Support, Encourage, Pray ~ May is Lyme Awareness Month

Before we head into the weekend, I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to each one of you who have so lovingly been praying for my husband, Steve, since he received his Lyme diagnosis over a year ago.  I cannot express just how much your support has encouraged us to keep going each and every day that we press on toward a cure for this terrible disease! Prayer warriors - keep 'em coming!!

Lyme disease is much more prevalent in this country than you might think.  Perhaps today you will encounter someone suffering from the disease and not even realize it.  Did you know that:

*Lyme disease is not a new illness. 

The first infection was described over 5,300 years ago.

* Lyme disease infects 300,000 people per year. 

That's 5,770 cases per week, and 822 cases per day!

* It is the FASTEST growing disease in the U.S.

(with more NEW cases each year than HIV, Colon Cancer or Breast Cancer)

On the outside, to most people, Steve looks like a normal, healthy father.  But, what you don't see is how Lyme is attacking his body on the inside, how his joints ache, his muscles twitch, his memory is failing, his head pulsates with vibrating frequencies and his entire being is completely exhausted from an inability to sleep soundly at night.

We've all seen pictures of the bulls-eye rash, that tell-tale sign that indicates one has been bitten by a tick. For those who discover the rash on their body, antibiotics can be immediately administered and the chance for healing is very positive. Unfortunately, not everyone who experiences a tick bite will develop the typical bulls-eye rash. In fact, fewer than 50% of those diagnosed with Lyme, develop the rash or even recall being bitten by a tick.

Because the Lyme bacteria can lie dormant in the body for long periods of time before becoming active, victims may not develop symptoms immediately after being bitten.  This was the case with Steve.

Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose, and finding a doctor who acknowledges the presence of Lyme in your state and is willing to help patients seek treatment for it can be even more difficult.  We have visited with dozens of doctors, some of whom believe Lyme is prevalent in our state and others who don't even believe it exists, which is crazy! (We personally know 5 different people in our little community who are suffering from chronic Lyme Disease!)

Because many of the disease's most debilitating symptoms mimic those of other illnesses such as Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and other serious auto-immune disorders, patients are often misdiagnosed.

May is Lyme awareness month.  If you or someone you know has been suffering form any of the symptoms listed above and have been unable to find a successful diagnosis and treatment for those symptoms, PLEASE consider sharing with them about Lyme Disease.  We have spent countless hours researching Lyme disease online. As you know, the internet is a melting pot of good and bad information, and sorting through all of it has been quite a process. A few of the more reliable sources of information that we depend upon are listed below.

If you or someone you know is fighting the good fight against Lyme, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Don't give up!! We can beat this!!

Fighting Lyme - (Our Pinterest Board of Resources)

Lyme Disease Awareness - lymedisease.org

American Lyme Disease Foundation

You Can Get Better - Dr. Richard Horowitz

What is Lyme?

Could you have Lyme Disease? 8 Facts You Need to Know

Dr. Hill for doTerra Essential Oils on Lyme Disease