When I was 35 years of age I was bitten and Lyme destroyed my life as I had previously known it ,as a wife and a mother of 4 wonderful children. This mysterious disease attacked one summer day when I was a my parent's place north of Emerson,Manitoba. At first I was sick on and off again for about 2 and 1/ 2 years. Then it hit me with a fury that totally took me by surprise in that I thought my life was over. I spent many nights going to emergency at the hospital because I couldn't manage my pain. My family was not used to a mom not needing anything but now not being able to cope. Then after spending weeks hospital not yet diagnosed and a trip to the Mayo Clinic I discovered I was pregnant. Nine months later after spending 8 weeks in hospital ,being unable to eat or even keep water down, my darling daughter was born.

It was at this point I heard about how Lyme is contracted from ticks, I knew exactly when and where I had contracted Lyme. I was unable to get treatment as doctors told me that there was no Lyme in Manitoba. I knew If I was going to get my daughter and myself treatment, I would have to fight. When I started to get better I promised myself I would do what I could to help so no one would go through what I had gone through.

Because my Lyme was unrecognized for so many years, I have lost a kidney ,my eyesight in my right eye,and had a number of other surgeries Now many years later I am still in constant fear my medication will be taken away and I could once again be bedridden and unable to cope.

My husband and I decided to start a support group for Lyme sufferers. With the help of many kind and dedicated friends and family we started a formal support group for Lyme Sufferers In 1993. This became the first Lyme Support Group in Manitoba. It has been a long 19 years and we have met many wonderful people. I have met many people facing the same problems as I have had. We called one last meeting on Sunday June 22nd at Smittys on Pembina in Winnipeg . There were some faithful ones, some regulars and some who have contacted me just recently. As my health continues to deteriorate, I felt it was time to pass on the torch to some younger blood and we did. We passed it on to Wayne Laurie (also a Lyme sufferer) and his wife. Their phone number 204-268-3167 or Email wvlaurie@mts.net. They will need many helpers, so we hope they will receive the same respect , encouragement and help that we did over the years.

My husband and I take this time to especially thank our family and everyone who has been instrumental in helping us through the many years of struggle. I want to thank my physicians for helping me though many difficult times. We also thank Dr. Terry Galloway from the University of Manitoba for identifying ticks and also thank Dr. Harvey Artsob and Dr. Robbin Lindsay from Health Canada Laboratories for testing the ticks. Also thank you to Dr. Susan Ruberecki from Manitoba Health for updating the Lyme information for prevention of Lyme.