Imagine going through life without being able to walk. People look at you differently, and sometimes even treat you differently. This is the case of my own mom, Rhonda M.
Rhonda, a 40-year-old beloved mother and wife, has Advanced Lyme Disease. .
She is unable to walk without a cane, and she still limps. Early last year, Rhonda was in a wheelchair, and couldn't even stand. "It's very difficult to live with this disease" she says. .
Lyme disease is a crippling disease that effects the entire body, and can be hard to diagnose. Doctors recently found that Rhonda has the disease after 2 years. Symptoms include massive headaches, joint pain and swelling, sharp stabbing or extreme pain in the legs, cough, unexplained fever and sickness, fatigue, cough, and a multitude of other symptoms.
The disease is caused by a simple tick bite, and it progresses from there. Because there are no ticks in Nevada, Lyme disease is very rare in the state. There are no specialists or doctors in the state who can treat it. She will have to go to UCLA in California for further testing. Treatment consists or 6-9 months of IV (injections) and physical therapy.
About two years ago, our family went on a trip to the Grand Canyon. It's a very good possibility that she was bitten by a tick. It's a fact that most of the people who are bitten by ticks, never even know it. She also went to New Hampshire that same year. .
When my mom goes out in public, she can't avoid the stares and snickers. "People are so rude. They don't have patience, or watch out for handicapped people." says Rhonda. I couldn't agree more, it was especially bad when we went to the strip last year. People kept saying mean things about her and making faces, some even tried to trip her.
People with Lyme Disease can still fully recover if they receive treatment within 3 months. Unfortunately, Rhonda went 2 years before she was even diagnosed. But my mom, Rhonda, still has a very positive attitude on life.