Episode 368: Focus on Lyme - an interview with Tammy Crawford

Tick Boot Camp

Intro:

• Warm welcome to Tony Felice, our returning special guest co-host from episode 335: Kindness in Combat.
• Introduction to Tammy Crawford, Executive Director of Focus on Lyme.

Tammy's Personal Journey:

• The personal story of Tammy's daughter, Jessica, who battled Lyme disease.
• The emotional and medical challenges faced by Tammy in seeking proper treatment and diagnosis for Jessica.
• Encounter with Dr. Horowitz and the importance of finding a Lyme-literate physician.

Focus On Lyme:

• Tammy's response to the Lyme community's struggles, including the formation of the non-profit Focus On Lyme.
• Collaborative efforts with past podcast guests and their significant accomplishments, including:
  • Speaking on Capitol Hill.
  • Organizing research conferences.
  • Funding advancements in Lyme disease testing.
• Overview of Tammy's bio-repository and its purpose.

The TGen Connection:

• The recurring appearance of TGen in Tammy's journey and their role in Lyme disease research.
• Specific discussions and projects with TGen.

Focus on Accurate Diagnosis:

• Tammy's emphasis on the importance of accurate diagnosis to garner more funding and attention.
• The challenges and limitations of current diagnostic measures and the potential of next-gen serology.

Breakthroughs & Discoveries:

• Collaboration with researchers and scientists in the Lyme community.
• Exciting advancements in Lyme disease research, including potential overlaps with cancer treatments.
• The complexity of Lyme disease strains and the importance of understanding the differences.

Funding & Future Steps:

• The financial challenges and efforts to fund more research, especially diagnostic improvements.
• Tammy and her team are working on an FDA-cleared Lyme diagnostic tool.

Conclusion & Call to Action:

• A look ahead for Focus On Lyme and Tammy's continued advocacy work.
• A request for community involvement, collaboration, and investment.
• How to contact and support Tammy's efforts through Focus Online.