LIFELYME
(A
non-profit 501(c)3 charity organization)
An
Educational Resource for Lyme Disease and Related Diseases
enter
Lifelyme's story:
Lifelyme originally began as a Lyme support group holding our first meetings in Tallahassee, Florida.
In the last seven years Lifelyme has roughly educated over 2,000 people with Lyme disease in the southeast and around the country. Our mission has been to share the latest research with patients, and health care professionals on Lyme disease and related Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgia Encephalopthy/Encephalitis (CFS/ME), Gulf War Syndrome, Lyme disease and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. It is important because of the nature of these diseases that each individual make an effort to become proactive in the treatment of their disease. Lifelyme provides assistance on this website by acting as an educational resource for patients. advocates, physicians and other health care professionals.
By acting as an education resource Lifelyme believes we can spread the truth about Lyme disease and CFS/ME bringing about an heightened awareness of the seriousness of these diseases.
In January 2008 Lifelyme sponsored our first conference, 'Similarities and Paradoxes in Chronic Illnesses'. Our conference was held at the Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida and was a success. A outstanding number of physicians and health care professionals attended the conference. We hope to continue to sponsor more conferences in the future offering CME credits which attracts members of the medical community. Education empowers both patients and physicians in the proper diagnosing and treatment of these chronic illnesses.
Illnesses under the umbrella of CFS/ME are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Gulf War Syndrome, Lyme Disease and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. These illnesses all share overlapping symptoms. The similarities in symptoms and the lack of reliable testing for Lyme have placed patients in a sort of 'limbo'. To complicate matters in the case of LD there are usually other infections present. A recent study at the University of New Haven uncovered that ticks are infected with not only Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, but other co-infections. These include Babesia, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Rocky Mountain Fever, and Richettsia. The mantra we have heard in Florida for the last 10 years "There is NO LYME in Florida has been disproven by the studies done by Dr. Kerry I.Clark, MPH, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Epidemiology & Environmental Health, Department of Public Health at the University of North Florida. Dr. Clark has identified the Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, and Babesia, Anaplasmosis, and other co-infections in the ticks in Florida.
Dr. Clark is known as " The Tick Doctor" in Florida, and is responsible for research proving the ticks in Florida do carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, and the co-infections Anaplasmosis, Babesia, and Rocky Mountain Fever. "Tick-pathogens are the most prevalent cause of arthropod-borne diseases in the USA, including Florida. Approximately 20,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported in the U.S. each year, and the disease is endemic in Florida. Babesiosis coninfections often complicate the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Both diseases are under-recognized and underreported in Florida. Also, few strains of the agents of these diseases from humans in this area have been obtained and charaterized. The genetic diversity of strains endemic in this region could be responsible for negative test results or poor sensitivity and specificity when testing specimens from human patients, since most common diagnostic test were designed to identify strains that exist in other areas". (Human Tickborne Disease Study) K.I.Clark
Lifelyme is a non-profit 100% volunteer organization. Working hard for all patients suffering with the illnesses under the umbrella of Neuroendocrine Immune Disorders ( NEIDs). We have come a long way in our efforts to establishing a NEI Center, but we still have a long way to go. It will be the first of its kind and will set a presidence opening the door for other Satellite NEI Center in Florida and other states. The NEI Center will promote research and serve the treatment needs of all the patients who fall under the umbrella of NEIDs. In a NEI Center patients suffering with the overlapping symptoms of CFS/ME, Fibromyalgia, GWS, MCS and Lyme Disease will be treated in a clinical setting. In the case of Lyme patients, the same physicians we respect as being Lyme literate are supporting our effort to establish the NEI Center. Many Lyme physicians seek the protection of a private facility where they can openly serve patients, and collaborate with researchers and other physicians.
We are facing a 'National health crisis' in America.
Lifelyme is doing our part - Won't you do yours? Lifelyme is a' lifeline' for patients - we educate, counsel and offer our support and encouragment to all patients suffering with NEI illnesses.
Please Help support us by sending a donation today - we are making a difference !
Click on Donations in left column on this page. You may use PayPal or send a check directly to the Lifelyme foundation (We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. all donations are tax deductible.).
Also
on the DONATION page you will find a link to the 'Ribbons of
Aspirations' website. Support your favorite charity by wearing one of
these beautiful Sterling Silver bracelets with attached symbolic
gemstone charms.
Our
sincerest thanks for your support and our very best wishes for your
good health,
Sandi
Lanford, Founder/President
Ernie
Lanford, Chairman
The
Lanford Foundation - Lifelyme, Inc.
Please contact us if you have questions, click on Contact Us heading in the left-hand column and send us a email. We will response asap.