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.

Author Andrew McGuinness
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Fontayne F.
Fontayne F.

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
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Bella Hadid
Thalia
Thalia

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon's Story
Brooke Landau
Brooke Landau
Rebecca Wells
Rebecca Wells
Marisol Thomas
Chef Kirk Haworth
Writer David Michael Conner
Eddie S.
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Avril Lavigne
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Susan B.
Susan 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
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Kirstie Alley

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Artist Peter Williams

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Enid H.
Kyle Morton
Kyle Morton
Marla Maples
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Dancer Brendan Saye

Shymala H.

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

Lia G.

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

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Yolanda Foster
Yolanda Foster
Erin Walker
Wendy A.
Wendy A.
Alice Walker
Alice Walker
Author Eric Karlan
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Nenah Cherry
Nenah Cherry
Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna
Michelle T.

Michelle T.

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

Dana Parish

Singer Songwriter
"I had the CDC-recommended 21 days of Doxy... I fully believed I'd be okay."
Read Dana's Story
Kris Kristofferson
Lisa N.
Musician Bill Chinnock
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Ashley Olsen

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
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Parker Posey
Parker Posey

David D.

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

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Alix M.

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Jesse Colin Young
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Mel Clarke
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Tessa Wallace
Tessa Wallace
Adventurer Ray Mears
Singer Marina Morgan

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

Robert Buelteman

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

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story
Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Olympian Christie Rampone
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope this account of my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
Shania Twain
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard
Scott A.
Scott A.
Trae V.

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Gabe Magnotta
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
Anwar Hadid

Kyla C.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don't give up. You are not alone."
Read Kyla's Story
Pete Seeger
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

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
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson

Bart Yasso

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

KÊTA

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

Kari M.

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

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Patrick P.

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Gretchen Carlson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Richard Gere
Richard Gere

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
Cassidy C.

Marjorie H.

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

Tory C.

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

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
US Track Star Perry Fields
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Crystal Harris
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
Kathleen O.
Kathleen O.
Kelly Osbourne

Kayla D.

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

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Melissa M.
Melissa M.
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Tori Foles
Author Porochista Khakpour
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
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben

Bella M.

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

Christina C.

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

Mark Dawson

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

Kevin S.

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

Laure W.

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

Shona C.

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

Karine B.

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

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana'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
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Ella B.
Author Jordan Fisher Smith

Shelby A.

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

Dave Skidmore

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

Jonathan Locke

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington
Ally Hilfiger
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Brenton Tyler Hoffman

Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Rachel's Story
Erika S.
Soccer star Karel Poborsky

Sarah H.

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

Kelly W.

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

Louis S.

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