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.

Reality TV star Irene McGee
Dancer Brendan Saye
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope this account of my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington
Michelle T.

Michelle T.

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

Jonathan Locke

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Ally Hilfiger
Richard Gere
Richard Gere

Alan B.

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

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine's Story
Rebecca Wells
Rebecca Wells
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Kathleen O.
Kathleen O.
Singer Marina Morgan

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
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Courtesy of Independent Sports News
Olympian Kristen Sweetland

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
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Kari M.

Kari M.

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

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Lia G.

Lia G.

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

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
Anwar Hadid
Marisol Thomas

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story
Dr. Kristin Honey
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Kris Kristofferson

Mark Dawson

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

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

Brandon W.

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

Laure W.

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

Bella M.

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

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
Shania Twain
Alix M.

Alix M.

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

Shelby A.

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

Runner Bart Yasso

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

Robert Buelteman

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Musician Elijah Blue Allman

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
Brooke Landau
Brooke Landau
Author Eric Karlan
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Susan B.
Susan B.
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Tori Foles
Crystal Harris

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

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

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Bella Hadid
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Scott A.
Scott A.
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Brenton Tyler Hoffman

Kayla D.

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

Phil G.

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

Louis S.

San Mateo County, CA
"My mom says she remembers the day my personality came back."
Read Louis's Story
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Gretchen Carlson
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Ashley Olsen
US Track Star Perry Fields

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis

Andrew G.

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

KÊTA

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

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Wendy A.
Wendy A.
Parker Posey
Parker Posey
Actress Karen Allen

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Nenah Cherry
Nenah Cherry
Marla Maples
Writer David Michael Conner

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
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Chef Kirk Haworth

Kyla C.

San Mateo County, CA
"Don't give up. You are not alone."
Read Kyla's Story
Jane Alexander
Jesse Colin Young
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
Thalia
Thalia

Dana Parish

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

Dr. Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Dr.'s Story
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
George W. Bush
George W. Bush

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
Erin Walker
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Angeli Vanlaanen

Angeli Vanlaanen

Professional Freeskiier
"My story of going years undiagnosed is all too common."
Read Angeli's Story
Avril Lavigne
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Trae V.

Trae V.

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

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
Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna
Olympian Christie Rampone
Adventurer Ray Mears
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Kelly Osbourne
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard
Musician Bill Chinnock
Enid H.

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
Alice Walker
Alice Walker
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

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
Elena Delle Donne
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Melissa M.
Melissa M.