Dear all, I hope some of you will manage to help my very close dear friend fighting Neuroborreliosis. Here is her story:

Hello, I’m Zoe, and for the past seven years, I have been battling Lyme disease, specifically neuroborreliosis—a bacterial infection that attacks the central nervous system. This illness has invaded every aspect of my life, interfering with basic bodily and brain functions and leaving me in constant pain and fatigue.

My journey has been incredibly lonely. For most of these seven years, I faced disbelief—not only from doctors, but from those closest to me. Friends and even family dismissed my symptoms as imaginary, leaving me to navigate this nightmare alone. Only a small handful of people believed I was truly suffering. In the process, I’ve lost friends, family, jobs, and, at times, my will to keep fighting. I’ve come close to losing my life more than once.

Sharing my story publicly, after years of silence and isolation, is one of the most vulnerable steps I’ve ever taken. But I am hopeful that, with your help, I can finally reclaim my life.

*My dream is simple: to wake up in the morning after a full night of sleep. To go to the gym. To eat my favorite foods. To read a book. To work. Just that.*

WHAT DOES NEUROBORRELIOSIS FEEL LIKE? These are just some of the daily symptoms I battle: itchy skin rashes; severe insomnia (on a “good” night I get 5 hours of sleep, but I often go days without any); neck and back stiffness and pain (that frequently led to temporary paralysis); joint pain; chronic headaches; extreme digestive issues (food intolerances, nausea, and stomach pain); uncontrollable spasms in my arms and legs; severe brain fog; memory loss; trouble concentrating, learning, or speaking; slow-healing wounds; hormonal dysregulation; deterioration of skin and even personality changes.

Every therapy I’ve tried, every hospital stay, every sleepless night—I faced them alone while trying to function as though nothing was wrong. I pushed myself to fight ten times as hard just to achieve half of what a healthy person could. After years of misdiagnoses, I finally tested positive for Lyme disease this year. The diagnosis has brought both validation and hope—that my suffering might finally come to an end. I’ve tried many rounds of antibiotics, which offered only temporary relief before my symptoms returned stronger than ever. For years, I financed all my health treatments (over 30.000€ in total) without any financial support, staying silent because no one seemed to understand what I was going through. The world thought I was fine—thriving, even. People expected me to be fun, happy, and productive, as I had always been. But behind the facade, it took every ounce of strength just to get out of bed. *Now, I am finally ready to say: I am out of strength. I need help.*

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Now, my only hope is a specialized treatment called therapeutic apheresis, or "blood washing." This therapy removes bacteria and toxins from the bloodstream and has an 80-90% success rate for Lyme disease patients. Unfortunately, this treatment is not covered by health insurance, and I have been unable to work for the past two years due to my illness. So currently I cannot afford the treatment and I am reaching out for your support to fund this life-saving therapy. If this funding round succeeds, I will be able to have that treatment at Focus Medical Centre in Aalen Germany https://www.blutreinigung.com/

People who wish to follow the journey can send me a message on instagram (@zoemercury) and I’ll add you to the “Close Friends” circle to see story updates about the therapy journey. Your kindness and generosity mean more to me than words can express. Whether through a *donation, sharing my story, or simply sending a kind message*, your support brings me closer to healing. Thank you for helping me take this vital step toward recovery.

With heartfelt gratitude, Zoe