Lyme Life Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is very calm at our house. My husband and I went to church yesterday. They played a song in which the lyrics said, “I dance for my Father. My Father sings over me.” That actually stung a little. My natural father was a draft dodger, a pedophile, and a rapist. I had to consciously remind myself that it was our Heavenly Father referenced in the song.

Memorial Day

My husband’s father was a sergeant in the army. We planted flowers at his headstone prior to Memorial Day every year for a long time. Recently, my mother-in-law has hired someone to take care of it. She is almost 95 years old now. I kind of miss being able to honor the man who raised my wonderful husband.

As I reflect on those times, I am reminded of the tremendous trauma and sacrifices that our veterans made and how many of them suffered from lasting illnesses from their time in the field. I wonder how many of them had Lyme or other tick-borne diseases.

The symptoms and co-infections vary so much: from anxiety to bright red stretch marks. Every kind of pain and burning sensation, weakness and fatigue, recurring fevers and temperature deregulation, gastrointestinal, urinary, and sensory problems have been attributed to Lyme or co-infections like Bartonella and Babesia. The scope is huge.

In my research for treatment options, I have found that trauma increases our susceptibility to disease. I wonder how many of our brave men and women fought through their own disease for the greater good. How many of our servicemen suffered valiantly for our freedom. How many pushed through, not seeking treatment options, but seeking to keep order and peace in the world.

The crazy thing is that in our time, veterans are placed on wait lists and are not getting treatment that may well save their lives or at least make life worth living. So many of them have symptoms that could be alleviated. I can only pray things change.

To our fallen, I salute you.