Comments:
"This is an idea whose time has come."
"I think some kind of memorial is definitely in order and trees are the perfect metaphor to represent us. Sadly, this could end up to be a forest."
"Lyme disease has taken the life of many, and the life out of so many more. A Memorial Park honoring those who are no longer in our sight, will keep them forever in our hearts."
"Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees."
"Your site is a chilling reminder of what we are after: the end of suffering on account of tick-borne diseases, and the end of suffering at the hands of so many in the healthcare system who are ignorant of what these diseases can do."
"This is an important work and I am excited that you have taken this on to help burst the myths surrounding LD and the “comfortable numbness” associated with this serious illness."
"A beautiful memorial. Thank you!"
"Thank you for your time, energy and most of all compassion. I hope and pray for the day compassion comes to the many involved in our healthcare, from insurance liaisons to medical directors in our general hospitals. Time to put death to Lyme disease--a treatable illness."
“Congrats on a job well done.... Memorial Project Website I visited there 1.5+ hours tonight! It is simply outstanding!”
“You have given birth to something so poignantly beautiful that I have difficulty finding the words to adequately honor it! While I know that a physical place will be of paramount importance to all whose lives have been changed by Lyme and other TBD, the current project stands unique..... because the love, compassion and hope of people like you who care so deeply, so strongly, took one person's idea and molded it into a precious gift to all of us....and to those who come after us.”
"You did a awesome job on this site thank you so very much."
"As a Lyme sufferer, I'm struck by how marginalized I feel, not being able to get better without a struggle. It helps to know there are folks like you who bring so much light to our darkened world."
"My son almost became a name on your site. I read every single name you have listed and thanked them for everything they have done for my boy. Their pain and suffering needs to be known. Your site is allowing the ones who were not as fortunate as my son to speak for others. Their deaths have the ability to put an exclamation mark on the letters we write to try to get help. I thank you. I thank their families. I thank their friends. And I thank them for making the wind blow."
"What a wonderful site! We have needed a Memorial for those who have lost the battle. Thank you also for the reminder: 'Three things cannot long be hidden; the sun, the moon, and the truth.' "
"The website is lovely and moving."
"Thank you also for the beautiful tribute you have compiled in your memorial for Lyme disease...it is a wonderful site for information and I will share with many."
"As a survivor of Lyme, caught finally by an astute family practice doctor, I was so happy to see this site. Thank you for documenting the horrible devastation this disease causes and thanks for the informational links. Many of us who contract Lyme do so because we love being outdoors. I think a park is a wonderful idea."
"I found your sight and was deeply touched and scared. I didn't know that I could die from this. I need help...I'm untreated and alone. You would not believe the hell that I've endured from the medical system, not to mention the abuse and denial. I am completely baffled that a real and painful disease has any place, at all, in politics, while we are out here suffering and dying.
I wish I knew who to scream help too. It's like falling down a deep hole...hanging on by a thread while suffering with the flu and horrendous pain, all alone. All of this while politicians and the medical boards are standing there, in all their wealth (made from others’ suffering), debating whether or not to save me (us Lyme patients). What ever happened to compassion?
They don't have a clue. If they could walk a day in our shoes, they would treat this like cancer! I don't know what's worse, fatal or chronic. At least fatal there is an end....chronic pain just makes you wish there was. That might seem harsh, and don't get me wrong, I want to live....I just want this nightmare to end! I'm 43 years old and have had Lyme most of my life....but was diagnosed in 2002. My son is 15 and also has Lyme and is untreated. I watch him suffer and it breaks my heart.
I realized in the middle of the night....because of the insomnia this causes...that I've got to find a Doctor. I realized this because of your website. Yes, it scared me...but it lit a fire under my butt! Thanks for putting this website out."
"Congratulations on launching this important site to serve as an information vehicle for people with Lyme, their loved ones, and the ones that we've lost to this terrible disease. Much can be done to change the tragic effect of Lyme and it's associated diseases, but it requires our voices to speak loudly and demand change."
"Thanks for all your wonderful work on the lyme memorial park. Just beautiful."
"In creating the website, you have given a voice to those who lost the battle, impressed the seriousness of this disease on many patients and their loved ones, and over time you will reach and educate many more about lyme disease."
"Tonight I came to visit my loved ones. Thank you."
"I'm going on my second "good" week today after 25 years post exposure and 2 years after starting fairly aggressive treatment. Lyme opened the door for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Endometriosis (two surgeries in 10 months), and a host of other symptoms. Perhaps I've caught it in time to stop cancer or ALS or...whatever. I have to think positive to move on.
Thank you for this site. A million times over. It enlightens. It gives me a place to come and visit to feel better. To become even more aware. It gives me a place to honor my brothers and sisters that are fighting and those who have sadly lost the battle against Lyme. Blessings to all who come here and read this."
"Thank you for this. A monument to all the fallen soldiers in this awful battle and to their loved ones; a call for action; another piece of armor for the fight slotting into place. 'With each passing day, I didn't lose hope. I fought to have more.' (Amy Tan)"
"I received information on the Memorial Web site and wanted to thank you for such a beautiful and thoughtful thing to do for those who lost a loved one to Lyme. My husband is listed on your site. Blessings on your memorial web site and Thank You again for the blessing it gave me."
"I am impressed with your memorial site. I, my mom and my daughter have lyme. Thank you for putting this together. It is of critical importance to get the word out as you are doing about how many of us have lives ravaged by the wages of lyme et al."
"Ellen Cary was a beautiful little seven year old girl that was so full of life and always thought of everyone else. When she became sick, we took her to the doctors but they kept misdiagnosing her until we had her admitted to the hospital. They did what they could...but it was too late. We lost our beautiful, caring, sweet little girl.
I don't know what else to say, but Thank You..."
"I just came across your site, describing the National Lyme Disease Memorial Park Project.
My previous husband Michael Cunningham died back on Christmas Eve of 2000. His name is on your list. He left behind our whole family, which includes four little children. I have been affected by Chronic Lyme Disease, and now our two daughters as well.
I always wanted his story to live on, as he was a patient with the ALS/Lyme connection, that was quite controversial at the time and created quite a stir. Back then, you could type in his name and it flooded the Internet. Too soon, lives move on, and people forget. The last thing that my husband said to me was, "If one life can be helped and saved from my death, then my death will not be in vain". We will never forget, and I was shocked and blessed to see this Memorial Park Project."
"Thank you for your efforts to meet the sufferers of these diseases on a personal level as well as get reliable information out with the hope of greater change in the future."
"Thank you for creating this memorial and pursuing it further until its inceptions. Your work means the world to so many who have suffered and to those who have lost loved ones. I cannot say enough."
"The roads are different, but the goal is one.
When people reach the goal, all those who yelled at each other along the road, 'You are wrong!' or 'You are a blasphemer!' forget all possible differences. There, all hearts sing in unison."- Rumi
© 2006 The National Lyme Disease Memorial Park Project
