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.

Kevin S.

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

Bart Yasso

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

Lia G.

Alameda County, CA
"Lyme disease: it’s real, folks."
Read Lia's Story
Samantha P.
Thalia
Lisa V.

Angeli Vanlaanen

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

Trae V.

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

Triathlete Angela Naeth

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

Marc L.

Falmouth, ME
"...do not give up and keep searching until you find a knowledgeable provider..."
Read Marc's Story
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Christy Turlington
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Marla Maples
Nicole K.
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Tessa Wallace
Amy W.
Congressman Berkley Bedell

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
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
George W. Bush

Shelby A.

Butte County, CA
"My hope is that one day Lyme disease will be treated quickly and correctly…"
Read Shelby's Story
Davis B.
BBC Reporter Allan Little
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
UFC fighter Jim Miller

Kelly W.

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

Melinda B.

Davie, FL
"Lyme disease didn’t knock. It invaded."
Read Melinda's Story
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese

Alan B.

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

Emily F.

Medfield, MA
"It felt like each day I was adding new symptoms that had nothing to do with the last..."
Read Emily's Story
Justin Bieber
Senator Kay Hagan

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Ink Master Geary Morrill

Mary Sue A.

Monterey County, CA
"I will do everything in my power to help prevent this disease!"
Read Mary's Story
Elena Delle Donne
Danie V.
Marisol Thomas
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Melissa D.
James D.
Anwar Hadid

Brooke G.

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

Joan A.

Chevy Chase, MD
"I would say if you have a bite—get to the right doctor for testing. Don’t rely on the CDC tests."
Read Joan's Story
Bella Hadid
Jocelyne B.
Avril Lavigne
Nichola M.

Bella M.

Lee County, FL
"This is not easy. Life gets harder every day."
Read Bella's Story
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Actress Martine McCutcheon

Robert Buelteman

San Mateo County, CA
"I knew something was very wrong."
Read Robert's Story
Artist Peter Williams

Grace S.

Hilliard, OH
"I do not remember being bitten by a tick, so I felt it was impossible that I could have Lyme."
Read Grace's Story
Runner Robby A.
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary's Story
Musician Bill Chinnock

Katherine H.

Sonoma County, CA
"The miracle happened when we were at the darkest point in Lyme disease."
Read Katherine's Story
Comedian Akilah Hughes
US Track Star Perry Fields
Reality TV star Irene McGee
Nenah Cherry

Phil G.

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

Laura H.

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

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Dancer Brendan Saye
Lindsay B.
Stephanie S.
Chef Kirk Haworth

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story
Actress Karen Allen
Painter John Bramblitt
Evan G.
Ben Stiller
Alice Walker
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Whitfield W.
Erin R.
Cassidy C.
Patrick P.
Olivia S.
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen
Debbie Gibson
Tom J.
Sarah 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

Daryl Hall

Musician, Hall & Oates
"People don't understand. Lyme disease is serious stuff."
Read Daryl's Story
Kathleen O.
Ruben Lee Sims
Nancy D.
Parker Posey
Hannah O.
Scott A.
Erin Walker
Legendary crooner José José
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Cassie M.
Wendy A.

Jessica S.

Dalton, GA
"I’ve learned that healing is not just physical. It’s emotional, mental, and spiritual."
Read Jessica's Story
Kris Kristofferson

Karine B.

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

Mark G.

San Diego, CA
"Lyme Disease has been the greatest teacher that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone."
Read Mark's Story
Walter H.
Stephanie E.

Meghan W.

Cortlandt Manor, NY
"CBD has helped me live in less pain from Lyme disease"
Read Meghan's Story
Calla J.
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young

Seth D.

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

Drew M.

Portola Valley, CA
"I think Lyme most of all is a mental battle."
Read Drew's Story

Allie C.

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

Laure W.

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

Alix M.

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

Christina C.

Alameda County, CA
"Many people know very little about Lyme. I'm going to change that."
Read Christina's Story
Pastor Ramon H.
Pop artist Sonali Argade
Gregg K.
Suzanne P.
Rocker Dave Mustaine
Shania Twain
Peter Sarsgaard
Breanna R.

Kari M.

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

Heather F.

Montgomery Country, MD
"Do not doubt yourself, but mostly, do not give up hope."
Read Heather's Story
Author Andrew McGuinness
Adrienne N.
Kelly Osbourne
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
Writer David Michael Conner
Erika S.
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story
Ashley Olsen
Netflix star Talia Jackson
Richard Gere

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
Pro Golfer Gary Player
Lisa N.

Camille A.

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

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
Deanna T.

Blair B.

Oconto County, Wisconsin
"Lyme disease changed my relationship with the outdoors"
Read Blair's Story

Sarah D.

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

Alex H.

Fresno County, CA
"One day, I hope that no family goes through what ours did. For now, the first step is prevention"
Read Alex's Story
Adventurer Ray Mears
Crystal Harris

Jonathan L.

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

Brandon W.

Albemarle County, VA
"I hope one day we can find a cure to this terrible disease."
Read Brandon'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
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer

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
Amy Tan
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver
Jennifer Capriati
Emily S.
Claire E.
Susan B.

Dana Parish

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

Shymala H.

Contra Costa County, CA
"You are your own medical advocate ... Do NOT give up."
Read Shymala's Story
Tara C.

Dave Skidmore

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

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
Gerrit van Zijll
Chloe L.
Amanda K.
Kathleen Hanna

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
Singer Marina Morgan
Gabe Magnotta
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur

Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Rachel's Story
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle
Olympian Christie Rampone
Author Holly Chamelli
Olivia G.
Kirstie Alley
Enid H.
Dr. Kristin Honey
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Ryan H.

Justin M.

Foxboro, MA
"Lyme is truly a debilitating disease, especially for those that can't afford it."
Read Justin's Story
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
Matthew G.
Ally Hilfiger

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
Pete Seeger

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story
Author Eric Karlan
Colin M.

Shona C.

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

Dominic S.

Groningen, Netherlands
"Lyme Disease is real, it isn’t a joke."
Read Dominic's Story
Melissa M.
Kyle Morton
Kelsey W.
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
Ella B.

Michelle T.

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

KÊTA

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

Ben A.

Long Island, NY
"My healing journey started with antibiotics, but they only provided temporary relief."
Read Ben's Story

Natalie N.

Lee County, FL
"I'm 22 and living like a hermit... Lyme has taken so much from me."
Read Natalie'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
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson

Marjorie H.

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

Kayla D.

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

Milena G.

Los Angeles, CA
" I was living in a body no longer my own, one ravaged by Lyme."
Read Milena's Story
Mary-Margaret R.

Susie M.

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

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela's Story
Sharon W.
Author Porochista Khakpour
Tom Seaver

Olivia A.

New York, NY
"I truly believe we can live in a world free of tick-borne illnesses"
Read Olivia's Story
Fontayne F.

Maisie M.

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

Andrew G.

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

Izabela B.

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

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Brooke Landau
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein
Grace W.

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-coach Kirk Muller