Focus – Opinions and Features

We, Luke Mears and Madison Pinckney, founded the Duke Law Lyme Disease Advocacy Project (LDAP) in 2022. In creating the group, we hope to improve the lives of Lyme disease patients by partnering with nonprofit organizations that work on legislative advocacy and lawsuits centered... Read More »

By Debbie Kimberg My 16-year-old autistic son’s learning disabilities suddenly resolved after treatment for congenital Bartonella and Lyme infections. (See: After 80% improvement in autism symptoms, he’s going to college.) This turn of events totally shocked our family and... Read More »

By Grace Burns, Columbia Climate School My knees buckled beneath the weight of my malnourished adolescent frame. Cold, dripping sweat met its match on the tile floor. Every ounce of strength I had cried out to my parents for help. I didn’t stay conscious long enough to realize... Read More »

By Natasha Fernandes Janet F. Murray’s memoir My Sub-Lyme Life is a powerful account of the devastating impact of Lyme disease and other tick bite-related diseases on individuals and families. The memoir is an emotional depiction of her intense struggle in the face of the... Read More »

The federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group recently submitted its third and final Report to Congress, marking the end of its six-year existence. In a minority response included in the 2022 report, Dr. Elizabeth Maloney—a staunch advocate for the Lyme community—takes issue with... Read More »

By Kris Newby, Invisible International In the first study of its kind, two Lyme disease experts gathered data on a question frequently asked by tick-borne disease patients: Why is it so hard to find a Lyme-treating physician? And how could there be such a doctor shortage, when... Read More »

By Milena Pastore To say there is bad karma surrounding Lyme disease is quite an understatement. Controversy has plagued the illness ever since its discovery over 40 years ago, and patients have borne the brunt of it. Unbeknownst to me, my Lyme journey began in the 80s. As a... Read More »

by Betsy Thomason Since my early twenties, when I fell in love with solo white water canoeing and climbing mountains in winter, I have been committed to taking good care of my body. Now that I’m in my late 70s, I thought I’d be reaping the benefits. I expected to ski to my grave.... Read More »

By Ben Ahrens At 25, I was the picture of good health, strong and fit, a semi-professional surfer, and working as a corrective exercise specialist in New York City. Then came Lyme disease—and EVERYTHING changed. Ten years ago, I’d been bed-bound for over three years with chronic... Read More »