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In the early 1970's, a mysterious ailment was discovered among children living around the town of Lyme, CT. What was first diagnosed as isolated cases of juvenile arthritis, eventually became known as Lyme disease, an illness triggered by spiral-shaped bacteria, similar to the microorganisms that cause syphilis. Today, many of those untreated will suffer chronic debilitating illness. Some unknowingly will pass the disease on to their unborn children. Many will lose their livelihoods, and still others, their lives....
From NBC News:
While vacationing in Martha's Vineyard, Kris Newby and her husband
were each
bitten by ticks and contracted Lyme disease.
"Our symptoms were a lot like if you had Alzheimer's, arthritis and
chronic
fatigue all at the same time," said Newby.
Now Kris is featured in a new documentary, "Under Our Skin".
The film looks at the struggles of patients, like this young woman,
to get
an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Medical records show that Kris herself saw ten doctors in a year
before she
was finally diagnosed. Now she's fighting to change that.
"Twenty years later, we have a really bad Lyme disease test that
misses well
over half of the positive cases, and we really need to re-look at this
disease and redefine it with the new scientific information we have
now,"
explained Newby.
The movie tells the story of "Jordan" a park ranger who struggled so
long
for an accurate diagnosis he ended up taking all these medications and
spending thousands of dollars when two common antibiotics would have
controlled his Lyme disease.
"Right now even if you get a diagnosis, which is difficult because the
testing is so poor, it's hard to get treated because so many
physicians
afraid to treat Lyme and the if you're lucky enough to get the
diagnosis and
get somebody who can treat you, your insurance usually doesn't cover
it,"
said Producer Andy Abrahams Wilson.
Infected ticks transmit Lyme, a neurological disease.
The hope is this movie will help people nationwide get the medical
attention
they need fight the often debilitating disease.
© 2008 High Plains Broadcasting LLC.
HONORS
Audience Choice Award Finalist, Tribeca Film Festival Best Socially Conscious Documentary Nominee, IFP/Fledgling Fund Official Selection, SILVERDOCS AFI/Discovery Documentary Film Festival Audience Award Runner-Up, Berkshire International Film Festival Official Selection, Rhode Island International Film Festival
