, both wounds dried up and looks healed i hope. But that 4 months was mentally, emotionally and physically draining. I'm getting paranoid now too when I see mosquito bite.

[@lindabudd1131]

Your experience is very much like mine, I know what I'm doing now but I've had it very bad, 18 months on my body, and 5 months with my mouth, nose and thorax. I get to see a tropical diseases Doctor in January. My Dr and the two Dermatologists said I needed to see a psychiatrist because they all said it was all in my mind, that I had a condition called Ekbom 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@lisawilliams1651]

Thanks for the update. So sorry u have to go through this. Praying you heal soon and can put this behind you.

[@alexlarsen6413]

Wishing you all the best from Copenhagen! Have you contacted Paul Rosolie? He's been living in the Peruvian Amazon for most of the last 17 years. I'm not 100% sure but think among many other tropical diseases, bugs, parasites...he had this one as well. He definitely had something very similar at the very least and I do remember him mentioning this too. He might be familiar with the ways the locals deal with it.

[@herminiasmith1357]

Please stay with NIH. My son, a military scientist, was the lead of the US Team during the study of this disease' partnering with the Louis Pasteur Institute, Brazil, and other countries. He's now retired from the military, but he knows that the NIH is very much in touch with the most expert specialist of the various variety of this disease from all over the world, and this person is from France. I can't remember the name, but you could inquire from NIH.--So glad you're doing better, but we hope for you to be totally healed. I wish and hope that someday, I'd get to see photos of your children on your posts. I go to Walter Reed for my check-ups, which is just across from NIH.---viewer from VA.

[@leesummers7461]

Thank you for sharing your story and journey.

[@alexandraayeone1470]

Totally inspiring. Keep on fighting! Good luck for the future x

[@yousefal9750]

Sending healing prayers your way ❤️‍🩹 from Cleveland Ohio

[@GodsFirmament]

Glad to hear things are improving. Love from Canada 🇨🇦❤.

[@dianegarcia6562]

Hi Gareth from California, still praying for you 😊

[@GreenWitch1]

All the best buddy! Im happy to hear you’re pain free now! This will be in your rearview mirror soon! ❤

[@kristenswanson2977]

Sending much love from Carlton, MN. Best wishes for continued healing and adventure for the coming year! Looking forward to seeing where 2024 takes us via your channels:)

[@gailsiangco5599]

Awesome Garreth ! Take Care ! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas !!!

[@robertvalentine7623]

Prayers that you heal quickly.

[@Dan-xx5jq]

Praying for the best for you, buddy. It has been a very long journey and it is great to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. 'Keep checking up with your support team that have gone through this. I am hoping and praying that come January you are so cured that you don't need that repeat treatment. Please everyone, let's all pray that will be the case. Prayer is a very powerful thing! So glad you have the best team of doctors on your side. Your story is an incredible story of survival and for being able to stand up for yourself or we would not be at the stage we are at today. Here's wishing you and family a joyful and Happy Holiday Season!! You have a ton of povisive forces fighting along side with you. Take care.

[@christymmanpatilan]

Hi from the Philippines, praying for your full healing sir

[@1983erickjz]

Your journey and your experience is inspiring . Keep going and sending you support and continued health to you

[@edwinsarmiento3305]

Good to hear that you're getting better.Hang in there man.Watching from British Columbia

[@thecrabbytraveler4160]

My heart goes out to you! As a healthcare worker you never get to see what someone goes through with this kind of issue. Thank you for taking us on your journey! I pray you heal completely soon! Take care from Rockport Maine!

[@kathybradbury]

You are looking good! Thank you for sharing what could be life saving information!

[@mandymurray4534]

Well you're looking much better than the last video I saw of yours and so glad you are not in any pain now 🙏 big hugs and love Mandy from Birmingham UK 🥰🙏 xxx

[@VegGirlSF]

Wishing you a speedy recovery. 😊

[@broman74dude95]

Happy you’re doing better. A big fan since day 1. Planned a few family vacation using your videos. Good luck to full recovery

[@Lenibits]

Love and prayers for your healing.

[@piocarrillo5629]

Sorry to hear about the treatment you must continue , my prayers for you. You will get cured totally in order to continue doing your great videos . Don't you doubt, you will get cured . Blessings Gareth ! 🙏🙏🙏

[@kellynoble-putt4134]

Hi from Ontario Canada. Just saw your story the other day. New sub to your channel. You are amazing and love your outlook. Good luck during your next round of treatment and best wishes for complete recovery. Excited to see your new indepth content.❤

[@roymansd6004]

Gareth, it's great to hear that things are progressing well. Wishing you the best.

[@Ahoyfun]

Howdy from Ventura County. You’re looking great! I’ve been thinking good things for you. Glad to see you well.

[@carolharris9609]

Thoughts from Australia. I watched your video all about your illness, it was incredible. I wish you a full recovery and be very careful on your travels going forward x

[@lisaeveleigh658]

Happy to hear you’re not in a lot of pain anymore. It was hard to watch you suffering. Thinking of you and your family. Hope you can enjoy the holidays before your next round of treatments. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[@lizcoleman5229]

Hello Gareth from Madrid, Spain! Stay positive and stay the course like you are doing! So happy to see that things are going in the right direction and before you know it I'm confident you'll be cured! Sending positive vibes and prayers your way. Sorry l missed your live chat. 🙏❤

[@worldofhospitality4326]

I have been following your journey since you posted your videos from Brazil, and from my lovely hometown Brasilia. I wish you a speedy recovery! ❤️‍🩹 😊

[@RedhawkHaven]

Blessings from Colorado!

[@mothwing1]

What a nightmare. You did everything you needed to do to fight a monster. Getting the right medical help was frightening...hope I'm a prayer for completely healed.❤

[@raulg19]

feel better prayers to you and thanks for the great videos!

[@adriandarkside]

gareth gracias por estos videos, gracias a ti e conocido mas de mi tijuana muchas gracias, te recuperaras y te levantaras mucho mas fuerte que nunca.

[@adriandarkside]

Min 24:02

[@DeadPool-ug6rq]

I am from Singapore and chanced upon your wonderful videos on Croatia, which were really helpful for my upcoming trip there. It's only from there that I saw your video on the predicament you are currently in. Really share your frustration, especially you being someone who loves the outdoors and sports so much, having to go through this in your prime years. Just want to say I am rooting for you all the way from the other end of the globe. Can't wait for you to get back out there and make more awesome travel videos.

[@roxannegalindo3729]

Thank you for sharing this I just started my BSN program and I had never heard of this before, I was so intrigued, with how honest you were about your experience. I watched your first video & glad to hear an update thank you so much for sharing! Wish you the best of luck 🤞🏻

[@roxannegalindo3729]

Also from SD in the 91913 😎

[@vanessadeleo2987]

All the Best for you ❤❤❤❤❤

[@King-iy4mi]

Wishing you all the best and strength ❤❤❤

[@paestum70]

@magfan Gareth is beautiful wrinkles and all!!! Been through hell. Handsome as heck but more importantly a good man who has some of the best content out there. Only wishing him the best, and a quick recovery.

[@aslansgirl9014]

Wrinkles? 🤔

[@alexandraayeone1470]

What winkles??

[@robertolson7542]

Best wishes from Indianapolis IN!

[@sheliafortner2991]

I'm so glad your better! God bless!

[@secretariatgirl4249]

I see this being treated on a dog rescue channel from Spain very often and to see your case is just terrible! They often discuss what they are doing in terms of drugs. Wishing you the best of luck from New Mexico!

[@unprofessionaltrader6743]

Your tenacity to overcome that illness is motivational. If it was me i woulda probably just let myself die lmao

[@nettewilson5926]

Problem is you don’t just die. You end up living with a big hole in your face. It takes decades to finally die. It’s agonizing. So yeah, you gotta fight.

[@user-wj3rb2vp8b]

Wishing you all the best.

[@beckadg1806]

Feel better 🙏🙏

[@dinoinphx]

Praying for you.

[@user-kf1vm1sb3f]

get well soon Ronald Bond South Wales UK

[@Motswako]

South African in Saudi. I am happy to hear you are getting better.

[@mccal77]

Prayers for your healing

[@SABOREAME68]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have kept you in my prayers, since the first time you let it known that you had contracted Leishmaniasis. Furthermore, I shall keep you in my prayers until you're free of this horrid disease. Stay strong and keep fighting, let us your subscribers worry for you.

[@goccia23]

Wish you get better soon Gareth 💙

[@taraberg]

Hi! I found your channel thanks to your parasite video, as I was also dealing with open skin lesions. Thankfully I didn't have LM, but your first video about this was very helpful for me to learn more about this condition - which I had only previously read about online, and that had been lacking detail. Thank you for telling your story and for being vulnerable, it is greatly appreciated. I would, however, like to add this: if you want to help spread LM awareness, and/or have a positive impact on others who may also have it, or for whatever reason, could use ALL of your videos/your story for good…putting the majority of the videos discussing LM behind a paywall completely defeats your intended purpose. Times are tough, no doubt. And you deserve to be paid for your content. Can't you do that by posting all the videos on YT or Rumble? Personally, I am currently out of work (for medical), and I am not able to pay for your Patreon...just as I know many others are also struggling right now and not able to pay for it. I truly wish you the best in your healing. I pray that those who need your info are able to, and will actually take the time to, subscribe to your paid Patreon channel. If not, it is a huge missed opportunity. Just as you said (in your initial) LM video, you couldn't find much available online either. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[@Robsav-yx6vi]

You are going to get healed buddy. Live a long incredible life

[@karolinawybraniec1542]

Wish you all the best, take care. Greetings from Poland

[@krystynaskotny1982]

Hi from Oregon

[@merillynpaxson342]

Love and Prayers ❤🙏

[@anthonyalvarez4788]

Please get better fast. I miss seeing you out in the world but also concerned about you '. I am so glad your getting better. I am thankful to god for hearing me.

[@amyhenningsgard8618]

Prayers for your complete recovery. 🙏🏻 You’re such a nice and handsome young man. Take good care of yourself.

[@tashkenty]

Handsome as ever

[@sarahhendridge3774]

Hi i subbed to your channel, plz take care and may GOD bless you with recovery and happiness sir .

[@katharinewooten4436]

My brother is a heart transplant patient (25 yrs out) has had a skin issue for years. Mayo Jax did a biopsy and said it wasn’t cancer so don’t worry about it. He saw a picture of leishmaniasis and realized that’s what he has. Super painful and pops up all over his body. He got tired of pressing doctors, because they always just acted like he was crazy. Still hasn’t gotten help.

[@Lola_mirage]

Hope you get well soon, remember this too will pass. I joined the Patreon community, I support your content it's very helpful 👌 thank you!

[@pahbradley]

Your story is amazing. I just found it on KZbin and I look forwart to following you

[@zeevon9]

Just subscribed and don’t know the whole story, but glad you are doing better! Enjoyed watching the videos I watched so far.👍

[@TheEnnisfan]

Thanks for the update, Gareth. Overall good news. Wishing you further recovery in 2024, amigo. Hang in there.

[@estellelopez6254]

Prayers for your. Healing, Florida

[@ebsinger3250]

Added you to the prayer list at my church in s. Central Pa. Sorry the Bills didn't make the playoffs....I grew up in Jamestown, NY.....have been a Bills fan since OJ days!

[@MichiNamaste]

Good luck from Salzburg/Austria!!🍀

[@markt.1196]

Sorry I missed your live chat. I pray for Jesus healing every Sunday !

[@wagnerhiroshiiida7323]

Wish you well from Brazil

[@timmcavoy3077]

Good Morning from San Diego. Hope you are on the way up!

[@vcastik]

❤ happy for you!. Get well!

[@thelifeofpriz]

Gareth! You're great! Love you! X

[@louisesemrani6860]

Love and Bless you sending good vibes keep strong ❤️🦘🐨❤OZ

[@jovanessavf164]

Good to know you're progressively on the mend. Love from Iloilo City, Philippines!

[@misstara9838]

Best wishes from Sonoma County, CA

[@tinaharris240]

I am so glad you are better.

[@jeraldine_JhieOicer]

I can't imagine how hard it is for you Gareth .. you just want to have fun then suddenly got that. Sending you BIG HUGS ❤

[@cp-gz8lz]

I’m glad you are doing much much better and the pain is gone. May I also say , you are strikingly handsome! Blessing for your continued recovery and new adventures 😊

[@romeomarks8344]

I m happy you doing better Gareth 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@The_Jupiter2_Mission]

Scar tissue contains no melanin and whilst healed, there will always be some difference in pigment of the healed area. The skin texture will be slightly different to your normal skin. Whilst closed over, the area will need up to a year in some cases for the skin to have a solid foundation underneath. A wound will always require a dressing until completely closed over and not just partially or even 95%. It must be sealed over.

[@Paula14609]

Totally correct. I had brown recluse bite & it took almost a year to full grow up & flat. 30 yrs later it still can be seen as different texture, shiny & bordered. Great party conversation!!! Lol

[@Paula14609]

Also…never pain cause the venom ate through my it all that causes pain. I’ve had staph from yet another incident & I’ve never been in so much pain in my life. Almost lost my finger from it but tons of vancomycin flushing (4 hrs) & days of iv’s & months of therapy I’m disfigured but well. It TRULY helps to have your sense of humor!!! My motto is “if it’s not supposed to happen it’ll happen to me”. God only knows I ain’t going to the Amazon, but I get the boxes every day!!! 😂 Be well & go forward with a positive attitude.

[@jasminecarrillo2000]

This is so informative and inspirational. Thank you for giving us and update. Now would it be possible for you to disclose a little info on the medical bills. Has your insurance been able to cover all of it? Just because I know medical bills especially here in the states can be super expensive. Take care and god bless you!

[@jul4275]

God bless you. Thank God you were persistent. I'm so glad you are doing better. You will have children just keep yourself healthy, and you will. I'm praying for you . You need to cone to CT it's beautiful here. Lots of trails and beautiful scenery. Puerto Rico is great to check out Luquillo.

[@marjoriefinlay3303]

Thank you for teaching us ambout your journey with this disease amnd treatment

[@EarthLightPromotions]

10 years ago, I went to the Amazon Rainforest Pucallpa, Peru, and went on a 9-day Dieta led by an indigenous Medicine Person; it was a life-changing experience. The worst thing was coming back with Bot Fly Maggot under my skin; that was nothing compared to what you went through, for sure! I had a bit of fear late at night, going to the hole in the ground to release myself. I was not sure if a snake, spider, or more was waiting for me! 🕷

[@lindafield1365]

Thank you 🙏