Ticks and Lyme disease are far too common and not at all discriminating. There are over 329,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year in the US 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.

Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story
Gretchen Carlson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Jesse Colin Young
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Marisol Thomas
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Courtesy of Independent Sports News
Olympian Kristen Sweetland

Tory C.

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

Tracy Mulholland

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
Tessa Wallace
Tessa Wallace
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Angeli Vanlaanen

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli's Story
Bella Hadid
Erika S.
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Gabe Magnotta

Mary Sue A.

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

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Musician Bill Chinnock
Kris Kristofferson
BBC Reporter Allan Little

Mark Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Mark's Story
Eddie S.
Alex H.
Yolanda Foster
Yolanda Foster

Karine B.

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

Andrew G.

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

Christina C.

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

Katherine H.

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

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope this account of my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
Grace W.
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis

Heather F.

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

KÊTA

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

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story

Kyla C.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don't give up. You are not alone."
Read Kyla's Story
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla

Shona C.

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

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Avril Lavigne
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Anwar Hadid
Cassidy C.

Shelby A.

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

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
Read 's Story

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon's Story
Susan B.
Susan B.
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver

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
Pete Seeger

Esmé Weijun Wang

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

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
Ally Hilfiger
US Track Star Perry Fields
George W. Bush
George W. Bush

Camille A.

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

Louis S.

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

Bella M.

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

Kayla D.

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

Rachel H.

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

Trae V.

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

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Author Eric Karlan
Painter John Bramblitt
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne

David D.

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

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
Author Jordan Fisher Smith

Dana Parish

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

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary'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
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard
Ashley Olsen
Actress Karen Allen
Scott A.
Scott A.
Adventurer Ray Mears
Rocker Dave Mustaine

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Author Porochista Khakpour
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Melissa M.
Melissa M.
Michelle T.

Michelle T.

Marin County, CA
"Are we gonna beat this? Absolutely. Can we find a cure? Absolutely."
Read Michelle's Story
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson

Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Bart's Story
Mel Clarke
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Lia G.

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller

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
Crystal Harris
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Marla Maples
Erin Walker
Writer David Michael Conner

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Alice Walker
Alice Walker

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

Briana B.

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

Kevin S.

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

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
Brooke Landau
Brooke Landau
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
Dancer Brendan Saye
Kari M.

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story
Patrick P.
Rebecca Wells
Rebecca Wells
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Jonathan Locke

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

Laird C.

Spouse and caregiver
"It's a very, very scary situation to go through ... for the patient and for loved ones."
Read Laird's Story
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Artist Peter Williams
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Kyle Morton
Kyle Morton
Kelly Osbourne
Jane Alexander
Jennifer Capriati
Thalia
Thalia
Parker Posey
Parker Posey
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Singer Marina Morgan
Kathleen O.
Kathleen O.
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Shania Twain
Olivia G.

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Chef Kirk Haworth
Dr. Kristin Honey
Olympian Christie Rampone