Ticks and Lyme disease are far too common and not at all discriminating. According to the most recent CDC statistics, there are nearly 500,000 new US cases of Lyme disease each year 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.

Tori Foles
Tom J.

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Netflix star Talia Jackson
Davis B.
Gerrit van Zijll
Colin M.

Sarah D.

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
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

Louis S.

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

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

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
Grace W.
Debbie Gibson
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Breanna R.
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Tom Seaver
Claire E.
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story
Cassidy C.
Amy W.
Senator Kay Hagan

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin's Story
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Yolanda Foster
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Author Eric Karlan
Thaiadora D.
Emily S.
Gregg K.
Karl B.
Chloe L.

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
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Kelsey W.
Musician Bill Chinnock
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Tessa Wallace
Erin R.
Writer David Michael Conner
US Track Star Perry Fields

Millie G.

Los Angeles, CA
" I was living in a body no longer my own, one ravaged by Lyme."
Read Millie's Story
Adrienne N.

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Sarah N.
George W. Bush

Trae V.

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

Karine B.

San Francisco County
"I did not accept that Lyme would be stronger than me."
Read Karine's Story
Artist Peter Williams
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Author Holly Chamelli

Emily L.

Norfolk County, MA
"Just because I am sick, doesn't mean I have to live a sick life."
Read Emily's Story
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Chef Kirk Haworth

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan's Story
Pastor Ramon H.
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Brenton Tyler Hoffman

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli'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
Olympian Christie Rampone
Kris Kristofferson
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Ally Hilfiger

Daryl Hall

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

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela'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
Kelly Osbourne

Andrew G.

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

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Whitfield W.
Amanda K.
Calla J.

Katherine H.

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

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
Alex H.
Olivia G.

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
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Pete Seeger
Brooke Landau
Nenah Cherry
Ella B.
Evan G.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Scott A.
Cassie M.
Susan B.
Fontayne F.

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story
Singer Marina Morgan
Kathleen Hanna
Lindsay B.
Mary-Margaret R.
Walter H.
Kirstie Alley
BBC Reporter Allan Little

Shona C.

San Francisco County, CA
"We can help each other take this day by day."
Read Shona's Story
Sarah M.
Sharon W.
Avril Lavigne
Jocelyne B.
Wendy A.
Nikki K.

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
Matthew G.
Hannah O.
Runner Robby A.

Bella M.

Lee County, FL
"This is not easy. Life gets harder every day."
Read Bella's Story
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Enid H.
Painter John Bramblitt

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Actress Karen Allen
Author Porochista Khakpour
Crystal Harris

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Thalia
Sierra R.
Ben Stiller
Alice Walker

Triathlete Angela Naeth

British Columbia, Canada
"Treating lyme is like being on a roller coaster. "
Read Triathlete'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
Legendary crooner José José
Rebecca Wells
Deanna T.
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Kyle Morton
Stephanie S.

David D.

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

Jonathan L.

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
Marla Maples
Erika S.
Eddie S.
UFC fighter Jim Miller

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly'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
Erin Walker

Kari M.

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

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Shania Twain

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Tara C.
Parker Posey
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer
Gabe Magnotta

KÊTA

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

Bart Yasso

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

Brooke G.

New York, NY
"We get stronger by working together for greater health and wellness."
Read Brooke's Story
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Lisa N.

Izabela B.

Bergen County, NJ
"Listen to your body! When you think something is wrong, it probably is."
Read Izabela's Story
Olivia S.

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Congressman Berkley Bedell
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Elena Delle Donne

Dave Skidmore

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

Christina C.

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

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story

Rachel H.

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

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan

Marjorie H.

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

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
Justin Bieber

Susie M.

San Diego County, CA
"None of the physicians I saw put it together either."
Read Susie's Story
Kathleen O.
Dr. Kristin Honey
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Nelle F.
Danie V.
Jennifer Capriati
Melissa D.
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
James D.
Suzanne P.
Dancer Brendan Saye

Michelle T.

Marin County, CA
"Are we gonna beat this? Absolutely. Can we find a cure? Absolutely."
Read Michelle's Story
Adventurer Ray Mears
Comedian Akilah Hughes

Natalie N.

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

Laura H.

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Anwar Hadid
Stephanie E.
Ryan H.
Nichola M.

Shelby A.

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

Dominic S.

Groningen, Netherlands
"Lyme Disease is real, it isn’t a joke."
Read Dominic's Story
Tasha R.
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla

Alix M.

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

Mary Sue A.

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

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Melissa M.
Lisa V.
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly

Tory C.

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

Brandon W.

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