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.

Erin Walker
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Pete Seeger
Gretchen Carlson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Ashley Olsen
Author Jordan Fisher Smith

Runner Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Runner's Story
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
BBC Reporter Allan Little

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
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Singer Marina Morgan

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope this account of my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
Pop artist Sonali Argade

KÊTA

Singer/Songwriter
"People need to know. Lyme is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the world!"
Read KÊTA's Story
Yolanda Foster
Yolanda Foster
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Michelle T.

Michelle T.

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

Shona C.

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

Dr. Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Dr.'s Story
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Chef Kirk Haworth
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Ally Hilfiger
Writer David Michael Conner

Daryl Hall

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

Allie C.

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

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon'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
Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver

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
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Lia G.

Lia G.

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

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary's Story
Shania Twain
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard
Marla Maples

Phil G.

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

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine's Story
Scott A.
Scott A.
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

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
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne
Marisol Thomas
Kari M.

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Parker Posey
Parker Posey
Courtesy of Independent Sports News
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Mel Clarke
Para Olympian Mel Clarke

Christina C.

Alameda County, CA
"Many people know very little about Lyme. I'm going to change that."
Read Christina's Story
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
Ink Master Geary Morrill

Andrew G.

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

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
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson

Shelby A.

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

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
Enid H.
Louis S

Louis S.

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

Angeli Vanlaanen

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Rebecca Wells
Rebecca Wells
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington

Mark Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Mark's Story
Thalia
Thalia
Jennifer Capriati
Anwar Hadid
UFC fighter Jim Miller

Jonathan Locke

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
Wendy A.
Wendy A.

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
Bella Hadid
Jane Alexander

Kyla C.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don't give up. You are not alone."
Read Kyla's Story
Kyle Morton
Kyle Morton
Tori Foles
Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna
Tessa Wallace
Tessa Wallace
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
US Track Star Perry Fields
Olympian Christie Rampone
Jesse Colin Young
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young

Bella M.

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

Trae V.

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

Robert Buelteman

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

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Kris Kristofferson
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Nenah Cherry
Nenah Cherry

Camille A.

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

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Author Eric Karlan
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Brooke Landau
Brooke Landau
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn

Kayla D.

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

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Fontayne F.
Fontayne F.
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Dr. Kristin Honey
Adventurer Ray Mears
Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Actress Karen Allen

Karine B.

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

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Susan B.
Susan B.
Melissa M.
Melissa M.
Dancer Brendan Saye
Kelly Osbourne
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Alice Walker
Alice Walker