Hi my name is Beth and until the Spring of 2023 I was being treated for Lyme disease with pulsed antibiotics and I was working as a Veterinarian and in remission with Lyme Disease. In 2002, I started the NC Lyme Disease Foundation to help others with this horrible disease. I did all this while working and being sick myself. After a bad food poisoning incident in the Spring of 2023, my gut was permanently messed up and I cannot take any antibiotics for Lyme disease. Each time I tried to resume medicine I ended up with acute colitis and dysbiosis with pain. A fecal transplant paid for out of pocket has helped my gut function but it is not back to a point where I can take my regular antibiotics. So, I am using experimental medicines, all of which are not covered by health insurance. There are three medicines and over 30 supplements that I have to pay for out of pocket. My office visits with my Dr are also not covered due to the politics in medicine with this illness. I have had this illness over 28 years and have never asked for help from anyone. I am a very hardworking and proud individual and now I need help from others. Please help us if you can. In addition, because of having to pay out of pocket for this disease for 28 years I do not have enough money to even retire on. If you want to learn more about the travesty of tick borne illness in our country please watch the movie "Under Our Skin". Your help is needed by simply sharing my story with others. You can share anywhere such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Linked in or whatever site you visit. But sharing regularly is what helps me the most. This assures continued donations to help us.

My mast cell activation due to the Lyme Disease is slowly starting to come under control but now I am having to fight the Lyme and Bartonella Coinfections with a treatment known as Super Oligonucleotide treatment. Those treatments run anywhere from $3000-$6000 per SOT. And several are required as well as repeat treatment. But we are so grateful for the mast cell getting better control of that and we are grateful beyond words to all our donors. God bless you all now and forever. Please understand that the treatments for this disease ARE Not covered by insurance. The only thing that is covered is bloodwork. All treatments are out of pocket because they are all experimental. My wife Kathy is having significant health problems as well and requires a fecal microbiota transplant like I had. She has also tested positive for Lyme disease and Bartonella as well so we are not sure where that will be headed at this point. We and our providers are confident that we picked up the Bartonella from our being in the veterinary profession that we so loved. I am currently unable to work and do not know if I will ever be able to return to work. Please help us if you can. Thank you very much!

Warmly and with much love,

Beth and Kathy