04/06/2026
(1/2) “At 15 years old, my life changed almost overnight. I went from a high-functioning student and multiple-sport athlete to someone who could barely get through a day. School became impossible. The sports that once defined me disappeared from my life. Even simple social situations felt overwhelming as my world slowly became smaller and smaller. And it all started with a simple tremor in my hand.
For two years, my family and I searched for answers — moving from specialist to specialist, enduring test after test, hoping someone could explain what was happening to my body.
At 17, I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease and Bartonella. The next two years were filled with aggressive treatments — multiple antibiotics at once — and while they were meant to help, they came with their own consequences, including severe candidiasis and a body pushed far beyond its limits.
Still, I fought to reclaim pieces of my life. Slowly, patiently, I rebuilt my strength. That determination led me back to the field — earning a spot on my college’s women’s soccer team and becoming a starting player my freshman year. For a moment, it felt like I had found my way back.
But at 19, everything came crashing down again when years of antibiotic treatment led to severe toxicity. I found myself sitting in the office of the doctor who thankfully still cares for me today, desperate for answers once more. At my second appointment, after beginning a more holistic path forward, he paused, looked at me, and said simply, “It’s nice to meet you.”
In that moment, something shifted. For the first time in years, I felt like myself again — like the real version of me had finally come back to the surface.” – Kat, Healing Non-Linearly and Rebuilding Strength
Stay tuned for part two of Kat's story.
