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.

Mark Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Mark's Story
Enid H.
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson

Robert Buelteman

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

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
Adventurer Ray Mears

Alan B.

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

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Mel Clarke
Para Olympian Mel Clarke
Pete Seeger
Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Fontayne F.
Fontayne F.
Gretchen Carlson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson

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
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Anwar Hadid
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Actress Karen Allen

Shelby A.

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

Daryl Hall

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

Tory C.

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

Dana Parish

Singer Songwriter
"I had the CDC-recommended 21 days of Doxy... I fully believed I'd be okay."
Read Dana's Story
Chef Kirk Haworth
Scott A.
Scott A.
Kyle Morton
Kyle Morton
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson
Kathleen O.
Kathleen O.
Louis S

Louis S.

San Mateo County, CA
"My mom says she remembers the day my personality came back."
Read Louis's Story
UFC fighter Jim Miller
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Thalia
Thalia

Brandon W.

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

Bella M.

Lee County, FL
"This is not easy. Life gets harder every day."
Read Bella's Story
Courtesy of Independent Sports News
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Jennifer Capriati
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna

Andrew G.

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

Sarah H.

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

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

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
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
Dr. Kristin Honey
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
Singer Marina Morgan
Marisol Thomas
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Shania Twain
Susan B.
Susan B.
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard

Christina C.

Alameda County, CA
"Many people know very little about Lyme. I'm going to change that."
Read Christina's Story
Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne
Angeli Vanlaanen

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli's Story
Kris Kristofferson
Alice Walker
Alice Walker
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur

Heather F.

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

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
Wendy A.
Wendy A.
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Kayla D.

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

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Parker Posey
Parker Posey
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Nenah Cherry
Nenah Cherry
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Melissa M.
Melissa M.
Bella Hadid

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Ally Hilfiger
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Alix M.

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Writer David Michael Conner
Jesse Colin Young
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Marla Maples
Kari M.

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Dr. Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Dr.'s Story
Jane Alexander
Kelly Osbourne
Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly

Phil G.

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

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
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Brooke Landau
Brooke Landau
Tori Foles
Yolanda Foster
Yolanda Foster
Trae V.

Trae V.

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

Cartoonist Dave Skidmore

Lehigh County, PA
"These days most people know someone with Lyme disease. That's a lot of someones."
Read Cartoonist's Story
Ashley Olsen

Runner Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Runner's Story

Shona C.

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

Maisie M.

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

Kyla C.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don't give up. You are not alone."
Read Kyla's Story
Erin Walker
Pro Golfer Gary Player

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

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope this account of my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Rebecca Wells
Rebecca Wells
Entrepreneur John Caudwell

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
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Olympian Christie Rampone
Dancer Brendan Saye
US Track Star Perry Fields
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Michelle T.

Michelle T.

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

Laure W.

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

Katherine H.

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

Camille A.

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

Karine B.

San Francisco County
"I did not accept that Lyme would be stronger than me."
Read Karine's Story
Musician Bill Chinnock
Author Eric Karlan

Jonathan Locke

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

KÊTA

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