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.

Yolanda Foster

Trae V.

San Mateo County, CA
"Everyone knows somebody with Lyme — they just don’t know it yet."
Read Trae's Story
Whitfield W.
Kirstie Alley
Author Jordan Fisher Smith
Richard Gere

Kris Newby

Santa Clara County, CA
"It is unhealthy for a society to use language that blames the victim."
Read Kris's Story
Crystal Harris
Calla J.
Rocker Dave Mustaine

Andrew G.

Solano County, CA
"I believe my son, Andrew, was killed by Lyme."
Read Andrew's Story
Jane Alexander
Erika S.
Olivia G.

Michelle M.

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

Lia G.

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

Dana Parish

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

Kari M.

Sonoma County, CA
"Lyme is life-changing, pain, pain, and more pain."
Read Kari's Story
Tori Foles
Author Porochista Khakpour
Lisa V.

Mary Kate Robertson

'Duck Dynasty' star
"I hope the seriousness of this disease will start to get out there."
Read Mary's Story
Thaiadora D.
Dancer Brendan Saye
Chef Kirk Haworth

Camille A.

Spouse, mother, and caregiver
"The amount of suffering [from Lyme disease] is inexcusable!"
Read Camille's Story
Outdoor explorer Lee Farmer
Congressman Berkley Bedell
Amy Tan
Pop artist Sonali Argade

Robert Buelteman

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

Alan B.

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

Alix M.

Santa Clara County, CA
"Chronic Lyme is a living death"
Read Alix's Story
Evan G.
Dr. Kristin Honey
Marisol Thomas
US Track Star Perry Fields
Shania Twain
Nikki K.
Melissa D.

Bella M.

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

Kevin S.

Wake County, NC
"You are never beyond hope."
Read Kevin's Story
Musician Bill Chinnock
Amy W.
Kelsey W.

Brooke G.

New York, NY
"We get stronger by working together for greater health and wellness."
Read Brooke's Story
Painter John Bramblitt
Author Andrew McGuinness
Samantha P.
Netflix star Talia Jackson

Susie M.

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

Matt Dawson

International Rugby star
"Ticks carry some really potent bacteria. Raising awareness is imperative.""
Read Matt's Story
Ink Master Geary Morrill
Runner Robby A.
Voice Contestant Ryan Quinn
Deanna T.

Katherine H.

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

Blair B.

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

Seth D.

Columbia County, NY
"Has anyone else had a similar experience?"
Read Seth's Story
Eddie S.
BBC Reporter Allan Little
Sarah M.

Meghan W.

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

Shymala H.

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

Izabela B.

Bergen County, NJ
"Listen to your body! When you think something is wrong, it probably is."
Read Izabela's Story
Anwar Hadid
Singer-songwriter Jared Dylan
Reporter Nicola Sommavilla
MiLB Player Jordan Yallen

Kelly W.

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

Laure W.

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

Briana B.

Butte County, CA
"I am ready to take back my life."
Read Briana's Story
Legendary crooner José José
Lisa N.
News Anchor Gretchen Carlson
Justin Bieber

Esmé Weijun Wang

San Francisco County, CA
"I'm chronically ill and afraid of being lazy."
Read Esmé's Story
Matthew G.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler

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
Patrick P.
Walter H.
Olympian Kristen Sweetland
NHL player Lukas Bengtsson
Marla Maples

Jenn B.

Alameda County, CA
"I hope my struggle helps educate the public and enlighten medical professionals."
Read Jenn's Story
Actress Karen Allen

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
Boxer Mikkel Kessler
Chloe L.
Tara C.

Louis S.

San Mateo County, CA
"My mom says she remembers the day my personality came back."
Read Louis's Story
Author Holly Chamelli
Thalia
Cassie M.
Ally Hilfiger
Ella B.
Author Eric Karlan
Kathleen O.

Karine B.

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

Triathlete Angela Naeth

British Columbia, Canada
"Treating lyme is like being on a roller coaster. "
Read Triathlete's Story
Jazz-Hip Hop Artist Pete Philly
Adventurer Ray Mears
Wendy A.
Tom Seaver
Lindsay B.

Allie C.

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

Sarah D.

County Carlow, Ireland
"There is light at the end of the tunnel."
Read Sarah's Story
Cassidy C.
Artist Peter Williams
Pete Seeger
Alex H.

Rachel H.

Santa Clara County, CA
"I no longer see my health journey as a curse."
Read Rachel'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
Erin Walker
Ben Stiller
Hannah O.
Senator Kay Hagan

Michelle T.

Marin County, CA
"Are we gonna beat this? Absolutely. Can we find a cure? Absolutely."
Read Michelle's Story
Jocelyne B.
Nelle F.
Olivia S.
Bella Hadid
Tom J.
Reality TV star Irene McGee

Brandon W.

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

Shona C.

San Francisco County, CA
"We can help each other take this day by day."
Read Shona's Story
Triathlete Mary Beth Ellis
Jennifer Capriati
Entrepreneur John Caudwell
Kathleen Hanna
Parker Posey
Pres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves

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
Christy Turlington
PGA Champion Jimmy Walker
HGTV designer Genevieve Gorder
Kelly Osbourne
Actor/Producer Ariel Stein

Sarah H.

Williamson County, TN
"I had no idea the tests were so inaccurate."
Read Sarah's Story
Ryan H.
Kyle Morton
Fontayne F.
HS Tennis Star Camryn C.
Nichola M.
Sharon W.
Competitive miler Drew Hunter
Sierra R.

Maisie M.

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

David D.

Boundary County, ID
"I have been given a second chance at life."
Read David's Story

Marjorie H.

Morris County, NJ
"Seeking answers and advocating for ourselves and our families is important!"
Read Marjorie's Story
Adrienne N.
Scott A.
Olympian Christie Rampone
Gabe Magnotta
PGA Golfer Tim Simpson
James D.
Grace W.
Karl B.

Jonathan L.

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

Bart Yasso

Competitive Racer & Running Legend
" I can do this. I can beat this thing."
Read Bart'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
Amanda K.
Nancy D.
Para-Olympian Mel Clarke
Elena Delle Donne

Tory C.

Sonoma County, CA
"I will fight this disease and I will get my life back! "
Read Tory's Story

Daryl Hall

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

Phil G.

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

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
Pastor Ramon H.
Writer David Michael Conner
Avril Lavigne

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
Davis B.
Nenah Cherry

Mela L.

Siskiyou County, CA
"Hoping to help make the world a bit healthier!"
Read Mela's Story
Debbie Gibson

Kayla D.

Harris County, TX
"It never occurred to me that something else could be going on."
Read Kayla's Story
Susan B.
“Real Housewife” Amber Marchese
Suzanne P.
Gerrit van Zijll
Soccer star Karel Poborsky
Comedian Akilah Hughes
Kris Kristofferson
Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young
UFC fighter Jim Miller

Laura H.

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

Christina C.

Alameda County, CA
"Many people know very little about Lyme. I'm going to change that."
Read Christina's Story
Ashley Olsen
Mary-Margaret R.
Stephanie S.
Claire E.
Colin M.
Melissa M.
Stephanie E.
RHONY star Ramona Singer
Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla
Brenton Tyler Hoffman
Singer-songwriter Ben Kyle

Mary Sue A.

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

Heather F.

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

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
Motorcross Racer Jimmy Decotis
Gregg K.
Pro Golfer Gary Player
NHL player-coach Kirk Muller
Nicole K.
Tennis pro Samantha Stosur
George W. Bush

KÊTA

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

Angeli Vanlaanen

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

Dave Skidmore

Lehigh County, PA
"These days most people know someone with Lyme disease. That's a lot of someones."
Read Dave's Story
Emily S.
Sarah N.
USA Triathlete Peter Weaver