Ticks and Lyme disease are far too common and not at all discriminating. According to the most recent CDC statistics, there are nearly 500,000 new US cases of Lyme disease each year and more than half a million Americans suffering from long-term or late-stage Lyme disease. Some are fortunate to be diagnosed and treated early, but for some the path to a cure is long and challenging. Here we share some powerful stories of resilience and hope in the face of this debilitating and perplexing disease.

Are you interested in sharing your story? We’d like to hear from you.

PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

Dana Parish

Singer Songwriter
"I had the CDC-recommended 21 days of Doxy... I fully believed I'd be okay."
Read Dana's Story
Artist Peter Williams

Joan A.

Chevy Chase, MD
"I would say if you have a bite—get to the right doctor for testing. Don’t rely on the CDC tests."
Read Joan's Story

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Author Jordan Fisher Smith

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story
Alice Walker
Thalia
Legendary crooner José José

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin's Story
Sarah M.

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story

Grace S.

Hilliard, OH
"I do not remember being bitten by a tick, so I felt it was impossible that I could have Lyme."
Read Grace's Story

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story
James D.
Singer Marina Morgan
Calla J.

Susie M.

San Diego County, CA
"None of the physicians I saw put it together either."
Read Susie's Story
Kathleen Hanna

Shona C.

San Francisco County, CA
"We can help each other take this day by day."
Read Shona's Story

Michelle M.

Suffolk County, NY
"If I was ever going to get better, I had to be my own advocate."
Read Michelle's Story
Evan G.
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Walter H.

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Yolanda Foster
Tom J.
Olivia G.
Tom Seaver
Dancer Brendan Saye
Amy W.
Lisa N.
Musician Elijah Blue Allman

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Peter Sarsgaard
Marla Maples
Author Holly Chamelli

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story

Drew M.

Portola Valley, CA
"I think Lyme most of all is a mental battle."
Read Drew's Story
Chloe L.
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Gabe Magnotta
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Bella Hadid
Ink Master Geary Morrill

Karine B.

San Francisco County
"I did not accept that Lyme would be stronger than me."
Read Karine's Story
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Grace W.
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller

Ari S.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don’t try to do it on your own. It’s too hard. Get help."
Read Ari's Story
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Amanda K.
Erin R.

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela's Story

Laura H.

Shasta County, CA
"I am doing ok."
Read Laura's Story
Ruben Lee Sims

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine's Story

Michelle T.

Marin County, CA
"Are we gonna beat this? Absolutely. Can we find a cure? Absolutely."
Read Michelle's Story
Parker Posey

Christina C.

Alameda County, CA
"Many people know very little about Lyme. I'm going to change that."
Read Christina's Story

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story

Tracy M.

Los Angeles County, CA
"I want to share my story, spread awareness about Lyme and give hope to those in pain."
Read Tracy's Story

Dave Skidmore

Lehigh County, PA
"These days most people know someone with Lyme disease. That's a lot of someones."
Read Dave's Story

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Gerrit van Zijll
Shania Twain
Ella B.
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Actress Karen Allen

Shelby A.

Butte County, CA
"My hope is that one day Lyme disease will be treated quickly and correctly…"
Read Shelby's Story

Marc L.

Falmouth, ME
"...do not give up and keep searching until you find a knowledgeable provider..."
Read Marc's Story
Pop artist Sonali Argade

Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Bart's Story
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Kirstie Alley
Sierra R.

Sharane D.

Maricopa County, AZ
"I am going to do what I can to make sure no one else has to go through my nightmare."
Read Sharane's Story

Dominic S.

Groningen, Netherlands
"Lyme Disease is real, it isn’t a joke."
Read Dominic's Story

Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Rachel's Story

KÊTA

Singer/Songwriter
"People need to know. Lyme is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the world!"
Read KÊTA's Story

Sarah D.

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
Read Sarah's Story
Stephanie S.
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Mary-Margaret R.

Bella M.

Lee County, FL
"This is not easy. Life gets harder every day."
Read Bella's Story

Natalie N.

Lee County, FL
"I'm 22 and living like a hermit... Lyme has taken so much from me."
Read Natalie's Story
Emily S.
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Justin Bieber
Kris Kristofferson
Fontayne F.
Jocelyne B.

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Tasha R.
Tori Foles

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story

Louis S.

San Mateo County, CA
"My mom says she remembers the day my personality came back."
Read Louis's Story
Kyle Morton

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Samantha P.
Wendy A.

Melinda B.

Davie, FL
"Lyme disease didn’t knock. It invaded."
Read Melinda's Story
Debbie Gibson
Ryan H.
Anwar Hadid
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Kelsey W.
Lindsay B.
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Nelle F.
Nikki K.
Gregg K.
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Breanna R.
Kathleen O.

Emily F.

Medfield, MA
"It felt like each day I was adding new symptoms that had nothing to do with the last..."
Read Emily's Story
Scott A.

Triathlete Angela Naeth

British Columbia, Canada
"Treating lyme is like being on a roller coaster. "
Read Triathlete's Story

Milena G.

Los Angeles, CA
" I was living in a body no longer my own, one ravaged by Lyme."
Read Milena's Story
Jane Alexander
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Amy Tan
Tara C.
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Colin M.
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
Ben Stiller
George W. Bush
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Marisol Thomas
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Avril Lavigne
Hannah O.
Cassidy C.
Adrienne N.
US Track Star Perry Fields
Olympian Christie Rampone
Nenah Cherry
Christy Turlington

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein
Pete Seeger
Richard Gere
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer

Tommy F.

Middlesex County, MA
"I hope by sharing my story I can provide some insight into the daily life of this disease."
Read Tommy's Story
Ally Hilfiger

Christina K.

San Diego / Joshua Tree, CA
"I have made a conscious decision to choose an attitude and intention of thriving."
Read Christina's Story

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan's Story
Sharon W.
Patrick P.
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
Karl B.
Whitfield W.
Davis B.
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Pastor Ramon H.
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Rebecca Wells
Painter John Bramblitt
Runner Robby A.
Danie V.

Ben A.

Long Island, NY
"My healing journey started with antibiotics, but they only provided temporary relief."
Read Ben's Story
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Author Andrew McGuinness

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Musician Bill Chinnock

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon's Story
Crystal Harris
Eddie S.
Ashley Olsen
Actress Martine McCutcheon

Mark G.

San Diego, CA
"Lyme Disease has been the greatest teacher that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone."
Read Mark's Story
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young

Jessica S.

Dalton, GA
"I’ve learned that healing is not just physical. It’s emotional, mental, and spiritual."
Read Jessica's Story
Lisa V.

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Writer David Michael Conner
Chef Kirk Haworth

Jonathan L.

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
Melissa D.
Dr. Kristin Honey
Cassie M.
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Thaiadora D.
Erin Walker

Izabela B.

Bergen County, NJ
"Listen to your body! When you think something is wrong, it probably is."
Read Izabela's Story

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Jennifer Capriati

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Stephanie E.
Olivia S.
Matthew G.

Neil Spector, MD

Oncologist, Author, and Lyme patient
"I was in the active peak of my life, but it was like I was an old man."
Read Neil's Story
Enid H.
Melissa M.
Claire E.

Justin M.

Foxboro, MA
"Lyme is truly a debilitating disease, especially for those that can't afford it."
Read Justin's Story
Author Porochista Khakpour
Nicole K.
Brooke Landau
Tessa Wallace
Suzanne P.

Elet Hall

Freerunner, Parkour Athlete, and American Ninja Warrior
"I just want to get my body to a point where I can do what I want to do."
Read Elet's Story

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Adventurer Ray Mears

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story

Emily L.

Norfolk County, MA
"Just because I am sick, doesn't mean I have to live a sick life."
Read Emily's Story
Susan B.

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary's Story

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli's Story

Olivia A.

New York, NY
"I truly believe we can live in a world free of tick-borne illnesses"
Read Olivia's Story
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Kelly Osbourne
Deanna T.

Alex H.

Fresno County, CA
"One day, I hope that no family goes through what ours did. For now, the first step is prevention"
Read Alex's Story
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Nancy D.
Netflix star Talia Jackson
Senator Kay Hagan
Sarah N.
Erika S.
Reality TV star Irene McGee

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Elena Delle Donne
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan
Nichola M.

Brooke G.

New York, NY
"We get stronger by working together for greater health and wellness."
Read Brooke's Story
Author Eric Karlan
BBC Reporter Allan Little