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.

Erin Walker
Evan G.
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Suzanne P.

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Scott A.
Ruben Lee Sims
Tessa Wallace
Nicole K.

Mark G.

San Diego, CA
"Lyme Disease has been the greatest teacher that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone."
Read Mark's Story
Thaiadora D.

Karine B.

San Francisco County
"I did not accept that Lyme would be stronger than me."
Read Karine'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
Richard Gere
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Olivia S.
Matthew G.
James D.
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Adventurer Ray Mears
Olivia G.

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story
Comedian Akilah Hughes

Kris Newby

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Mary-Margaret R.
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Bella Hadid

Justin M.

Foxboro, MA
"Lyme is truly a debilitating disease, especially for those that can't afford it."
Read Justin's Story
Ink Master Geary Morrill

David D.

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

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Peter Sarsgaard
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker

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

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon's Story
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Brooke G.

New York, NY
"We get stronger by working together for greater health and wellness."
Read Brooke's Story
Dancer Brendan Saye
Ella B.
Sharon W.
Whitfield W.
Colin M.
Senator Kay Hagan
Nenah Cherry
Lindsay B.
Fontayne F.
Musician Bill Chinnock

Dana Parish

Singer Songwriter
"I had the CDC-recommended 21 days of Doxy... I fully believed I'd be okay."
Read Dana's Story
Singer Marina Morgan
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle

Laura H.

Shasta County, CA
"I am doing ok."
Read Laura's Story
Christy Turlington

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli's Story
Gabe Magnotta
Painter John Bramblitt

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

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

Natalie N.

Lee County, FL
"I'm 22 and living like a hermit... Lyme has taken so much from me."
Read Natalie's Story
Artist Peter Williams
Thalia
Anwar Hadid

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin's Story
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Walter H.
Avril Lavigne
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Shania Twain
UFC fighter Jim Miller

KÊTA

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

Kari M.

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

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Ryan H.
Tom Seaver
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Susan B.

Michelle T.

Marin County, CA
"Are we gonna beat this? Absolutely. Can we find a cure? Absolutely."
Read Michelle's Story
Chef Kirk Haworth
Eddie S.

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Nikki K.
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan
Parker Posey

Sarah D.

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
Read Sarah's Story
Alice Walker
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Breanna R.
Nichola M.
Adrienne N.
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Kelly Osbourne
Kelsey W.

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
Patrick P.
Claire E.

Shelby A.

Butte County, CA
"My hope is that one day Lyme disease will be treated quickly and correctly…"
Read Shelby's Story
Marisol Thomas
Nancy D.
Grace W.
Kris Kristofferson
Cassidy C.

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
Tori Foles
Melissa D.
Actress Karen Allen

Drew M.

Portola Valley, CA
"I think Lyme most of all is a mental battle."
Read Drew's Story
Jane Alexander
Kathleen Hanna

Louis S.

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

Daryl Hall

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

Triathlete Angela Naeth

British Columbia, Canada
"Treating lyme is like being on a roller coaster. "
Read Triathlete's Story
Erika S.
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Marla Maples
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis

Rachel H.

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

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

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary's Story
Author Porochista Khakpour
Author Eric Karlan
Nelle F.

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Christina C.

Alameda County, CA
"Many people know very little about Lyme. I'm going to change that."
Read Christina's Story
Deanna T.
Writer David Michael Conner
Author Holly Chamelli
Stephanie S.

Katherine H.

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

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Pastor Ramon H.
Justin Bieber

Ben A.

Long Island, NY
"My healing journey started with antibiotics, but they only provided temporary relief."
Read Ben's Story
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Enid H.
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly

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

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story

Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Bart's Story

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan's Story
Tara C.

Heather F.

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

Dominic S.

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

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
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
Amanda K.
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Gerrit van Zijll
Erin R.
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
Gregg K.
Dr. Kristin Honey

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Pro Golfer Gary Player

Emily L.

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

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Sarah N.

Briana B.

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

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Pete Seeger

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Wendy A.
Sierra R.
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

Mary Sue A.

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

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
George W. Bush

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story
Stephanie E.
Netflix star Talia Jackson
US Track Star Perry Fields
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Rebecca Wells

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
Lisa V.

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
Author Andrew McGuinness
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Karl B.

Izabela B.

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

Mela L.

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

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Tom J.
Reality TV star Irene McGee

Bella M.

Lee County, FL
"This is not easy. Life gets harder every day."
Read Bella'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
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Hannah O.
Brooke Landau

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Elena Delle Donne
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Runner Robby A.
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Jennifer Capriati
Melissa M.
Olympian Christie Rampone
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer

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
Ashley Olsen
Yolanda Foster
Legendary crooner José José
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur

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
Cassie M.
Kyle Morton
Crystal Harris
Ben Stiller
Amy Tan
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.

Susie M.

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

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Emily S.

Jonathan L.

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

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Ally Hilfiger
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Calla J.