Lisa's thoughts about Love, Life, Lyme, and Liver disease

This past year I added ticks to the small list of things that I hate and fear.  For no reason in the world, I have always been terrified of snakes.   I hate the reptile house, I can't look at National Geographic specials about snakes, Jack Hannah bringing pythons on the Tonight Show is a sure bet that I will change the channel, snakes sunning on a lovely rock are disgusting, Snakes on a Plane movie (never saw it), Raiders of the Lost Ark (hated the snake scene)......yep, I am terrified of snakes. I am not fearful of limes.  They are a wonderful garnish to my cosmopolitan.   I think that displaying a colorful happy picture of limes makes me feel that one day when I see a deer or lime, I won't think about this awful disease.  But I digress..... It didn't help that a few years ago I encountered a snake at the beach house.  Houses on the Outer Banks are built on stilts.  During the winter the screens are stored on the upper/second story deck....

May is Lyme disease awareness month.  Don’t you just love her lime sunglasses, lime nail polish, and lime wine glass?  Based on this happy face, nobody would know that she has Lyme disease – my brave Lyme warrior.  She certainly has attracted attention with her green nail polish and it has allowed her to share her story, our blog, and tell people about the importance to check for ticks.  This whole blogging thing is new to me and sharing private information in a public forum is challenging.  I want to be honest, yet stay positive. By sharing our blog we hope to educate people about the necessity to prevent, detect, and and treat Lyme disease.  Much of the information that I share is obtained from the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) website ( http://www.ilads.org ). To update on Heather’s progress, the warm weather has certainly helped with her nerve pain.  Her body is adjusting to the new nerve medication.  She still...

A time to reflect on all that we have learned from our Moms, all that we have taught our children, and all that we have learned from any woman that had a positive impact on your life.   May you pause and reflect on how lucky we are to have been loved and to love. Thank you Mom and thank you Heather.  I am truly blessed.  I love you both  - always and forever. The attached picture is precious to me.  It shows four generations of love - my Grandmother holding my Mom, my Mom holding me, and me holding Heather.   "Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." 

When I was in Kindergarten, my school celebrated May Day.  We would hold brightly colored ribbons and dance around a Maypole to celebrate the coming of spring.  I hesitate to mention that I used to be a "pole dancer" - ha.  I look back at those innocent days and smile.   Fast forward to this year and now I have added another "May" event.  May is Lyme Disease Awareness month.  Last week I attended a candlelight vigil, sponsored by the May Day Project, to honor and remember victims of Lyme disease.  The Mayday Project was formed by a group of volunteers who have been touched by Lyme disease.  The group advocates for more accurate tests, better guidelines, improved access to treatment, increased education for physicians, and more funding for research.   It was an emotional event, but it made me more aware of the necessity for Lyme disease awareness.   So many people attending the vigil shared their sto...