Texas Lyme Disease Association

 

Within these groups 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” ~ Texas Lyme Disease Association

“Working To Give Lyme The Boot!”

The Texas Lyme Disease Association (TXLDA) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation which allows for donations to be tax-deductible. They are also an affiliate of the Lyme Disease Association. The funds they receive are used for education and research.

“Our mission is to educate physicians and the public about Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses, to be a resource center for patients with these diseases and their families, and to provide a network of support for the same. We also support medical research on tick-borne diseases.”  They work closely with  TXLyme Online Support.

Harriet Bishop, President of the Texas Lyme Disease Association, is a daughter, sister, mother, wife, grandmother and leader. Harriet and a very knowledgeable team of the TXLDA Board of Directors that ranges from education, business management and formation, community development, and technical experience, try hard on “Working To Give Lyme The Boot!”  Currently, the Board of Directors consists of the following individuals: 

• Pat Ricks, Secretary
• David Kocurek, Treasurer
• Susan Williams, Vice-President, Director of Education
• AnnMarie Mikelski, Director of Technology
• Teresa Lucher, Director of Outreach and Support Groups
• Sharon Wilner, Director of Public Relations

The TXLDA is a place that people can feel comfortable to ask questions. It’s only a myth that there’s no Lyme disease in Texas. The Lone Star tick seems to be the primary vector for Lyme disease in Texas. They receive several inquiries a month from possible patients or others that have been diagnosed with Lyme. TXLDA assists them in finding a knowledgeable physician to treat them along with a wealth of information and support to help them.

6th Anniversary Houston Lyme Support Group

During May, Lyme Awareness Month, they have been able to obtain “Mayoral Proclamations to that effect and have written newspaper articles about the proceedings.” In addition, they have also arranged screenings of the Lyme documentary, Under Our Skin, around some of the cities in Texas.  They have active support groups in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and Austin where people may gather to exchange information.  

Harriet has been advocating for the last seven years. As President of the TXLDA, she presides “over the online meetings of the Board of Directors, four to seven times a year. I try to inspire the Board members to work within their local areas, as they are scattered across Texas. I develop PR posters and send them online as attachments to the Board members to use in their own communities.” She also distributes Lyme brochures to local businesses, refills the holders as needed, passes out lime green ribbons, sells awareness wristbands, and free copies of Public Health Alert newspapers in several localities in Texas.

I asked Harriet why she is so driven in her advocating for Lyme and the other tick-borne diseases. She matter-of-factly says: “Because I think it helps people to have someone answer their questions honestly in a caring manner, and promptly.” She continues on to say: “ When I fell really ill after the tick bite above my right knee in 1990, I had plenty of questions in my mind but I never connected the tick bite to my unending illness. If we can help make other people aware of the seriousness of a tick bite, maybe they can be spared years of illness. If I had known and if the doctors had known, a bottle of doxycycline would have saved 15 years of illness and about $250,000.00! I work to raise awareness to save other people misery and financial hardship due to illness.”

For more information you can go to their website at www.txlda.com or go to their Facebook page or by USPS at the Texas Lyme Disease Association, P.O. Box 1811, Colleyville, TX 76034-1811.

$2 each w/minimum order of 5 for a $10 donation-S&H included

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

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