Introduction

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Hey brave warrior! You’ve probably picked up this book because you

either have Lyme disease, suspect you have Lyme, or know someone

who does. Welcome! And thanks for reading. I hope my story will

educate, inspire, and motivate you to keep going—no matter what battle

you’re facing—and help you side-step the trials I faced along the way.

And yes, there were many, starting with my diagnosis. I was

misdiagnosed for more than a decade and, when I finally received the

correct diagnosis, I found recovery to be the greatest challenge of all.

This book is therefore a compilation of “things I wish I knew” before I

started treatment, “things I learned along the way,” and “things people

don’t talk about” that are vital to know when it comes to healing from

this pernicious disease. At the time of this writing, I am not yet in

remission. I am still going through multiple treatments, but I am deep

into my journey back to health. Everybody’s story is unique. I can only

speak about my own, but each of us needs to be heard, believed, and

treated with respect. And we are all worthy of having a happy and

fulfilling life. I truly believe that remission is well within my reach, and

that it can be for you, too. Please note that this book does not name the

doctors, clinics, or programs I’ve worked with, in order to keep their

identities safe—but those details don’t matter because what worked and

didn’t work for me, may or may not be the case for you. There is no

“correct” way to heal from Lyme, and this book will show you just how

many treatment options exist. In the meantime, we must keep fighting

the good fight because better days are ahead for us all!

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Lyme disease is an invisible illness. So, for many years, people waved

away my concerns by telling me “you look great” because, on the outside,

I did. And on certain days, I felt great too. But my health often changed

drastically from day to day and, sometimes, hour to hour. Other people

couldn’t understand why, and I didn't understand either. All I knew was

that something was very wrong and that I would keep fighting until I got

to the bottom of it. From my suffering, understanding, and in-progress

healing from chronic Lyme disease—a condition Western medicine

doesn’t formally recognize and is said to be under study by the U.S.

Health Department—it’s my hope that I can be a voice for the voiceless.

I want to remind you that no matter what you’re going through, your life

matters: your symptoms are real, and your feelings are valid. You might

feel broken, but you’re not—and you deserve a healthy and happy life.

Let me walk with you during your dark days, as I open up about the

despair I felt. Let me help you feel less alone, though I know just how

lonely a chronic illness can actually be. And finally, let me laugh with you

when Lyme gets weird because a life without laughter is no life at all. I

certainly don’t have all the answers, and I don’t claim to be an expert—

but I have a story, and it’s one worth telling. This is my story, and

everything I’ve learned along the way.