As careful as we can all be to avoid tick and Lyme disease exposure, it is impossible to completely avoid it. This is why it is essential to get the word out and to help make the truth about Lyme disease known. Insist on making research, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease accessible and acceptable.
There is so much controversy surrounding this disease, and so little real research being done. Meanwhile thousands of people are being infected, misdiagnosed, denied treatment, and there is not even an accurate testing procedure available.
This is unforgiveable. People are suffering and dying at the hands of medical, pharmaceutical, and insurance professionals due to greed, arrogance, ignorance, and unwillingness to look at this disease from a new perspective or admit that perhaps they were wrong.
Research and education are desperately needed. I invite anyone and everyone who has been touched by this disease or is aware of this disease to do everything you can to inform everyone you know, including your doctors and representatives, about the reality and horror of Lyme disease.
Understanding this disease, finding accurate testing and treatment methods, educating people about exposure and prevention, and recognizing the severity of it are a large part of prevention.
May is Lyme disease Awareness month. Use it to your advantage to get the word out. But don’t limit it to one month. You can be infected year round.
See below and the links to the right for more information on how you can help.
Start The Conversation
Start the conversation with people, talk about it, research it, learn everything you can, and share as much information as you can with as many people as possible.
Hand out flyers to help spread awareness. Hold a fundraiser, host a screening of Under Our Skin………..get creative.
Get people talking about it.
Help Someone
Most of us that are dealing with Lyme disease ourselves do not have the funds to donate or the energy to lead a cause. I found, when I was at my worst; it helped me to help someone else. I was still new to the disease, but there were people even newer to it than me. I tried to help point them in the right direction. Join a support group, or start one yourself. See the Support page.
Ultimately, I made the Lyme Flyer, and then this website.
Helping others helped me.
Donate
Donations are always welcome for any cause. Just be sure to research the organization before you proceed. There are a lot of “bad” ones out there, too. If all else fails, go to any of the sites I have listed.
Share Your Story
Speak Out
Write Letters. Write an Article. Contact your local media, congress members, the IDSA and CDC. Make your voice heard. Tell your story. Let your government agencies know that you deserve and expect more!
Activism/Awareness
If you really want to get involved, there are several organizations that schedule events for awareness and activism. You can always organize your own locally as well!
The fight for this disease is reminiscent of the fight for proper testing, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV and Aids. The slogan from that time period (of which I remember all too well) is eerily fitting for Lyme disease:
Silence=Death
Help Others…Help Yourself…