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.

Marjorie H.

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

Laura H.

Shasta County, CA
""I am doing ok.""
Read Laura's Story
Amy Tan
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Nancy D.

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Author Eric Karlan
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Nichola M.
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Emily S.

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story
Scott A.
Singer Marina Morgan
Kyle Morton
Rocker Dave Mustaine

Allie C.

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

Millie G.

Los Angeles, CA
" I was living in a body no longer my own, one ravaged by Lyme."
Read Millie's Story

Esmé Weijun Wang

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

Christina C.

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

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Avril Lavigne
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Enid H.
Lisa V.
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Stephanie E.
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Musician Bill Chinnock

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Rebecca Wells
Whitfield W.
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
Stephanie S.

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 Sue A.

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

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela's Story
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Deanna T.
Wendy A.
Sarah M.
Chef Kirk Haworth
Dr. Kristin Honey
Gregg K.
Calla J.
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson

Mary Kate Robertson

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

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
Suzanne P.

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli's Story
Ella B.
Kathleen Hanna
Ashley Olsen
Ben Stiller
Author Holly Chamelli

Michelle T.

Marin County, CA
"Are we gonna beat this? Absolutely. Can we find a cure? Absolutely."
Read Michelle's Story
Tom J.
Lindsay B.
Nelle F.

Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Rachel's Story
Debbie Gibson
Eddie S.
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Author Andrew McGuinness
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver

Sarah H.

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

Michelle M.

Suffolk County, NY
"If I was ever going to get better, I had to be my own advocate."
Read Michelle's Story
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Sarah N.
Actress Karen Allen
Dancer Brendan Saye

Kris Newby

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

Triathlete Angela Naeth

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

Andrew G.

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

Briana B.

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

Dominic S.

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

Shona C.

San Francisco County, CA
"We can help each other take this day by day."
Read Shona's Story
Amanda K.
Davis B.
Shania Twain

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story
Peter Sarsgaard
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Christy Turlington

Karine B.

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

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Sharon W.

Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Bart's Story
Nenah Cherry
Samantha P.
Marisol Thomas
Grace W.

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Erika S.
Breanna R.
Karl B.
Mary-Margaret R.

Sarah D.

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
Read Sarah's Story
Richard Gere
Parker Posey
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Colin M.
Elena Delle Donne
Alex H.
Tom Seaver
Jocelyne B.
Tara C.
Melissa D.
Ryan H.
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan

Izabela B.

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

Kevin S.

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

Daryl Hall

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

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story
Crystal Harris

Bella M.

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

Shelby A.

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Olivia G.
Pastor Ramon H.
Marla Maples
Olympian Christie Rampone
Olivia S.
Soccer star Karel Poborsky

Katherine H.

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

Brooke G.

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

Louis S.

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

Alix M.

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

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Brooke Landau

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Gabe Magnotta
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Painter John Bramblitt
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Nikki K.

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 Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Gerrit van Zijll

Brandon W.

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

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Melissa M.
Chloe L.
Hannah O.
Kirstie Alley
Pro Golfer Gary Player

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert'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

Dave Skidmore

Lehigh County, PA
"These days most people know someone with Lyme disease. That's a lot of someones."
Read Dave's Story
Thalia
Kris Kristofferson
Netflix star Talia Jackson
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder

Alan B.

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

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Ally Hilfiger
Jennifer Capriati

Susie M.

San Diego County, CA
"None of the physicians I saw put it together either."
Read Susie's Story
Legendary crooner José José
Patrick P.
Yolanda Foster
Tessa Wallace

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan's Story
Artist Peter Williams
Anwar Hadid

Natalie N.

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

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
Writer David Michael Conner
Susan B.
Thaiadora D.
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Fontayne F.
Adrienne N.
Kathleen O.
Sierra R.
Tori Foles

KÊTA

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

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
Kelly Osbourne
Danie V.
Amy W.
Jane Alexander

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

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Lisa N.
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Claire E.

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

Jonathan L.

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
Walter H.
George W. Bush
Alice Walker
Cassidy C.

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Author Porochista Khakpour
Pete Seeger

Tory C.

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