Lyme Disease Killed My Mother

Worcester Mass realtor Michele Miller is on a mission, “My

As recently reported in the Telegram; after losing her mother, an Auburn, MA resident to Lyme Disease in 2013, her and her husband founded the Central Mass. Lyme Foundation. A non-profit organization that aims to save others from the devastation caused by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases which can be life threatening.

Ms. Miller’s mother was misdiagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2011. When doctors finally realized it was Lyme Disease, not ALS, it was already in late stage and was too late. Lyme Disease killed her mother.

Ms. Miller says that doctors would rather treat ALS, MS, or Parkinson’s than Lyme, given that treatment for Lyme Disease requires long term antibiotics. She also added that some doctors have lost their licenses for writing too many prescriptions for antibiotics.

She says testing for Lyme Disease is only 25 percent accurate, “which makes it better to flip a coin.” A lab in California that is recommended by the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society offers a much more accurate test. Offering medical personnel one-day Lyme Disease Fundamentals courses on treatment and diagnosis of tick-borne disease, the society is trying to increase the number of “Lyme-literate” medical professionals.

Ms. Miller is reaching out to the public about prevention while she works towards her foundations goals. She advocates wearing light clothing, doing tick checks, tucking pants into socks and wearing rubber boots while outside in unprotected areas. The Central Mass. Lyme Foundation holds monthly meetings that average 25-45 people. She is also setting up information booths on hiking trails and parks as well as booking speaking engagements to educate the public about tick-borne diseases.

Her most recent engagement was “Let’s talk about Lyme Disease” at Auburn High School in Worcester where she was joined by a “Lyme-literate nurse” and a young mother whose family has been affected by Lyme Disease. For future events, meetings, and to see how you can help check out centralmasslyme.org.

Lyme Disease is the most common of the tick-borne diseases. Fever, headache, fatigue and in some cases a bull’s eye rash are early symptoms of infection. If left untreated, Lyme Disease can lead to infection in the heart, joints, nervous system and possibly death or permanent disability. Preventing contact with ticks is the best way to lower the number of families devastated by Lyme Disease in Central Massachusetts.

With our traditional tick barrier treatment and tick tubes, we can lower the number of ticks in your yard. Contact us to sign up today by giving us a call at (978) 381-4028. We look forward to protecting your property this season and for many seasons to come.