2015 Volume 27 Number 3 27

Celebrity Lyme WatchYolanda Foster, Avril Lavigne, and John Caudwell make news

By Dorothy Kupcha Leland

Yolanda FosterReal Housewives of Beverly Hills star

Yolanda Foster, whose battle against Lyme disease has been widely shared via social media and the international press, an-nounced in December 2015 that she and husband David Foster will end their four-year marriage.

According to People.com, the couple grew apart following Yolanda’s diagnosis with Lyme disease in 2012. Since then, Yolanda has been outspoken about her health challenges—and her worldwide search for a cure to her illness.

In October 2015, she dropped a bombshell about two of her three children. Speaking at the Global Lyme Alliance’s gala in New York, she revealed that Bella, 19,

and Anwar, 16, are battling Lyme as well.After accepting an award at the event,

Yolanda said, "When…Bella and Anwar were diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in early 2012, watching my babies struggle in silence in order to support me in my journey struck the deepest core of hope-lessness inside of me."

Addressing her children, she continued, "I will walk to the end of the earth to find a cure so that you can live the healthy life that you deserve.”

Bella Hadid, who works as a fashion model, later disclosed to a British newspaper that Lyme forced her to give up her dream of competing as an equestrian at the 2016 Olympics.

“I was exhausted all the time,” she said. “It affected my memory so I suddenly wouldn’t remember how to drive to Santa Monica from Malibu where I lived. I couldn’t ride. I was just too sick. And I had to sell my horse because I couldn’t take care of it.”

John CaudwellMany people think that if they had lots

of money in the bank, all of their problems would be solved. However, UK billionaire John Caudwell has found that not to be the case. His now-20-year old son suffered serious psychiatric issues for years without

any of his doctors getting to the root of the problem. It turns out the young man has Lyme disease — along with John Caudwell himself and at least eight other members of the family.

Caudwell has taken to the airwaves and social media to help spread the word about Lyme disease. On his Facebook page, he says,  “My home is like a Lyme clinic, but we are very optimistic of positive outcomes and without doubt my own health has already improved. My memory is still fairly poor but way better than it was six weeks ago. My burning brain and eyes are almost back to normal and my energy is returning. This of course is very interesting because if this continues then it ratifies the treatment that I have been having.”

He further states: “Chronic Lyme needs to be accepted as potentially the greatest health threat of our time and investigated accordingly. It needs to be tested for in a proven laboratory and treated according to the protocol of many highly experienced doctors who have achieved amazing results on people who would have otherwise been

virtually written off.”Caudwell, who already runs one foun-

dation geared towards helping children in need, vows to use his talents and resources to help change the health system that cur-rently ignores the Lyme threat. He says, “I have no doubt that this will be the biggest challenge of my life, but I do believe that we can change NHS policy, beat Lyme, and save this suffering.”

Avril LavigneSinger-songwriter Avril Lavigne, who

has sold 30 million albums around the world, has long been involved in charity work for many different causes, many of them to benefit disabled children and their families. Since Lavigne was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2014, she has helped turn the spotlight on the needs of children and others suffering from Lyme as well.

On her 31st birthday, in September 2015, she launched a five-week campaign via social media to raise money for children and young adults who suffer from Lyme disease. Lavigne also offered donors a chance to win a speaking role in her upcoming animated film Charming. The winner and a guest will be flown to the movie set, meet Avril, and record a small voice part.

At the end of the donation period, the Avril Lavigne Foundation had raised more than $60,000 for the Lymelight Foun-dation, which offers treatment grants for children and young adults through age 25. (Since 2011, the Lymelight Foundationhas awarded nearly $1.5 million in grantsto 261 individuals in 39 states. For infor-mation about how to apply for grants, seelymelightfoundation.org.

John Caudwell with son Rufus. Photo: John Caudwell

Yolanda Foster, second from right, and her children, left to right, Gigi, Anwar, and Bella Hadid. Anwar and Bella have also been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Superstar Avril Lavigne perform-ing at the 2015 Special Olympics Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles. Photo by Frederic Legrand - COMEO / Shutterstock.com

BOOKS

In the Crucible of Chronic Lyme DiseaseBy Kenneth Liegner, MDDr. Liegner documents his 25 years of effortto help patients overcome the challenges of tick-borne infections. This put him on acollision course with controversies that make up the history of Lyme disease. (2015)

When Your Child Has Lyme Disease:A Parent’s Survival GuideBy Sandra Berenbaum, LCSW,& Dorothy Kupcha LelandThis book is filled with information parentsneed to know about Lyme. (2015)

Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mysteryof Lyme and Chronic DiseaseBy Richard Horowitz, MDAn internationally recognized Lyme disease expert looks at factors that can complicateLyme disease diagnosis and treatment andoffers a new way of looking at chronic illness. (2013)

Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme EpidemicBy Pamela WeintraubThis award-winning book delves into the scientific, medical and political turmoil surrounding Lyme disease. You will never understand what you are up against if you don’t understand the convoluted history of this complex illness. (2nd edition, 2013)

Patient ResourcesLyme and associated tick-borne diseases present complicated challenges for patients. LymeDisease.org has screeneda wealth of information and has provided a selection of sources on our website. Please visit lymedisease.org and

click on LYME BASICS – RESOURCES for recommended books, articles, videos and internet links.

VIDEOS

“Under Our Skin” is an award-winning documentary about Lyme disease released in 2008. A sequel, “Under Our Skin 2: Emergence”, was released in 2014. View the first film online for free: hulu.tv/1jxGGbNGo to underourskin.com forpurchasing information for the sequel.

Educational DVDs are available to members of LDo. Included are presentations by Joseph Burrascano, MD; Ann Corson, MD, & Christine Green, MD; Richard Horowitz, MD; and Raphael Stricker, MD.

INTERNET LINKS

The Internet offers a growing choice of information about preventing, diagnosing and treating tick-borne diseases.

Visit lymedisease.org for some sources recommended by LDo. Included are results from LDo patient surveys, charts about co-infections and tick identification, facts about Borrelia burgdorferi, tips on how to manage ticks on your property, and several articles about diagnosis and treatment.

PATIENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Given the politics of Lyme, the personal financial burden for patients seeking diagnosis and treatment can be overwhelming. Check out some programs that offer assistance:LymeAid4Kids: Support for those under age 21 who need diagnosis and treatment but lack medical insurance coverage. Visit lymediseaseassociation.orgThe Lymelight Foundation: For those up through age 25. Visit lymelightfoundation.orgLymeTAP: Lyme Testing Access Program for diagnostic testing. Visit lymetap.comNeedyMeds.org: Information on programs for those who can’t afford medications and healthcare costs.Visit needymeds.org