July 20, 2018 at 4:03 p.m.
Lakeland area 'ticked off': Looks toward hope with Tick-Borne Illness Center of Excellence
Lakeland area 'ticked off': Looks toward hope with Tick-Borne Illness Center of Excellence
By Abigail Bostwick-
"Every year, thousands of people get Lyme disease," said Jillayne Waite, mother of Jenn Kane, who passed away at 42 due to chronic Lyme complications. "Doctors didn't know enough then how to help. With the help of the Women's Legacy Council, we're going to change that so no one else has to go through that."
A large turnout with hundreds of attendees heard Waite, her family and members of the Council during a "We're Ticked Off ... and We're Doing Something About it!" presentation July 10 at the Campanile Center.
Lyme disease and related ongoing conditions are often mistreated and misdiagnosed for years on end. Patients suffer and the illness progresses, but with a center dedicated to its diagnosis, management and recovery, quality of life and outlook will be greatly increased, Waite indicated.
Wisconsin is currently one of the top states in reported Lyme cases, considered a significant "hotbed," she added.
"When this center opens, it will be the answer to so many people's prayers," Waite observed. "So far, the most asked question I've received is, 'When can I make an appointment?'"
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that enters the blood stream via a tick bite.
"It's not a rare disease," Waite said. "It is the most common vector disease and far more common that West Nile Virus."
If treated early, recovery is often effective. If not, major problems - including neurological - can settle in, it was noted.
"People are sick for the rest of their life," explained Waite.
The Women's Legacy Council has a campaign underway to raise enough funds for establishment of the Tick-Borne Illness Center of Excellence, which would be operated out of Minocqua in conjunction with Howard Young, as well as other tick-borne centers in the nation.
Nathan Waite, Jenn's brother, said he hopes the center will create a better tomorrow for families.
"Lyme disease took too much from us in life," he observed. "There are too few answers ... please consider what we can do to help others."
The Tick-Borne Illness Center of Excellence would serve as a quarterback for those who are fighting related illnesses, said Jeff Waite, Jenn's father.
"This is the fastest growing vector disease, which the CDC (Center for Disease Control) admits," he said. "Right now, people have to travel long distances to specialty centers to find the care they need ... lots of people are looking for a place to turn. We need to be that place."
Current locations that diagnose and treat tick-borne illnesses include John Hopkins in Maryland, the Dean Center in Boston, Columbia in New York and the Open Medial Institute in California. These centers offer the most updated technology and research and the Waite family hopes a center in Minocqua would do the same.
"We want to work together so tick-borne illnesses are no longer a human affliction," Jeff Waite said.
At the Campanile the crowd viewed a documentary, nominated for a 2009 Academy Award, which explored individuals impacted by Lyme as well as facts surrounding tick-borne illnesses.
"The Howard Young Foundation is really important to us to have in our community," said Erin Pitman, Women's Legacy Council. "The purpose of the Women's Legacy Council is to educate, empower and engage. These are a powerful group of women ... I have no doubt they are going to smash (their goal)."
Through the council, a Lyme curriculum is now taught in area schools. They also have raised a significant amount of money that has aided in cardiology and mammography improvements at Howard Young.
To find out more, or to help the campaign, visit www.howard
youngfoundation.org/donate.
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.