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.

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
Shania Twain
Erin R.

Kevin S.

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

Angeli Vanlaanen

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

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
Brooke Landau
Brooke Landau
Kyle Morton
Kyle Morton
Ella B.
Yolanda Foster
Yolanda Foster
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
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

Dave Skidmore

Lehigh County, PA
"These days most people know someone with Lyme disease. That's a lot of someones."
Read Dave's Story
Wendy A.
Wendy A.
Enid H.
Writer David Michael Conner
Boxer Mikkel Kessler

Heather F.

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

Blair Braverman

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
UFC fighter Jim Miller

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Ashley Olsen
Chef Kirk Haworth
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Pete Seeger
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Kari M.

Kari M.

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

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Kirstie Alley
Emily S.
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Colin M.
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
Dr. Kristin Honey
Alix M.

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Erika S.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Rocker Dave Mustaine

Dana Parish

Singer Songwriter
"I had the CDC-recommended 21 days of Doxy... I fully believed I'd be okay."
Read Dana's Story
Thalia
Thalia
Jesse Colin Young
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Fontayne F.
Fontayne F.

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
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Melissa M.
Melissa M.
Louis S

Louis S.

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

Triathlete Angela Naeth

British Columbia, Canada
"Treating lyme is like being on a roller coaster. "
Read Triathlete's Story
Alice Walker
Alice Walker
Ryan H.
Kelly Osbourne
Bella Hadid

David D.

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

Daryl Hall

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

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Olivia G.
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer
Author Porochista Khakpour
Tessa Wallace
Tessa Wallace
Breanna R.

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan'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
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn

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

Bella M.

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

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Musician Elijah Blue Allman

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
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Jane Alexander
Mel Clarke
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Grace W.

Sarah Donohue

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
Read Sarah's Story
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Artist Peter Williams
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Kathleen O.
Kathleen O.
Marla Maples

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Samantha P.

Kayla D.

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

Rachel H.

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

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
Crystal Harris
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan
Gretchen Carlson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson

Marjorie H.

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

Emily Levy

Norfolk County, MA
"Just because I am sick, doesn't mean I have to live a sick life."
Read Emily's Story
Singer Marina Morgan
Gerrit van Zijll

Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Bart's Story
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese

Natalie N.

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

Mary Kate Robertson

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

Kyla C.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don't give up. You are not alone."
Read Kyla's Story

Shelby A.

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

Katherine H.

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

KÊTA

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

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
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Tori Foles
Eddie S.
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Jennifer Capriati

Laure W.

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

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris'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
Marisol Thomas
Gregg K.
Adventurer Ray Mears

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Lisa N.
Actress Karen Allen
Avril Lavigne
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Lisa V.
Gabe Magnotta
James D.

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Kelsey W.
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
Ruben Lee Sims
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Sharon W.
Ink Master Geary Morrill

Esmé Weijun Wang

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

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon's Story
Painter John Bramblitt
Alex H.
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Scott A.
Scott A.

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
Dancer Brendan Saye
US Track Star Perry Fields

Shona C.

San Francisco County, CA
"We can help each other take this day by day."
Read Shona's Story
Nenah Cherry
Nenah Cherry
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna
Musician Bill Chinnock

Camille A.

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

Andrew G.

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

Mark Dawson

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

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Susan B.
Susan B.
Courtesy of Independent Sports News
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Patrick P.
Jocelyne B.
Olympian Christie Rampone
Rebecca Wells
Rebecca Wells

Mary Sue A.

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

Karine B.

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

Michelle T.

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