NEWS: New York Lyme disease advocate Dr. Lis Heininger has passed away
Heininger, founder of the Corning-Finger Lakes Lyme Disease Association in New York, died at home on September 29. When speaking of her decade of Lyme activism, she once said: “I don’t want anybody else to go through what I’ve been through. If I could just prevent one person from having these problems, then it’s worth it.”
Dr. Lis Heininger, 48, may well have had Lyme disease most of her life. However, for much it, she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
According to a memorial page on the MarylandLyme website:
“For the twenty years Lis was told she had MS (multiple sclerosis) she was treated unsuccessfully by various physicians for a condition she did not have….Once correctly diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease Lis was treated with long term antibiotics and began to improve. Unfortunately, she was in the late chronic stages of Lyme disease at that point in time and the damage that occurred prior to receiving appropriate treatment was only partially addressed. But, Lis improved as time went by and she was determined to not give up! “
According to a memorial page on the Lyme Disease Association website:
“As the founder and Chair of the Corning-Finger Lakes Chapter of the Lyme Disease Association, she hosted many community awareness programs, including local Lyme disease awareness walks. She educated local Boy Scout troops, and served as a guest speaker at presentations of the award winning documentary Lyme disease film, “Under Our Skin.” Lis coordinated many educational forums at Corning, Inc, the local rotary, and in the the schools, at which Lyme Disease Association President Pat Smith, often participated, along with physicians, and legislators, providing compelling community presentations. She set up a number of important media and TV interviews on Lyme disease.”
Friends can pay their respects during viewing hours at Phillips Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 17 West Pulteney Street, Corning, NY 14830 on Thursday, October 2 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
The funeral service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 191 Bridge Street in Corning on Friday, October 3 at 11:00 am. A committal service for the family will follow at Chapel Knoll and return to the church for a luncheon.
The family will provide flowers and ask that funds in Lis’ honor be directed to a scholarship fund being set up for her daughter, Marisa. Checks may be made payable to: Andrew Heininger and sent to P.O. Box 1272, Corning, NY.
If Dr. Lis Heininger had not put so much heart and effort into her advocoacy for those effected by Lyme Disease, I may have not been diagnosed myself. For that, I thank her greatly.
So sorry to hear that she lost her battle with this horrible disease. I have had LD for 21 years now and been through hell so I can certainly sympathize with her. Was diagnosed about 5 years ago, finally, and even though no one seems able to cure me, it was still a blessing to be diagnosed with SOMETHING, rather than to be told that it’s all in my head, here have some Prozac. The disgust I feel for our traditional medical system is unspeakable and I had better not get started on that. All the best to Lis’ family. Jeanette Stamm
Thank you for all you have done. God Bless. I hate Lyme Disease and what it dose to our lives. Loves and Big Hugs for All.
When I got bedridden overnight seventeen years ago there was not any lyme advocates in my country and I was left to lay in bed for the rest of my life with unspeakable pains. Now there are many. When I listen to healthy people telling me now about how their doctor told them to get ab after a tick bite, I realize they have no clue that it is because of this woman and others that they are still well, and that they were given the opportunity to get ab because their doctors have been influenced. They don´t know how much work many patients have put in to make this information available to doctors and authorities. So thank you Lis for putting your energy into this at the same time as you were fighting for your life…Rest in peace <3
Advocates and human beings like Dr. Lis Heininger were among the earlier names one saw…far too along in the disease for any measure of real health to be restored to herself…she was ceaseless in her efforts on behalf of all of us. Her death adds another “red square” to our quilt which is the visible reminder that “only the good die young”, and someone with Lyme, the very good die even younger.
I know she helped condiderably more than the “one other person” she was hoping for and inspired a Lyme advocacy. I know I am joined by thousands who promise to keep the flame of grassroots Lyme Awareness burning and we’ll gain strength from knowing what Lis was able to accomplish fueled by a big heart and a generous sipirit.
Godspeed, dear Friend in Lyme. And all my prayers to your family and closest friends who left knowing that Lyme is a disease that kills and that the thanks to tge efforts of folks like Liz, others may escape her too-sad fate.