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.

HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Enid H.

Alan B.

Middlesex County, MA
"At some point, we will all be liberated from this nightmare."
Read Alan's Story
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Rebecca Wells
Nichola M.

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
Grace W.

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Avril Lavigne
Tom Seaver

Brooke G.

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

Natalie N.

Lee County, FL
"I'm 22 and living like a hermit... Lyme has taken so much from me."
Read Natalie's Story
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Tessa Wallace
Patrick P.
Thaiadora D.
Kathleen Hanna
Karl B.

Angeli Vanlaanen

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

Bella M.

Lee County, FL
"This is not easy. Life gets harder every day."
Read Bella's Story
Ben Stiller
Lindsay B.
Author Eric Karlan
Lisa N.
Author Porochista Khakpour
Eddie S.
Olivia G.
Musician Bill Chinnock
Anwar Hadid

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
Scott A.
Nancy D.
Kris Kristofferson
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Tori Foles
Olympian Kristen Sweetland

Sarah H.

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

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story
Brooke Landau
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan
Ella B.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Melissa M.
Pastor Ramon H.

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 S.

Briana B.

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

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
Kyle Morton
Ashley Olsen
Adrienne N.
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Crystal Harris
Fontayne F.

Dominic S.

Groningen, Netherlands
"Lyme Disease is real, it isn’t a joke."
Read Dominic's Story
Shania Twain

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine's Story
Kirstie Alley
Christy Turlington

Susie M.

San Diego County, CA
"None of the physicians I saw put it together either."
Read Susie's Story
Calla J.
Olympian Christie Rampone
Thalia
Senator Kay Hagan

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary's Story
Nelle F.
Hannah O.
Suzanne P.
Comedian Akilah Hughes

Emily L.

Norfolk County, MA
"Just because I am sick, doesn't mean I have to live a sick life."
Read Emily's Story
Yolanda Foster
Jennifer Capriati

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story
Writer David Michael Conner
Dr. Kristin Honey
Jocelyne B.
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Adventurer Ray Mears
Alex H.

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Author Holly Chamelli

Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Rachel's Story
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Nicole K.

Millie G.

Los Angeles, CA
" I was living in a body no longer my own, one ravaged by Lyme."
Read Millie's Story
Kelsey W.
Author Andrew McGuinness
Kathleen O.
Mary-Margaret R.
Stephanie E.
Sierra R.

Brandon W.

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

Karine B.

San Francisco County
"I did not accept that Lyme would be stronger than me."
Read Karine's Story
Richard Gere
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin's Story

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela's Story
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Mary Sue A.

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

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan's Story
Colin M.
Singer Marina Morgan
Gabe Magnotta
Erin Walker

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story
Erika S.
Chef Kirk Haworth
Cassie M.

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
George W. Bush

Bart Yasso

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

Louis S.

San Mateo County, CA
"My mom says she remembers the day my personality came back."
Read Louis's Story
Singer-songwriter Jesse Ruben
Alice Walker
Netflix star Talia Jackson

Michelle T.

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

Laure W.

San Mateo County, CA
"I felt like I lost my life for almost two years..."
Read Laure's Story
Breanna R.
Peter Sarsgaard
Ink Master Geary Morrill

Lia G.

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

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson

Maisie M.

Washington, DC
"I am invisibly sick ... but I am at war with Lyme."
Read Maisie's Story
Elena Delle Donne
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
Stephanie S.

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
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer

Michelle M.

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

KÊTA

Singer/Songwriter
"People need to know. Lyme is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the world!"
Read KÊTA's Story
Whitfield W.
Amanda K.
Melissa D.
Wendy A.
RHONY star Ramona Singer
UFC fighter Jim Miller
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla

Kelly W.

Plumas County, CA
"The journey through Lyme disease is a long and painful experience."
Read Kelly's Story
Artist Peter Williams
Tom J.
Nikki K.
Sarah N.
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Cassidy C.
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Erin R.

Marjorie H.

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

Dave Skidmore

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

Laura H.

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

Sarah D.

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

Heather F.

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

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Painter John Bramblitt

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
Debbie Gibson

Jonathan L.

Bernalillo County, NM
"Chronic Lyme is like stepping through the looking glass straight into Hell."
Read Jonathan's Story
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Danie V.
Tasha R.

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
Pop artist Sonali Argade

Phil G.

Leelanau County, MI
"I’m finally starting to feel like myself again."
Read Phil's Story
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Marisol Thomas
Evan G.
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn

Shona C.

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

Triathlete Angela Naeth

British Columbia, Canada
"Treating lyme is like being on a roller coaster. "
Read Triathlete's Story
Deanna T.
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Marla Maples

Allie C.

Westchester County, NY
"It's time to make some noise."
Read Allie's Story
Ryan H.
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Emily S.
Gregg K.
Tara C.
Walter H.
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Ally Hilfiger
Pro Golfer Gary Player

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Matthew G.
Actress Martine McCutcheon
Justin Bieber
Samantha P.
Claire E.

Kayla D.

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

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
US Track Star Perry Fields
Brenton Tyler Hoffman

Izabela B.

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

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story
Dancer Brendan Saye
Pete Seeger
Actress Karen Allen
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Parker Posey

Christina C.

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala'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
James D.
Kelly Osbourne
Runner Robby A.
Susan B.

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Trae V.

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

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
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Amy Tan