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.

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Adrienne N.
Kirstie Alley
Ben Stiller
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Kyle Morton
Author Holly Chamelli
Parker Posey

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli's Story
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Tori Foles
Grace W.

Shona C.

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

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story
Sarah N.
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Pop artist Sonali Argade

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Lindsay B.
Thaiadora D.
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

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
Mary-Margaret R.
George W. Bush

KÊTA

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

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon'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
Cassie M.

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Amy W.

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Musician Bill Chinnock

Susie M.

San Diego County, CA
"None of the physicians I saw put it together either."
Read Susie's Story
Claire E.
US Track Star Perry Fields
Karl B.
Justin Bieber
Alice 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
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Nicole K.
Sharon W.
Artist Peter Williams
Richard Gere

Dominic S.

Groningen, Netherlands
"Lyme Disease is real, it isn’t a joke."
Read Dominic's Story
Nichola M.
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Elena Delle Donne
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Nikki K.
Kris Kristofferson

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Tasha R.
Nenah Cherry
Runner Robby A.
Nelle F.
Boxer Mikkel Kessler

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Nancy D.
Christy Turlington

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Melissa D.
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Olivia S.

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
Reality TV star Irene McGee

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

Louis S.

San Mateo County, CA
"My mom says she remembers the day my personality came back."
Read Louis's Story
Author Eric Karlan
Chef Kirk Haworth

Triathlete Angela Naeth

British Columbia, Canada
"Treating lyme is like being on a roller coaster. "
Read Triathlete's Story
Calla J.
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Tara C.

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

Meghan W.

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

Christina C.

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

Michelle T.

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

Ben A.

Long Island, NY
"My healing journey started with antibiotics, but they only provided temporary relief."
Read Ben's Story
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Deanna T.
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder

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
Fontayne F.
Eddie S.

Mark G.

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

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

Emily L.

Norfolk County, MA
"Just because I am sick, doesn't mean I have to live a sick life."
Read Emily's Story
Breanna R.
Stephanie S.
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Tom J.

Kevin S.

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

Drew M.

Portola Valley, CA
"I think Lyme most of all is a mental battle."
Read Drew's Story
Amanda K.
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker

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
Matthew G.
Hannah O.
Competitive miler Drew Hunter

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela's Story
Scott A.
Painter John Bramblitt

Heather F.

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

Shelby A.

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

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story
Yolanda Foster
Pete Seeger
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Thalia
Erin R.
Singer Marina Morgan

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story

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

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Jane Alexander
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Actress Karen Allen

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story
Wendy A.
Amy Tan
Jocelyne B.
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller

Natalie N.

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
Evan G.
Marla Maples

Daryl Hall

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

Bart Yasso

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

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story

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
Avril Lavigne
Anwar Hadid

Briana B.

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

Jonathan L.

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
Stephanie E.
Author Andrew McGuinness
Netflix star Talia Jackson
Erika S.
Ally Hilfiger
Peter Sarsgaard
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Crystal Harris
Susan B.

Alan B.

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

Sarah D.

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
Read Sarah's Story
Walter H.
Ashley Olsen
Ella B.
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Whitfield W.

Camille A.

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

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
Emily S.
Danie V.
Kelly Osbourne
Dancer Brendan Saye
Olympian Christie Rampone
Kathleen O.

Rachel H.

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

Dave Skidmore

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

Milena G.

Los Angeles, CA
" I was living in a body no longer my own, one ravaged by Lyme."
Read Milena's Story
Pastor Ramon H.
Pro Golfer Gary Player

Karine B.

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

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Olivia G.
Rebecca Wells
Enid H.

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story
Melissa M.
Brooke Landau
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Adventurer Ray Mears
Jamie-Lynn Sigler

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
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Lisa N.
Gerrit van Zijll
Bella Hadid

Mary Sue A.

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

Justin M.

Foxboro, MA
"Lyme is truly a debilitating disease, especially for those that can't afford it."
Read Justin's Story
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan
Sarah M.
Shania Twain

Brooke G.

New York, NY
"We get stronger by working together for greater health and wellness."
Read Brooke's Story

Bella M.

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

Kelly W.

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

Dana Parish

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

Laura H.

Shasta County, CA
"I am doing ok."
Read Laura's Story
Ruben Lee Sims
Kathleen Hanna
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer
Writer David Michael Conner
James D.

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Debbie Gibson
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Marisol Thomas

Izabela B.

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

Olivia A.

New York, NY
"I truly believe we can live in a world free of tick-borne illnesses"
Read Olivia's Story

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story
Legendary crooner José José
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Lisa V.
Tom Seaver
Chloe L.
Dr. Kristin Honey

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Ryan H.
Author Porochista Khakpour

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Patrick P.