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.

Susan B.
Susan B.
Enid H.
Lia G.

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Wendy A.
Wendy A.
Bella Hadid
Angeli Vanlaanen

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli'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

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
Ryan H.
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Brenton Tyler Hoffman

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben

Bella M.

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

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Marla Maples

Brandon W.

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

Bart Yasso

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

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Davis B.
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie'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
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Kathleen O.
Kathleen O.
Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Kris Kristofferson
Chef Kirk Haworth
Dr. Kristin Honey
Louis S

Louis S.

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

KÊTA

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

Kyla C.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don't give up. You are not alone."
Read Kyla's Story
Tessa Wallace
Tessa Wallace
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Gabe Magnotta
Pete Seeger
Anwar Hadid
James D.
Eddie S.
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington
Kari M.

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari'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
Parker Posey
Parker Posey
Singer Marina Morgan
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Rebecca Wells
Rebecca Wells

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin'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
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Kirstie Alley
Kyle Morton
Kyle Morton

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
Marisol Thomas
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
Olivia G.

Rachel H.

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

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Nenah Cherry
Nenah Cherry
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese

Andrew G.

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

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Shania Twain
Actress Karen Allen
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard

Karine B.

San Francisco County
"I did not accept that Lyme would be stronger than me."
Read Karine'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
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein
Kelly Osbourne
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
Writer David Michael Conner

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Lisa N.
Erin Walker
Alix M.

Alix M.

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

Author Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Author's Story
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Dancer Brendan Saye
Tori Foles
Alex H.
Trae V.

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Pop artist Sonali Argade

Shelby A.

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

Shona C.

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

Camille A.

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

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Gretchen Carlson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Jesse Colin Young
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Thalia
Thalia

Sarah Donohue

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

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
Emily S.

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Adventurer Ray Mears

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope this account of my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn'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
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan

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
Painter John Bramblitt
Samantha P.
Sharon W.
Alice Walker
Alice Walker

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
Lisa V.
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Olympian Christie Rampone
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Scott A.
Scott A.
Michelle T.

Michelle T.

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

Robert Buelteman

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

Christina C.

Alameda County, CA
"Many people know very little about Lyme. I'm going to change that."
Read Christina's Story
Mel Clarke
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Author Andrew McGuinness
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Ashley Olsen
Colin M.
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Patrick P.
Artist Peter Williams
Courtesy of Independent Sports News
Olympian Kristen Sweetland

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine's Story
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
US Track Star Perry Fields

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Avril Lavigne

Mark Dawson

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

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
Cassidy C.
Erika S.
Jane Alexander
Ruben Lee Sims
Grace W.
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Musician Bill Chinnock
Author Porochista Khakpour
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Melissa M.
Melissa M.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Fontayne F.
Fontayne F.

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Whitfield W.
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver