Ticks and Lyme disease are far too common and not at all discriminating. There are over 400,000 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.

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Tara C.
Matthew G.
Wendy A.
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Enid H.
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Amy W.
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Gerrit van Zijll

Laura H.

Shasta County, CA
""I am doing ok.""
Read Laura's Story

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story
Marisol Thomas
James D.
Writer David Michael Conner

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan'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
Olivia G.
Author Eric Karlan

Emily L.

Norfolk County, MA
"Just because I am sick, doesn't mean I have to live a sick life."
Read Emily's Story
Susan B.
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Eddie S.
Calla J.
Thaiadora D.
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Sarah M.
Tom Seaver

Brandon W.

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

Bella M.

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

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story
Dancer Brendan Saye
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan
Tessa Wallace
Painter John Bramblitt
Walter H.
Kelly Osbourne

Natalie N.

Lee County, FL
"I'm 22 and living like a hermit... Lyme has taken so much from me."
Read Natalie's Story
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Shania Twain
Gregg K.
Nichola M.

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
Musician Bill Chinnock
Erin R.
Amanda K.
Jocelyne B.
Nicole K.
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Ella B.

Kari M.

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

David D.

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

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Dr. Kristin Honey
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

Alan B.

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

Karine B.

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

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Peter Sarsgaard
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young

Sarah H.

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

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
US Track Star Perry Fields
Adrienne N.

Brooke G.

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

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Senator Kay Hagan
Karl B.
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
Ben Stiller
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Sierra R.
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Ally Hilfiger

Allie C.

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

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Ashley Olsen
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Sarah N.

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Adventurer Ray Mears
George W. Bush
Pete Seeger
Patrick P.
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story
Nancy D.
Kathleen O.
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder

Heather F.

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

Christina C.

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

Susie M.

San Diego County, CA
"None of the physicians I saw put it together either."
Read Susie's Story
Erika S.

KÊTA

Singer/Songwriter
"People need to know. Lyme is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the world!"
Read KÊTA's Story
Nikki K.
Evan G.
Hannah O.
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Claire E.
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Gabe Magnotta
Tasha R.
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Angeli Vanlaanen

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

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Stephanie S.
Fontayne F.
Lisa V.

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Pastor Ramon H.
Rocker Dave Mustaine

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Samantha P.

Jonathan L.

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
Melissa D.
Stephanie E.

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Suzanne P.
Lisa N.
Olivia S.

Michelle T.

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

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Colin M.
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Reality TV star Irene McGee

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
Ryan H.
Breanna R.

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine'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
Elena Delle Donne
Nenah Cherry
Kathleen Hanna
Deanna T.
Brooke Landau

Shymala H.

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

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
Scott A.
Melissa M.
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Olympian Christie Rampone
Thalia
Erin Walker

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story
Kelsey W.
Chef Kirk Haworth
Justin Bieber
Emily S.
Author Porochista Khakpour
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Tom J.
Crystal Harris
Richard Gere
Singer Marina Morgan
Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Triathlete Angela Naeth

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

Tory C.

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

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Kris Kristofferson
Author Holly Chamelli
Danie V.
Cassidy C.

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
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Alex H.
Kirstie Alley

Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Rachel's Story
Davis B.
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla

Shona C.

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

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
Netflix star Talia Jackson
Ruben Lee Sims
Mary-Margaret R.
Debbie Gibson
Whitfield W.
Author Andrew McGuinness
Bella Hadid
Jennifer Capriati
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker

Louis S.

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

Izabela B.

Bergen County, NJ
"Listen to your body! When you think something is wrong, it probably is."
Read Izabela's Story
Rebecca Wells
Sharon W.
Alice Walker
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Kyle Morton
Chloe L.

Shelby A.

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

Camille A.

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

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela'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
Nelle F.
Artist Peter Williams
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Tori Foles

Kayla D.

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

Briana B.

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

Sarah D.

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

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin's Story
Runner Robby A.
Legendary crooner José José
Yolanda Foster

Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Bart's Story
Actress Karen Allen
Comedian Akilah Hughes

Dana Parish

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

Michelle M.

Suffolk County, NY
"If I was ever going to get better, I had to be my own advocate."
Read Michelle's Story
Marla Maples
Lindsay B.

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
Anwar Hadid
Jane Alexander