May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month and a Calgary family is sharing their traumatic experience to raise awareness of the disease. Jordan Bentz was just 10 years old when she developed a strange bullseye-shaped rash on her leg in September 2022. After taking her to a walk-in clinic, doctors dismissed the possibility of Lyme disease as no tick was present. However, Jordan’s symptoms worsened, and over the next few months, she lost her ability to walk and had seizure-like episodes. The Bentz family visited multiple physicians in Calgary but received no clear answers on the cause of her decline.
The family eventually turned to labs in Germany and the United States of America for testing, which revealed the presence of the Borrelia bacteria causing Lyme disease, along with other tick-borne bacteria. Unfortunately, the treatments that followed have cost the family more than $150,000. The bacteria causing Lyme disease is carried by black-legged ticks and transmitted to humans through host animals, often birds or small rodents.
Lyme disease is caused by four strains of Borrelia bacteria, with Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii being the primary vectors in North America. The story of the Bentz family highlights the importance of recognizing the symptoms of Lyme disease, which often include a bullseye rash, fever, and headaches, and seeking medical attention immediately. Unfortunately, many people who contract Lyme disease do not develop the rash, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
As part of National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, the Bentz family hopes to raise awareness of the disease and the need for early diagnosis and treatment. They also advocate for better access to testing and treatment options, as well as increased education for healthcare professionals and the public. With more attention and understanding of Lyme disease, they hope that others will not have to suffer as they have.