TOUCHED BY LYME: Daughter uses Mom's Lyme testimony to educate her co-workers; You can, too.
Last week, Lyme Times assistant editor Pam Cocks testified via telephone before the Institute of Medicine. Her adult daughter, Lizzy Cocks, sent the following message to her co-workers, to help educate them about Lyme disease.
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Here is the text of Lizzy’s message:
As many of you already know, I’ve been on medical leave for treatment of Lyme Disease since February. My brother, Charlie, also has Lyme (diagnosed 4 years ago); we both have been infected since early childhood. My mom, Pam, who edits for the Lyme Times, recently gave a testimony on Lyme to the Institute of Medicine. It is a simple, brief take on the Lyme controversy and how it has adversely affected our family for so many years.
My goal is to prevent anyone I love from suffering, as my family has, at the hand of this devastating and largely misunderstood (yes, Lyme is in our backyards) international epidemic. As we know, knowledge is power, so I ask that you take a few minutes to read my mom’s testimony and inform yourself to protect your families and loved ones.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or requests for further resources. Lyme is a global public health issue; the more people who are familiar with the complexities and dangers of this disease, the better! Thank you all for your support through this very difficult time. I miss you all terribly but take comfort in knowing that we as a community have the power to effect change in this crazy world. Lizzy
(To read more about the IOM and see testimony from other people, click here.)
This is a great example of how any Lyme patient can help educate other people about the realities of Lyme disease.(Even if your mom hasn’t testified before the IOM!)
Find an article that sums it up best for you (Use Pam’s, if you like. Or any from my blog. Or any of the Lyme articles referenced on CALDA’s Facebook page). Write a brief, heartfelt note saying how it pertains to your Lyme struggle. Email it to friends, family members, co-workers. (Feel free to email a copy to me as well, at dleland@lymedisease.org.)
It could be your first step towards helping turn the tide of public opinion about Lyme disease.
I actually sent this out to my entire preschool community (in Berkeley).