Athena Brownson

And if you are aware that you're bit by a tick immediately, you should go to the doctor. You'll usually see a red ring around the bite if it is carrying a disease. But I would say if you get bit by a tick, just go to the doctor because they can give you a short cycle of antibiotics and you'll never deal with it again.

And if you are aware that you're bit by a tick immediately, you should go to the doctor. You'll usually see a red ring around the bite if it is carrying a disease. But I would say if you get bit by a tick, just go to the doctor because they can give you a short cycle of antibiotics and you'll never deal with it again.

It's cases like mine where you don't know that you were bit, so it lays dormant in your system. And then when you least expect it, no one ever expects all of a sudden to start having the horrific symptoms. My life has made complete 180 from being a professional athlete to trying to get myself through each day. It's a nightmare I wouldn't wish on anyone.

It's cases like mine where you don't know that you were bit, so it lays dormant in your system. And then when you least expect it, no one ever expects all of a sudden to start having the horrific symptoms. My life has made complete 180 from being a professional athlete to trying to get myself through each day. It's a nightmare I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Now it's taught me more in life than I think anything ever could, but... People should be very aware that if you're in a heavily wooded area and there are ticks present, you should be aware of protecting yourself with long sleeves. They make tick repellent sprays. And if you do get bit, to go to the doctor because chronic Lyme disease, which is what stays for a long time,

Now it's taught me more in life than I think anything ever could, but... People should be very aware that if you're in a heavily wooded area and there are ticks present, you should be aware of protecting yourself with long sleeves. They make tick repellent sprays. And if you do get bit, to go to the doctor because chronic Lyme disease, which is what stays for a long time,

is a very difficult disease to navigate. So if you know that you got bit and you can take a couple of weeks of antibiotics, then you'll never deal with it again. But unfortunately, that's usually not the case. Most people, I believe 70% of people with Lyme disease have no idea when or where they were bit.

is a very difficult disease to navigate. So if you know that you got bit and you can take a couple of weeks of antibiotics, then you'll never deal with it again. But unfortunately, that's usually not the case. Most people, I believe 70% of people with Lyme disease have no idea when or where they were bit.

Challenge is the perfect word because it is the most challenging thing that I have ever been through. And it is something that when you break a bone or have a surgery, you can talk to the doctor and they say, if you do A, B, C, and D, you'll get better. With chronic Lyme disease, unfortunately, there's no if you do A, B, C, and D, you'll get better. Different for everyone.

Challenge is the perfect word because it is the most challenging thing that I have ever been through. And it is something that when you break a bone or have a surgery, you can talk to the doctor and they say, if you do A, B, C, and D, you'll get better. With chronic Lyme disease, unfortunately, there's no if you do A, B, C, and D, you'll get better. Different for everyone.

It's something that is just starting to be really understood and studied on a global scale. And because it's different for everyone, there really is, you almost feel like a lab rat. with trying different therapies. But when I was diagnosed, I truly was naive because like I said, I was at the top of my real estate game.

It's something that is just starting to be really understood and studied on a global scale. And because it's different for everyone, there really is, you almost feel like a lab rat. with trying different therapies. But when I was diagnosed, I truly was naive because like I said, I was at the top of my real estate game.

I felt a little bit invincible before that having come from a professional skiing career. which I actually believe is what taught me the grit to get through each day and to get through this adversity and to keep pushing forward.

I felt a little bit invincible before that having come from a professional skiing career. which I actually believe is what taught me the grit to get through each day and to get through this adversity and to keep pushing forward.

Because I believe that when we're hit with life, with difficulties and challenges and horrific incidents, that unfortunately all of us have different adversity that we do face in life.

Because I believe that when we're hit with life, with difficulties and challenges and horrific incidents, that unfortunately all of us have different adversity that we do face in life.

And it's really difficult at that time to a moment and understand that although these are the most challenging times of my life, and it's been seven and a half years, where I don't remember what it is like to not be in constant pain. I have... Waking up in the morning is, it feels like the most difficult task I've ever done.

And it's really difficult at that time to a moment and understand that although these are the most challenging times of my life, and it's been seven and a half years, where I don't remember what it is like to not be in constant pain. I have... Waking up in the morning is, it feels like the most difficult task I've ever done.

Every little thing that I do is so taxing on my body and exhausting on my body and painful. I spend a huge amount of time in hospitals, like I said. I get all of my plasma taken out once a month, which is a huge transfusion. It's really hard not to get stuck in the mud when you're dealing with something that is so challenging and so constant and chronic pain and chronic fatigue and

Every little thing that I do is so taxing on my body and exhausting on my body and painful. I spend a huge amount of time in hospitals, like I said. I get all of my plasma taken out once a month, which is a huge transfusion. It's really hard not to get stuck in the mud when you're dealing with something that is so challenging and so constant and chronic pain and chronic fatigue and