Growing Deeper Roots: My Story of Invisible Illness

The Maryland General Assembly passed it's first Lyme Disease bill during 2016's legislative session. I was lucky enough to have an internship in an office in the MGA this semester and spoke with the sponsor of the bill, who is also my Frederick County district representative. Delegate Kathy Afzali represents District 4 of Maryland and sponsored the Lyme Disease - Laboratory Test - Required Notice Act, which requires health care providers to provide notice of potential inaccuracies in diagnostic tests. The goal of this patient-driven act is to ensure that patients are receiving accurate information about the tests used to diagnose Lyme disease, hopefully significantly decreasing the number of misdiagnoses.  Today, only a month after the MGA Sine Die, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has signed this Lyme Disease - Laboratory Test - Required Notice Act into law.  Taking affect in October, this law will require health care providers to provide the following disclosure to...

Today is May 1st. While some people at my liberal arts college might be excited for their nudity-ridden May Day traditions, that is not the focus of my excitement today. Today is the first day of Lyme Disease Awareness Month! For the next 31 days, communities brought together by this terrible disease will work tirelessly to bring awareness, education, funds, and advocacy to this important issue. These patients and activists work year round but this month is the time for everyone else to join them. I will be continuing using my social media platform and this blog to spread awareness all month long. I will also be participating in a 5K for Lyme Nat Cap on May 15th. Across the country, there will be many many other events for you or your allies to partake in. Fighting chronic Lyme can be isolating and devastating but we are not alone in this fight! I hope we can all come together this May to move forward, closer to a world without Lyme! Events to look forward to: ...