My Lyme Disease Journey
 By Melissa Moya, CEO of Lyme Fight Foundation

Thank you for taking a moment to read my story. My hope is that it raises awareness and offers insight into the devastating impact Lyme disease can have on a life.

My name is Melissa Moya, and I am the founder and CEO of Lyme Fight Foundation. More importantly, I am a Lyme disease patient—a warrior, as we in the Lyme community call ourselves. My journey has stretched over the last eight years, and although I’m still fighting, I share my story to bring light to a disease that too often lives in the shadows.

Lyme disease is a master of disguise, mimicking over 100 other conditions. It’s notoriously difficult to diagnose—current testing misses up to 60% of acute cases. I know this all too well.

My journey began following a hysterectomy in 2016. We believe the trauma of that surgery triggered the Lyme bacteria, which had likely been dormant in my system for years. Just five months post-op, I noticed a lump and pain in my left breast. Like anyone, I feared cancer. Thankfully, after a series of tests, cancer was ruled out—but the symptoms didn’t stop. The pain moved down my left arm, causing tingling and numbness in my fingers, then traveled to my right foot, where I’ve since lost most sensation.

More symptoms followed: heart palpitations that sent me to the ER, body-wide pain, constant dizziness, migraines, blurry vision, digestive issues, and a brain fog that made concentrating nearly impossible. I saw specialist after specialist, each concluding that “nothing was wrong.” I even flew to the Mayo Clinic, where I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and told yoga and positive thinking would help. I underwent MRIs, X-rays, heart tests, nerve studies—even a spinal tap that leaked and required two painful blood patches. No one could explain my worsening condition.

There were times I started to believe what I was told—that maybe it really was all in my head.

Everything changed when I met Dr. Otton at Northern Lights Medical in Minnesota. For the first time in years, someone truly listened. He believed me. After three relentless years of searching for answers, I finally had one: in November 2019, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and three co-infections.

Relief washed over me—I wasn’t crazy. But fear soon followed. What did this mean? What would treatment look like?

I found out quickly.

Lyme treatment is brutal—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s long, complicated, and expensive, with little to no support from insurance companies. Treatment involved layers of protocols: IV therapy (twice daily for months), ozone therapy (where blood is removed, treated, and returned), weekly injections in my neck and skull, electric current therapy, over 100 pills a day, self-administered shots, and infusions I learned to do at home. I’ve spent well over $100,000 on treatment—most of it out of pocket.

Lyme doesn’t just attack the body. It can cross the blood-brain barrier, leading to brain swelling, small strokes, oxygen and blood flow issues, shrinkage, and cognitive impairment. It affects the heart and the gut. It touches every part of you. And it affects not just the patient, but their entire support system—family, friends, coworkers.

The journey has tested me beyond measure. It’s brought overwhelming fear, grief, and more tears than I thought I could shed. But it’s also taught me the true meaning of strength, resilience, and purpose. I’ve learned who my people are—and, more importantly, who I am.

And now, I want to be that person for someone else.

The greatest threat Lyme patients face isn’t just the disease—it’s the despair. Suicide is the leading cause of death among Lyme patients. And I understand why. Living in daily, invisible pain with little support is an unbearable weight. That’s why support, encouragement, and awareness matter so much. No one should go through this alone.

Lyme Fight Foundation is my silver lining—a mission born from my pain. We exist to raise awareness, promote prevention education, and support those navigating this cruel disease. But we can’t do it alone. Your compassion and generosity can help us save lives.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story. If you’re fighting Lyme, know this: you are not alone. We’re in this together.

With love and strength,
 Melissa Moya
 CEO, Lyme Fight Foundation