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.

Erin R.

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Kris Kristofferson
Author Eric Karlan
Patrick P.
Nelle F.
Legendary crooner José José

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Senator Kay Hagan
Emily S.
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Chloe L.
Deanna T.
Thalia
Tasha R.

Dave Skidmore

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

Izabela B.

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

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
Tori Foles
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Thaiadora D.

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
Tom J.

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Nancy D.
Kathleen Hanna
Colin M.
Richard Gere
Kelly Osbourne
Christy Turlington
Author Holly Chamelli
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Enid H.
UFC fighter Jim Miller

Allie C.

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

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

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin's Story
Anwar Hadid
US Track Star Perry Fields
Yolanda Foster
Stephanie E.
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Davis B.
Writer David Michael Conner
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
Pop artist Sonali Argade
BBC Reporter Allan Little

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary's Story
Melissa D.
Elena Delle Donne
Olympian Christie Rampone
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Kelsey W.
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Sharon W.
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Ashley Olsen
James D.
Olivia G.
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan

Susie M.

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

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
Amy W.
Amy Tan
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
Matthew G.

Bart Yasso

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

Brooke G.

New York, NY
"We get stronger by working together for greater health and wellness."
Read Brooke's Story
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly

Brandon W.

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

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

Shelby A.

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Painter John Bramblitt

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
Melissa M.
Erika S.

Jonathan L.

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

Kelly W.

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

Sarah H.

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

Karine B.

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

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

Bella M.

Lee County, FL
"This is not easy. Life gets harder every day."
Read Bella's Story
Evan G.
Danie V.
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Author Porochista Khakpour
Ryan H.
Rebecca Wells

Christina C.

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

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan's Story
Bella Hadid

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Adventurer Ray Mears

Triathlete Angela Naeth

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

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Dancer Brendan Saye

Michelle T.

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

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Tom Seaver
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Olivia S.
Eddie S.
Nichola M.
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story

Louis S.

San Mateo County, CA
"My mom says she remembers the day my personality came back."
Read Louis's Story
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Lindsay B.
Calla J.
Shania Twain
Pete Seeger
Entrepreneur John Caudwell

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
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Actress Karen Allen

Shona C.

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

Rachel H.

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

Matt Dawson

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

KÊTA

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

Laura H.

Shasta County, CA
""I am doing ok.""
Read Laura's Story
Tara C.
Karl B.

Phil G.

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

Angeli Vanlaanen

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

Laure W.

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

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine's Story
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story
Jennifer Capriati
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Samantha P.
Gabe Magnotta
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Debbie Gibson
Marisol Thomas
Crystal Harris

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Sarah M.
Wendy A.
Ella B.
Alice Walker
Nikki K.
Nicole K.
Breanna R.
Lisa N.
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Kirstie Alley

Natalie N.

Lee County, FL
"I'm 22 and living like a hermit... Lyme has taken so much from me."
Read Natalie's Story
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story
Ruben Lee Sims
Stephanie S.

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Lisa V.
Scott A.
Musician Bill Chinnock
Artist Peter Williams
Suzanne P.
Musician Elijah Blue Allman
Avril Lavigne
Sarah N.
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story
Runner Robby A.
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Author Andrew McGuinness
Hannah O.

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Adrienne N.
Pastor Ramon H.
Gerrit van Zijll
Singer Marina Morgan

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela's Story
Parker Posey
Fontayne F.
Kathleen O.
Erin Walker
Netflix star Talia Jackson
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Kyle Morton
Amanda K.
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Nenah Cherry
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Susan B.
Whitfield W.
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
Jane Alexander
Marla Maples

Sarah D.

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

Seth D.

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

Emily L.

Norfolk County, MA
"Just because I am sick, doesn't mean I have to live a sick life."
Read Emily's Story
Cassie M.
Walter H.

Briana B.

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

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
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Sierra R.
Ben Stiller
Jocelyne B.
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Chef Kirk Haworth
Claire E.
Pro Golfer Gary Player

Kari M.

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

Michelle M.

Suffolk County, NY
"If I was ever going to get better, I had to be my own advocate."
Read Michelle's Story
Brooke Landau
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson

Daryl Hall

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