The Region of Durham

On December 1, 2011, the following video was presented to the Region of Durham, Health and Social Services Committee.  The reaction from councillors was incredible.  After my presentation was over, I heard councillor after councillor tell their own stories about Lyme including one councillor describing how a man they knew ended up being diagnosed with Lyme to late, and ended up dying from Lyme disease.  The saddest part is seeing and hearing from so many individuals that have direct experience with this disease, yet collectively remain isolated from understanding that the truth is that there are thousands in the Province of Ontario that are suffering from this terrible disease.  What happened today was so positive – the Region of Durham council is now in the loop about Lyme disease and has publicly promised to thoroughly investigate what it can do to ensure that more is done to educate the public, as well as facilitate change.  That is a great response.  

Gaining Petition Support - The City of Mississauga

I think it is important for the public to recognize the process of gaining support from Municipalities to get endorsements for MPP, Bob Bailey's Lyme disease Petition.

The following link will connect you to the City of Mississauga Council meeting that took place Wednesday, November 9, 2011. The Lyme presentation that Jessica Bell-Taliana and I did begins 1 hour and 22 minutes into the council meeting. You can simply use the slide bar to forward to the 1 hour, 22 minute mark.

Thank you to Mayor Hazel McCallion, and all City of Mississauga Coucillors for listening, for becoming educated about Lyme, and for unanimously endorsing the petition.

The link is,

www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=51&sid=1120&gid=87033

And Thank-you from both Jessica and myself from all those who have already watched the video and sent their appreciation.

James Christie

Eleanor Cox - Chronic Lyme disease Since 1989

Please Sign The Lyme Petition

Getting the Message out is the Best Therapy

Jessica Bell-Taliana and I both provided deputations before the Region of York, Health and Community Services Committee last week.  We put our cards on the table requesting that the Region of York step up to the plate and endorse the Lyme disease Petition started by Corunna, Ontario, Lyme disease sufferer, Christine Heffer. 

The very concept of doing this was a positive and rewarding event.  To hear the Medical Officer of Health for York Region convey that Jessica and I made numerous valid points regarding the substandard testing, lack of public awareness, and lack of training for physicians, really brought home to me what Cycle For Lyme was all about.   That Dr. Kurji, the Medical officer of Health for York Region, a man responsible for the health of over 1,000,000 Ontarians, took the path to convey that various changes are required, was a wonderful thing to hear.  That Dr. Kurji, as a Medical Officer of Health for such a significant population in Ontario, has the ability to facilitate real change, provides hope for everyone currently suffering with this disease.   

What remains the largest hurdle with Lyme is simply the fact that there has been so much negative information circulated about Lyme for so very long.  We struggle in an unfortunate environment where educating anyone with previous knowledge about Lyme disease becomes a challenge where it is not just necessary to provide current information, but rather it is also necessary to dispute information that is now known to be incorrect. 

What is definitely the best therapy is understanding that as more people get the message with respect to the proper facts about Lyme,  the negative voices from the past will be forever silent.    

James Christie