Minnesota: Duluth-Superior Lyme Disease Support Group

Within these groups of individuals across the United States and other countries, there are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and so forth. As Dr. Jemsek states, “sooner or later” your family will be affected by this growing disease and you, too, will be trying to make a difference.

“In the Lymelight” ~ Duluth-Superior Lyme Disease Support Group

Tom is a brother, author, son, educator, motivator, researcher, entrepreneur, and friend.  He has been leading and overseeing the Duluth/Superior Lyme Disease Support Group since 1982, Barb and Rebecca ran it for many years before that and Rebecca was a co-founder of the group.  The group is dedicated in assisting those in need and is built on “the idea that other Lyme patients share their experiences and information with the group.”  As group leaders they “try to provide the latest in new medical information and treatments that are based on sound medical research.”  They are probably the “longest continually meeting groups in the country.” 

Tom’s experience includes training as a medical microbiologist and working in the pharmaceuticals industry, which at the time, he was misdiagnosed with MS.  “It took two years of antibiotic treatment to really turn a corner. My story was printed in the Lyme Times called ‘My Story.’”

He has used this misfortunate experience as an opportunity and learning experience to take him on a different path in life.  “I was engaged when I got sick but was unable to maintain that relationship. I do have an older brother and sister. My brother for a while had to take over all of my finances and business affairs as I was quite mentally and physically compromised. I lived off my savings for seven years and never applied for disability.”

This disease changed his life considerably; however, he made the best of what he was dealt.  Tom wrote a book called Lyme Disease Survival Guide in 1995.  He currently gives lectures on Lyme Disease which is “Lyme on the Brain” and attends many medical conferences and runs a non-profit organization called MIBDEC in hopes of increasing pathology studies on Lyme.  MIBDEC “had the largest patient survey ever done and we also administered an antibiotic treatment trial to MS patients in Pine County MN with very similar results as Patricia Coyle’s study of 46 MS patients.”  He is also filming a documentary on Lyme and has finished a safety film on Lyme emphasizing the medical controversies.

The group meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 PM at St Luke’s Hospital 3rd Floor East Clinic Building room 329 on 1st Street and 10th Ave E, at the end of the hall. You may contact Tom at 218-728-3914 or tomgrier2001@yahoo.com.

Lyme-Aware is an independent organization and has no affiliation with this organization or individual.

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