LYMIE SOLDIERS 4 LIFE. WE WILL WIN THE WAR!"

‎"Imagine getting sick. Imagine going to the doctor and being diagnosed with a simple virus. Imagine getting the same 'virus' each month. Imagine getting headaches and dizzyspells. Imagine getting an MRI to check for suspected brain tumors. Imagine going to school and forget where you are going, or why you are there. Imagine feeling as if time is frozen, as you try to figure out why you can't remember where your class is. Imagine walking up a flight of stairs and getting winded. So winded that you are gasping for breath as you almost pass out. Yet you press on. Imagine falling asleep in your classes. Imagine waking up after a full night's sleep, but still feeling exhausted. Imagine feeling like you are drowning in fatigue, as if it were quick sand. Imagine feeling weird aches and pains, but not knowing why they are happening. Imagine waking up one night with a high fever. Imagine your head pounding, as if your brain was on fire. Imagine the pain in your neck, spine, joints, and bones. Imagine screaming from the pain. Imagine the fear as you are being rushed to the emergency room. Imagine the fear when you have no answers. Imagine the unbearable pain lingering for days...but getting worse. Imagine getting up to walk, only you cannot walk anymore. Imagine your ankles feeling like they have cement blocks tied to them, as you try with every effort to take a step. Imagine your legs growing weaker. Imagine waking up in horror, to find that you cannot move your legs anymore. Imagine the bloodcurdling scream, as you cried in horror. Imagine horrible pain in half of your body, and not being able to feel in the other half. Imagine having to give up school and sports because you are too sick. Imagine getting twenty tubes of blood drawn, getting spinal taps, emg's, surgeries, and other painful tests. Imagine the tears of joy you cry when you find out you have lyme disease. Imagine the relief that you are finally diagnosed. Imagine paying $1000 for one doctors appointment. Imagine spending all of your savings on needed doctors appointments. Imagine being diagnosed with nine infections and being told it is a miracle you are still alive. Imagine hearing that you may never walk again. Imagine hearing you might not be able to have children because of your illness. Imagine all of the pills to take everyday in order to get better. Imagine getting IVs everyday for your medication. Imagine having to infuse blood plasma in hopes that your legs will work again.Imagine frequent trips to the hospital. Imagine being hospitalized frequently. Imagine being sick in bed while all of your friends are out living life. Imagine going to physical therapy every day. Imagine still going to school, so you can someday have a future. Imagine not remembering what happened yesterday. Imagine the confusion. Imagine being hospitalized one day, then the next be sitting in a classroom with a smile. Imagine being awake at night in pain, as your heart palpitates and flutters. Imagine praying to God for one more day. Imagine smiling, even though you are sick to your stomach, head is pounding you, and have pain in your joints and bones. Imagine the worst pain imaginable. Imagine that pain every day. Imagine not knowing when that pain will go away. Imagine there is nothing you can do to help yourself get comfortable. Imagine that helplessness, as you are curled up in a ball in pain. Imagine that there is no definite cure. Imagine knowing that it gets WORSE before it gets better. Imagine not knowing if you will ever be able to work. Imagine FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE EVERY SINGLE DAY. Imagine still fighting for better days, even though you have every reason to want to quit. Imagine wanting nothing but your health back. Imagine that all of this came from a tick bite.
Now stop imagining...because it is reality. 
LYMIE SOLDIERS 4 LIFE. WE WILL WIN THE WAR!"
~ Marissa Cassella