Shows
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 66 with Anna Brennan, author of "Ultraparent Thinking"In this interview, I get to spend time talking with Anna Brennan, author of "Ultraparent Thinking". While I do not have children, the ideas and strategies Anna shares are applicable to every area of life, so I encourage everyone to read this (if possible as I know some of you are too unwell to read currently). Anna had four children and all of them struggled with health issues ranging from cognitive to neurological. She struggled tremendously with feeling like a "normal" parent and providing adequate support for her children. Anna was ultimately able to get a clearer diagnosis of...2025-05-0356 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 65 with Rita Rhoads, ILADS practitionerSadly, there are not that many Lyme medical specialists. This week I interview the one that I saw in Southeastern PA. Rita helped save my life and I am incredibly grateful. She is also a regional leader for PA Lyme Resource Network, a group that I am also involved with. I know she is incredibly busy and can have a three month wait list. Rita is particularly passionate about helping those with Lyme and tick-borne illness because it has affected many people in her personal life. Thank you for all you do Rita! May God bless you and your...2025-04-0450 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 64 with Abby FernaldImagine that you suddenly started having leg tingling, jaw chattering, and facial twitching and doctors telling you it was from anxiety. Then your symptoms amplify and include severe vertigo, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue and still not getting any answers from the "standard" medical community. This is what happened to Abby Fernald and gratefully she was connected to a functional medicine doctor a few years into her quest to understand what was happening to her body. The damage was already done however, as Lyme and tick-borne illness are TIME SENSITIVE. The sooner you get treatment, the...2025-03-1849 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 63 with Jackie ConfaloneThis episode is near and dear my heart. Jackie is the patient coordinator for PA Lyme Resource Network (my parent organization for the support group I host) and is also a resident of Berks County, PA (my hometown). Jackie is an amazing soul and gives back so much to the Lyme Community. She has fought tick-borne illness for decades, like so many do, and never gives up. She writes a blog called Hope Through Chronic Illness (https://hopethroughchronicillness.com) and does her best to guide people back to wellness. She is also a fitness instructor at the local gym...2025-02-1857 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 62 with Kathy DolanKathy Dolan is a true warrior. She not only overcame Lyme disease but is also turning it into something beautiful by becoming an advocate through the Illinois Lyme Assoicate. She struggled with Lyme disease and a lack of resources available to help her when she was at her darkest times. Gratefully she has the support of her loving family to help carry her through the toughest parts. Kathy is now healed from Lyme and is putting together a concert series called "Music Heals" to bring people together and provide support for those struggling to heal their bodies...2025-01-2354 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 61 with Cara PeeblesCara's story is rather remarkable. Cara has made a full recovery from Lyme, tick-borne illness, and breast implant sickness. Cara and her family had moved to Northern Virginia about 9 years ago. She was training for a triathlon and noticed some abnormal aches and pains which she chalked up to getting older and the hardcore training she was doing. She then went to Mexico for a business trip and got so sick, her boss sent her home a day early. She felt like she had the flu (common early onset Lyme Symptom btw) and was diagnosed with a double ear...2025-01-0652 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 60 with Kami KiritsisDo you practice yoga? This is something that completely changed the way I healed (and my life), and I am incredibly grateful for finding it. My guest on this episode is one of my teachers and someone I have known for most of my life. I was excited when she reached out to me to be a guest on my show. I had never really thought about the similarities with healing and a yoga practice. I have thought plenty about how much yoga has helped me heal but they really are so much alike in that you have to...2024-12-311h 11
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 59 with Tanya HoebelI absolutely love this episode. Tanya and I met through a mutual friend, and it is uncanny how many similarities our stories share. Tanya is a true kindred spirit and also hosts a podcast to spread hope and awareness about Lyme and tick-borne illness called "Lyme & Beyond with Tanya" which is a fantastic show that I have added to my play list. She went for seven years without a proper diagnosis, and she is incredibly passionate about helping others heal. She is a beautiful soul who has gone through much trauma but has come out better for it on...2024-12-161h 10
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 58 with Sami KirschbaumThis week's guest is another amazing soul. Sami Kirschbaum is not only someone who has gone through Lyme disease, but she has also suffered through mold toxicity as well. Sami has gone from being bedridden to owning her own practice called the Lyme Resilience Collective to help guide others toward healing. She has spent many hours training to become a resource for those afflicted with Lyme and other vector-borne illnesses. At her worst, Sami was unable to walk, experienced temporary blindness, collapsed frequently, had short-term memory loss, suffered from Chronic migraines, and had 50+ additional symptoms. Now she...2024-11-2649 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 57 with Katie MaguireI am loving this episode as Katie and I have been friends on social media for years. I have enjoyed watching her growth and healing right before my very eyes. Katie lives in Ireland so please note, this is not just a US-based health issue. Lyme and tick-borne illness affect people on all 7 continents. Katie's journey with Lyme started in 2007 with the bite of an infected tick. She was unaware of what that meant however and suffered for 11 years with failing health. Her grandmother was watching TV one night and saw show talking about Lyme and told...2024-11-121h 06
FINE is a 4-Letter WordThe Silver Lyming of Falling Ill with Anne DesjardinsImagine you’re less than 30 years old, and so tired you’re afraid to drive because you might fall asleep at the wheel and cause an accident.Picture the frustration of seeing doctor after doctor after doctor, only to be told you’re not sick, just depressed.Then, after getting so many wrong answers, you conclude you have a brain tumor, because that seems to be the only possibility left.And while all this is going on, you’re also in a toxic relationship that, as part of the final scene, has you seeking...2024-10-3148 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 56 with Wendy SchellIn this episode, Wendy Schell and I discuss the importance of viewing illness, particularly Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses, as a healing process rather than a sickness. Wendy is a Lyme disease survivor and genomics health coach from Pennsylvania, who has been advocating for others with the illness. Wendy shares her personal journey with Lyme disease, describing how she disintegrated from the condition, losing the ability to drive for four years, and her subsequent advocacy work to help protect others. She expresses her gratitude for being able to participate in events and advocate for tick-borne illness awareness, which has...2024-10-301h 32
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 55 with Kelsey PellegrineOn this week's episode, listen to how Kelsey Pellegrine has become an expert forager after her experience with Lyme and tick-borne illness to make her own herbal tinctures and remedies...or rather, maybe she already was an expert forager and was bitten while doing one of her favorite past times. Kelsey shares her personal journey with Lyme disease and how it transformed her life. She discusses how the experience has made her stronger mentally and has given her a new perspective on life, health, and wellness. Kelsey plans to work with people in the future, possibly through...2024-10-2254 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 54 with Ed Chodowski, owner of Eco-Tick SolutionsThis is a bit of a deviation from a survivor's story to one of keeping you and your family safer from ticks. Ed Chodowski is someone who had been following my journey for years on social media and I am very grateful for his support and his company, Eco-Tick Solutions. Ed lives in Canada (yes there are ticks in Canada) and was sitting in his backyard a few years ago and was getting chewed alive by mosquitoes. He remembered the spray his mother would make when he was young that kept the biting insects away. She used a combination...2024-09-3051 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 53 with Kara TruongIf you’re looking for inspiration, look no further. This weeks episode is nothing short of miracle. Kara struggled with figuring out what was happening with her declining health, after she and her family had moved from Philadelphia Pennsylvania to a ski town. She was eventually diagnosed with tickborne illness, did the recommended treatment, but was still not better. As part of her recovery, she was taught about brain rewiring. She began to focus on things that made her feel good such as the sunshine on her skin and going for a walk. Kara unfortunately had to quit her jo...2024-09-271h 14
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 52 with Michele CassetoriThis episode offers a unique perspective on Lyme disease and tickborne illnesses, shared through the eyes of Camryn‘s mom (see Episode 51), Michele Cassetori. Michele's expertise and passion as a prevention specialist set a high standard for effective presentations in the field, especially for me as I was healing and becoming a public prevention specialist, like Michele. Her dedication to educating others about Lyme disease is truly admirable. Michele's journey of navigating the complexities of Lyme and tickborne illnesses to save her daughter's life is a powerful example of a mother's unwavering love and determination. Through her ef...2024-09-0953 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 50 with Melissa KlepackiOfficially 50 episodes in! I am so lucky to be healthy and able to make this podcast to share healing stories of hope with you. I get to meet so many beautiful Lyme Warriors and each story broadens my own perspective and knowledge compass. This week's guest is no different. Melissa Klepacki is someone who understands Lyme, tick-borne illness, and MOLD all too well having endured the experience herself. After she spent her 40s consumed with illness, visiting over a dozen doctors, and finally getting a diagnosis with Lyme and tick-borne illness (TBI), she was able to undertake...2024-08-2252 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 49 with Heather Sklar SunderlandThis week I have the opportunity to interview Heather Sklar Sunderland who, like me, has taken her healing from Lyme and tick-borne illness a level further and has become a functional health coach to help others. Her personal journey of recovering from 27 years of illness due to undiagnosed Lyme and a lifetime of mold exposure has left her as an excellent resource to understand this landscape. Her mission is to help motivated individuals reclaim their health from complex chronic conditions like Lyme, mold toxicity, autoimmune diseases, and chronic inflammatory response syndrome. Through regenerative nutrition and detoxification principles, she guides...2024-08-1640 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 48 with Fred Diamond, author of "Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love A Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to KnowOn this episode of The Silver Lyming, I have the opportunity to interview Fred Diamond. He is an amazing individual and friend who never had Lyme but was immensely impacted by its devasting course. From his pain, Fred has made an amazing impact on the Lyme community (more proof that not everything is bad with this disease). He has written a book, Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love A Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know" and has his own podcast with the same name. He is incredibly passionate about helping others and I am...2024-08-0446 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 47, Rachel & Dorothy Leland, A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme DiseaseRachel Leland's life was turned upside down after a soccer injury revealed something far more sinister than a bruise. Alongside her mother Dorothy, Rachel shares their gripping story of battling Lyme disease, from misdiagnosis to eventually finding the right treatment. Their journey, captured in their book "Finding Resilience: A Teen's Journey Through Lyme Disease," illuminates the importance of prompt medical care and the psychological toll this illness takes, especially during formative years. Subscribe to the Silver Lyming Podcast & please be sure to leave us a 5-star rating and review! https://podcasts.apple.com...2024-06-2754 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 46, Resilient Warrior: Judith Howard's Battle with Lyme DiseaseWhen Judith Howard discovered an embedded tick, she had no idea it would mark the beginning of a grueling seven-year battle with Lyme disease and its co-infections. Join me, Anne Desjardins, as we uncover Judith's harrowing journey through misdiagnoses, inadequate medical responses, and the exhaustive treatments she endured. From battling Bartonella and babesia to the emotional torment of being misunderstood, Judith's story is a powerful testament to resilience and the fight for comprehensive care in the face of chronic illness. Check out Judith's music: https://youtube.com/@judithmhoward3833?si=n56ynWVDjL8zq4Il2024-06-201h 24The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 45, Paths To Healing with Guest Angela KleitzIn this episode of The Silver Lyming, we discuss Angela Kleitz's personal journey with Lyme disease, tick-borne illnesses, and connective tissue problems, with a focus on the impact of environmental factors and the importance of seeking help. We also explore the potential connection between mold exposure, mental health, and the prolonged symptoms of Covid-19, emphasizing the need for further testing and awareness among medical professionals. We will share our experiences with alternative therapies, exercise, and hormonal balance, underscoring the importance of a personalized and holistic approach to health. Subscribe to the Silver Lyming Po...2024-06-131h 05The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 44, Overcoming Lyme: Payton Bradsky’s JourneyToday, I am honored to bring you the inspiring journey of Payton Bradsky, co-founder of Lymeless. Payton's story is deeply personal, stemming from her mother's prolonged battle with Lyme disease and the systemic failures in diagnosing and treating tick-borne illnesses. Together, we peel back the layers of this hidden epidemic, highlighting the importance of having the right tools and knowledge to confront such daunting health challenges. Subscribe to the Silver Lyming Podcast & please be sure to leave us a 5-star rating and review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-silver-lyming/id1701323635...2024-06-0653 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 43, Journey to Wellness with Natural Health Consultant Amanda DahlToday on the Silver Lining podcast, we chat with Amanda Dahl, a natural health consultant, herbalist, and energy medicine practitioner, whose near two-decade fight against Lyme Disease has transformed her into a warrior for holistic healing. Her narrative is a striking testament to the resilience of the human spirit, unpacking the layered complexities of misdiagnosis, the impact on her family, and her unwavering pursuit of wellness that unites body, mind, and soul. As I talk with Amanda, I can't help but reflect on my own encounter with a naturopath that steered my life towards natural h...2024-05-301h 19The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 42, Crafting a Narrative of Health and Resilience with Hatchpath Founder Jordan DuninConfronting chronic Lyme disease and a traumatic brain injury, Jordan Dunin emerged not just as a survivor, but as a beacon of hope for those seeking to reclaim their health. On our latest episode, we talk to Jordan -- health hacker, father, coach, and the founder and CEO of Hatchpath. He describes how he turned his battle into a mission to empower others. Follow Jordan Dunin on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jordandunin www.instagram.com/hatchpathcoach Subscribe to the Silver Lyming Podcast & please be sure to leave us a 5-star rating and...2024-05-2353 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 41, Pathways to Healing with Dr. Daniel Warren Unlock the secrets to triumphing over Lyme disease and join Dr. Daniel Warren and I as we offer you a profound understanding of this complex condition. Subscribe to the Silver Lyming Podcast & please be sure to leave us a 5-star rating and review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-silver-lyming/id1701323635 Visit Our Website: https://www.thesilverlyming.com/ Episode Website 2024-05-1848 min
The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 40, Morgan RoserIn this episode of The Silver Lyming, Morgan Roser shares her challenging yet inspiring battle with chronic illnesses, Lyme disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, highlighting the importance of self-advocacy and a holistic approach to health. We explore the significance of correct diagnosis, Ayurveda, dietary and lifestyle adjustments, and conclude with how a positive mindset and spiritual teachings can transform adversity into strength. Join us for a motivational conversation that promises hope and encouragement to those navigating similar paths. Subscribe to the Silver Lyming Podcast & please be sure to leave us a 5-star rating and r...2024-05-0940 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 39 with Ian McCartney, CEO of Plytime | The Silver Lyming PodcastIn this episode, we sit down with the incredible Ian McCartney, a true warrior who fought his way back from the brink of Lyme disease. Ian's story isn't just about battling a debilitating illness; it's a tale of finding light in the darkest of times and using that light to ignite a beacon for others. From detailing symptoms that doctors just couldn't pin down, to sharing the painstaking steps toward recovery, Ian opens up about his ten-year struggle to feel like himself again. He reveals how keeping a health diary became his unexpected hero, guiding him through...2024-05-0255 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 38 with Jennifer C Brower, author of Silent Killers - Stories of Resilience and Recovery: Lyme Disease & Mold ToxicityOn this episode of The Silver Lyming podcast, host Anne Desjardins welcomes guest Jennifer Brower, Author of "The Silent Killer". In this episode, we'll explore: Jennifer's Intense Health Journey: From battling Lyme disease and mold toxicity to overcoming mercury poisoning and recovering from COVID-19. The Complex Maze of Recovery: We discuss how often perilous the path to correct diagnosis can be and why a sophisticated understanding of environmental wellness is necessary. Holistic Health Approaches: Insight into the connectivity between gut health and overall wellness, plus tips on dietary changes that make a dif...2024-04-1654 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 37 with Tashia LindermanLike so many of us infected with Lyme and tick-borne illness, Tashia never saw a tick or bite mark. She suddenly developed a pain in her wrist which started affecting her ability to teach yoga. She finally went to the doctor and gratefully that doctor knew about Lyme and was able to make an early diagnosis because nothing else made sense as an option. Once Tashia started on treatment, she started feeling some other symptoms like fatigue, which can happen because of a reaction know commonly as "herxing" where your symptoms become more pronounced after starting treatment as the...2024-04-041h 00The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 35 with Sam PerrySam began experiencing symptoms from Lyme and tickborne illness when she was in high school. This was a very difficult time in life to be diagnosed, as she missed out on most of what is to be one of the best times of a young person’s life. She was constantly incredibly fatigued, and had to take naps, had swollen joints, full body pain, and was hardly able to make it through a day. She’s very grateful for the support of her mom, as she really helped her get through this time and get the right diagnosis. ...2024-03-0550 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 34 with Samantha SlovesSamantha's story is rather powerful. She was struck with Lyme and tick-borne illness as a child at 14 years old and struggled with getting a proper diagnosis like many of us do. What makes her story more interesting is that she DID get a diagnosis of Lyme and tick-borne illness from a Lyme--literate doctor (LLMD) but her pediatrician did not believe in the diagnosis, and urged her parents to look elsewhere. This decision would sadly have severe consequences. Samantha eventually found herself in a wheelchair. She struggled with the fact that she believed very much that she knew...2024-02-161h 16The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 33 with Quinn SmithQuinn's story is no short of being a miracle and I hope you are as moved by it as I am. Quinn was sick for 10 years and had been told it was lupus and fibromyalgia. She was doing home care at the time and was helping someone who lived in a very moldy environment. This really heightened her symptoms. She started struggling with a lot of "mental disorders" but no one could ever really figure out what was happening to her. Quinn decided to move to FL to try to help herself get better, but she did...2024-01-301h 17The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 32 with Heather Gray, Lyme BossHeather's struggle with dis-ease began when she was 4 years old. Her uncle had committed suicide and from that moment on, she can remember having health challenges including constipation and autoimmune issues. But no one really looked at why she was struggling and sick, just that she was, and they did their best to fix the symptoms. Having these health challenges at such a young age set her up to be a perfect target for contracting Lyme and tick-borne illness when she was bit at the age of 13. Note, she did not get a bullseye rash, which only 35% of...2024-01-1652 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 30 with Lorrie DwyerLorrie experienced many strange symptoms over the course of a few months that ultimately led to her, losing the ability to walk. Doctors kept telling her that it was stress or menopause, and then they did not have Lyme in the state she lives in, but once she lost the ability to walk, they knew something was very wrong. She made a full recovery gratefully, and her story is rather inspirational. She also overcame mold poisoning, and a toxic and abusive relationship in her journey to regain her life. Take a listen to her full story on any podcast...2023-12-261h 02The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 29 with Jeremy WawrzonekAll you avid outdoorsmen and hunters, take extra note of this week's episode with Jeremy Wawrzonek. He is just like you and loves to be outside. He knows about ticks and to take preventative measures when outside. Unfortunately, eight years ago, he came into contact with the wrong tick in a bit of a different way at an outdoor wedding. Not all ticks are sick, but Jeremy remembers very well being bitten at this particular time and getting sick. He did get treatment right away, but sadly his symptoms came back after that ended. Jeremy beca...2023-12-0545 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 28 with Susan Parnell Susan's symptoms started, but she was unaware of ticks or the diseases they carry at the time. Her family had just moved and she was enjoying their new environment surrounded by nature. She would happily run after her children in the woods without a second thought. Her symptoms progressed and after about a year, she started googling them and was pretty sure she had found the culprit, Lyme disease. She asked to be tested for Lyme and tick-borne illness and the test came back negative, a far too common false negative test. The doctor had prescribed her doxycycline however...2023-11-2147 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 27 with Bill GageBill's story is another great one as it helps to highlight the differences in how tick-borne illnesses can affect us. Like many people, Bill is not fully sure where he was bitten by a tick but does vividly remember driving home from a golf outing and starting to feel like he contracted the flu. He woke up the next day with a fever of 103.9. He immediately ruled out the flu and Covid, and was basically told to ride it out. Gratefully his daughter and wife took him to the ER when his symptoms did not subside, and he...2023-11-0734 minThe Silver LymingThe SIlver Lyming: Episode 26 with Mike GottesmanMike grew up on ranches and was exposed to various animals constantly. He was also constantly exposed to ticks and can remember finding them on him and pulling them off. His issues really did not start to be severe until college, however, possibly triggered by the added stress of school. He started sleeping for 15 hours a day and his roommate was becoming more and more concerned for him. But Mike did not know what was going on and pushed forward. Something else that was happening was that he began experiencing a lot of aches and pains in his body...2023-10-241h 13The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming Episode -25 with NancyImagine having 38 surgeries and your doctor telling you he cannot operate on you anymore because you have had so many surgeries, but you still had health issues, and that they now really need to get to the root cause of her issues!?! This is what happened to Nancy. She has had 38 surgeries over three decades to combat issues in her body and she finally got to a neurosurgeon who finally told her they cannot operate anymore without understanding what was really happening to her body. He ultimately diagnosed her with Lyme, mold poisoning, and three co-infections. He suspected that...2023-10-1155 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 24 with Ryan SyversonMy guest this week knows the challenges of #lymedisease and #tickbornedisease all too well. Ryan struggled initially with mold poisoning which ultimately ended with Lyme over a 7 year stretch of time. He was often told there was nothing wrong with him, intil he finally found a doctor who ran specialized testing to get the true cause of Ryan’s symptoms. He was so changed by his experience, he know owns Sublyme Life (www.yoursublymelife.com) to help others heal. Take a listen to the full episode on my youtube channel or websit...2023-10-0446 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 23 with Saha Limaye This is an extra special episode as this is the story of my cousin, Saha, who has struggled with Lyme and tick-borne illness possibly from birth. She had bad colic as a baby and had a ton of digestive issues. So many of her symptoms were digestive related in nature, which may be a bit of a different presentation symptom-wise than most people experience. It unfortunately took her a VERY long time to get a diagnosis. She had been successful at getting herself to a more stable point until she moved into a moldy house in Nashville. This is...2023-09-271h 07The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 22 with Carol GretskyAs we have learned in previous episodes, Lyme can affect more than one family member. This is what happened to Carol and her family. Carol, her husband, and her daughter, were all impacted by Lyme/TBD. None of them are certain where they contracted it, but they are all certain that they had it. Carol and her husband did not suffer tremendously and gratefully were able to recover with minimal effort, but their daughter was not so lucky. One day, it appeared as though she had a stroke, and they did not understand what was happening to her. Prior...2023-09-1855 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 21 with Chris MochinChris was a terrific athlete as a young child until about the age of 10. He can remember a day where he had a burning sensation on the back of his neck, and when his mom looked, she saw what potentially may have been an insect bite. It actually turned out to be a bullseye rash, but at the time, it was not quickly recognized as such. After that experience, when he returned to school and sports, he was no longer the same child. He could no longer play ball well and had developed a fear of the ball almost...2023-09-1843 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 20 with Carrie PerryCarrie's story is a little bit unique in that she herself does not have Lyme or tick-borne illness, but two of her daughters have contracted it, one of them contracted it twice. In supporting her daughters in the recoveries, she learned all too well how expensive and difficult it is to treat these infections. When her daughter Sam began experiencing symptoms, Carrie did not know what was wrong with her. She took Sam from doctor to doctor trying to get answers to what her daughter was experiencing. It took 8 months to get a diagnosis, which at that time seemed...2023-08-311h 02The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 19 with Ricky WilsonIf you don't already believe in miracles, you will after hearing Ricky's story of healing from Lyme and tick-borne illness. Ricky's started with a light bull's-eye rash on his chest (that alone is rather miraculous since only about 35% of people get a bull's-eye rash) in 2017. His Lyme test initially was positive but then another test only showed him positive to one band. He was still referred to an infectious disease doctor who told him he did not have an active case of Lyme but had only been exposed to is at some point in his past. That began a...2023-08-3142 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 18 with Patrick SlouckCan you imagine eating your lunch and suddenly losing the ability to chew your food? This is exactly what happened to Patrick one day. He was eating food with his wife and lost the ability to finish chewing. All he really could do was fall face first into bed hoping it would pass since he did not have health insurance at the time. Sadly, it did not pass, and he went to the walk-in clinic the next day. When he removed his shirt, the doctor exclaimed that he has Lyme. This worried Patrick because it is a disease which...2023-08-311h 22
The Journey of My Mother's SonAnne Desjardins – The Silver LymingIn this episode of “The Journey of My Mother’s Son” podcast, I sit down to talk with my old friend, Anne Desjardins. Anne’s story is one that has taken her from a place of hopelessness and despair to one of hope, healing, and the strong desire to help others. Anne’s dream is to provide a place of healing and hope for those recovering from Lyme, and tick-born illnesses. She struggled to find out what was going wrong with her body for seven years, before she got a true diagnosis. She has healed herself fr...2023-08-2536 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 17 with Me, Anne DesjardinsThis week's episode is well-timed with it being six years since my diagnosis with Lyme/TBI which is a moment that has completely changed my life for the better (and for those of you who know me, you know 17 is my Angel number so I could not resist using it for my episode). I remember thinking about dying so many times in the months leading up to August 4, 2017, and FINALLY had an answer that I could target to heal versus just throwing everything against the wall and hoping something sticks. This journey was hard to walk but I am...2023-08-061h 12The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 16 with Ethan JonesThe timing to release this week’s episode couldn’t be much better! This weeks’s guest has alpha-gal syndrome. That’s the one being talked about in the news so much the last few days that gives you an allergy to red meat and other animal products. What’s even crazier is we know that it comes from a tick bite, but the doctor that found his alpha-gal REFUSED to test for additional tick-borne infections. How can someone have a tick-borne illness but we refuse to look for any other infection, while there is a HUMAN suffering with unanswered...2023-08-061h 35The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 15 with Dr. Sue EisenDr. Sue Eisen is a functional medicine doctor and holistic chiropractor. She gratefully had a medical background to guide her to a diagnosis of Lyme and tickborne illness potentially sooner than the average person. She feels she was bit in the winter of 2008 when she started with a general fatigue and possible bulls' eye rash (Erythema migrans) and in the back of her brain she kept hearing "Lyme disease" and was able to get treatment. Her story did not end there because even though she is a physician, she had trouble getting enough antibiotics from one practitioner. She had...2023-08-0652 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming - Episode 14 with Gigi ThibodeauLike many of us, Gigi Thibodeau is not sure how she contracted Lyme/TBI. She started to feel unwell about 5 years ago, July 4, 2018. She experienced what she will call a "tipping point" (I have thought about this many times with my own story and with others I have interviewed, is there a tipping point in which we get bit so many times, it is overload for our bodies or is it already in us and a major life stressor occurs and activates it?). She got incredibly sick right away after that event and experienced a lot of vestibular challenges...2023-08-061h 16The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 13 with Sandy RileySandy and her husband Maurice are no strangers to the diseases ticks can infect us with. They were both infected with Lyme/TBI, and like so many others, are not particularly sure where they contracted it. Sandy thinks they may have been bit when they would take long strolls int he woods and grassy fields where they used to live but they never became acutely ill, it was more of a gradual onset of illness. Maurice wound up getting a pacemaker in 2015 for an incredibly low heart rate. He would literally fall asleep while doing activities. Sandy had both...2023-07-121h 10The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 12 with Evangelia Vensel2023-07-121h 11The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 11 with Patrick PlumPatrick's story started with him finding a "bruise" on his chest and he did not think twice about it. Shortly thereafter, he began having health issues and he began trying to figure out what was wrong with him. He saw between 30-35 doctors and had NO answers for the that started going wrong in his body. They kept telling him it was "stress" which worried him because he is an airline pilot, and those types of challenges make one ineligible to fly. Finally, someone pointed him in the direction of Lyme/TBI. He had already begun missing a lot...2023-07-121h 09The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 10 with Allyssa LaScalaI am excited to release this milestone episode #10! These are so much fun for me to make, and this episode is no different. I have known Allyssa for quite some time now. She and I met back when I was first diagnosed with Lyme and worked on a few things together. She gave a talk on nutrition to my support group when I ran it in-person AND we had kicked around the idea of doing this podcast together. Timing was just not quite right but we remained friends and I have SO enjoyed watching her grow her business, Biohacking...2023-07-1245 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 9 with Amber GordonAmber Gordon is the host of The Sacred Leadership Podcast (which is fantastic so please take a listen) and is no stranger to healing her body. She has overcome a lot of physical adversity starting from birth and is flourishing with not only her health, but with her purpose in life. This may be in fact her Silver Lyming from her decades long journey with Lyme/TBI, that she has found her life purpose. What a beautiful gift. Because of her experience with Lyme/TBI, Amber's career path was greatly shaped towards helping those with chronic illness and is...2023-07-1244 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 8 with Louis VondenboschLouis is not exactly sure when he contracted Lyme/TBI, but he suspects it was when he was at a picnic and wondered off the trail. He was laying on the ground enjoying the outdoors and feels that is when he was bit. His symptoms started about a week later with flu-like symptoms and muscle pain in his back. (I wonder if the pain in his back was the area where he got bit, but clearly, we will never know:/) His symptoms progressed so rapidly he was hospitalized for 4-5 days. Gratefully he has made a full recovery with...2023-07-1248 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 7 with Kelly LewisIn this episode, I am lucky enough to interview my friend Kelly Lewis. Kelly knows very well what Lyme/TBI do to someone after his own first-hand encounter with it. He was able to figure out somewhat early on that he had Lyme, although it took a little effort, especially because he did not get the standard rash right away. To remind you, only 35% of people get the standard bullseye rash so that is not a failsafe way to determine if you’ve been bitten. If you do get a bullseye rash however, you do not need blood work to...2023-07-121h 02The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 6 with Jim LannomIn this episode, I interview my friend Jim Lannom. We met on Facebook because of Lyme and I am grateful for his friendship and support. Like many of us, Jim is not 100% certain when he contracted Lyme/TBI, but he suspects it may have been when he was clearing land for a friend in TX a number of years ago. In the spring of 2017, symptoms really began to intensify for Jim after starting to work third shift. That can take a toll on someone’s health, especially because it is bypassing the body’s natural circadian rhythm and detoxification sche...2023-06-261h 49The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 5 with Josh CutlerEpisode 5, another beautiful story of healing🙏🏼💚 Josh and I connected initially in 2021 through social media. I was well into my healing process and Josh was still very sick. I can remember Josh reaching out for help or with questions about how to get better, and me feeling awful after because I could not make him better and he was struggling terribly. Now Josh and I are both healthy and living our lives again. Josh started The Healing Dudes with his friend and business partner, Joe Cusamano, after they began to heal together. I love their story about how they encourage...2023-06-261h 05The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 4 with Ellen ThompsonI love this episode, and not just because I remembered to start recording directly at the beginning. I am learning:) Ellen is someone I met through the Lyme community when people found out I was looking for people who have healed. What a beautiful person! I feel I have found another kindred spirit. Ellen was very sick with Lyme and tick-born illness and has chosen to use that experience as something good by writing and producing a musical, "Lyme Disease: The Musical" (https://lymediseasethemusical.com/) and has created a catchy song to help remind others to do a daily...2023-06-2642 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 3 with Debbie Horstman LinguantiIn this episode, I am joined by one of the brightest lights I know. Debbie has overcome multiple health challenges, which is nothing unfamiliar to those in the Lyme world, such as a brain tumor, cervical and ovarian cancer. Whether the other ailments stem from Lyme or not is what can be hard to say with Lyme. In my opinion, our immune systems are rendered next to useless, so I feel it leaves us susceptible to other issues popping up more readily. At any rate, Debbie has overcome so much and is a true inspiration to know and I...2023-06-261h 28The Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 2 with Dr. Morgan CampI had the chance to interview Dr. Morgan Camp, a functional and integrative medicine expert who is a better doctor because of his own personal experience with Lyme, not once, but twice and has healed himself and leads a full and active life. This episode is full of insight and wisdom into how to heal the body, mind, and spirit, as Dr. Camp realizes the way to heal is not one simple fix. I think one of the biggest aha moments is when he touches on #lymedisease being related to parasitic behavior in self. Dr. Camp calls this “the he...2023-06-2642 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming: Episode 1 with Jessica SnajderI am thrilled to be launching this podcast featuring survivors of Lyme Disease and Tick-born Illness. Being sick is no fun, but for those of us who have experienced chronic illness, we learn that it can be a blessing in disguise or tackling fuel for something greater. We often find the silver lining of Lyme Disease, hence the title The Silver Lyming. My hope is that these stories will help those who are still healing find greater hope that they will heal too. Jessica is someone I have met through Lyme Disease. She founded a nonprofit in March of 2020...2023-06-2637 minThe Silver LymingThe Silver Lyming IntroductionJoin me as I interview others who have healed from Lyme and tick-borne illness. Hope gives others the courage to heal. It is possible to get well. 2023-06-2605 min