Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697630710502.pdf (Australia)
My daughter is 22 years old and she has been sick for 7 years.

She cannot do what you would expect a 'normal' 22 year old to do.

She hasn't been able to play her beloved sport (hockey) for 8 seasons.

She has never been out with a boy or had a boyfriend.

She has never been to a night club.

She cannot go out with her friends, Her school friends have deserted her because she is unable to go out with them.
She cannot go out with her University friends or participate in all the activities and experiences Uni offers.

Her Uni friends (that she started uni with), all graduated last year..... years til she completes her degree (Bachelor of Caufield).

She has missed 18th birthdays and now 21st birthdays.

She cannot go away or travel overseas with her friends.

She cannot go to nightclubs or concerts like 'normal' 22 year olds can.

She cannot plan anything in advance.


She shouldn't wish that she had cancer, believing that she would get far better investigations, treatment and care.

, Monash still has 2 My daughter was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 2009, and after 3 years of continued deterioration, (despite being under the care of a CFS specialist), she was finally tested for Lyme Disease .

With much expense involved, she received positive results from (USA), and (Germany) in 2013.
Her Dr told us then that he couldn't do much to help her as he risked being banned by the Medical Board.

( early last year (2015).

She came under the care of wonderful Dr She was placed on many more tablets, herbs and antibiotics and she started to improve!!!!!

She was able to go for a walk around the block a couple of times a week, something she had been unable to do for 6 1/2 years.

She was starting to look forward that she might one day do normal things like a normal 22 year old.
She was planning on doing an internship during the summer break from uni.

She was planning on doing 2 subjects at uni this semester.

She was thinking maybe she COULD get better from this horrendous illness.

Dr is a wonderful, caring doctor who gave my daughter hope for her future.

was investigated by the AMA and the Government for treating a Then Dr disease that they said wasn't in Australia.

She was taken off her antibiotics and within 10 days, she had deteriorated markedly.
She is now back lying on the couch with profound exhaustion, aching joints, foggy brain and insomnia.

Her right to choose her treating doctor has been taken from her as doctors don't believe Lyme Disease is in Australia.

They are too scared to treat something they don't understand and they don't want to be investigated and barred by the AMA because they are treating Lyme Disease.

She has been unable to explore the possibility of an internship over summer.
Growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a Lyme like illness for many Australian patientsSubmission 805 She now dreads going to uni to attempt 2 subjects she is enrolled in this semester.

She now wonders if she will ever get better.


She was given a brief look at an improved life, far better than that which she has had over the past 7 years, (though nothing like a 'normal' 22 year old), and now it has been taken from her and she is left terrified that she will never get better, living totally dependant on her mother to care for her, and never being well.

My daughter wants to be normal.

My daughter wants to have a career and work full time.
My daughter wants a boyfriend, she wants to plan for her career and her future.

She wants to get married and she wants to have her own children.

My daughter wants to choose how to live her life, rather than having her 'life' dictated to her by this horrendous illness.

My daughter wants to be under the care of her treating doctor (Dr for her, who helped her improve and who gave her hope that maybe one day, she could improve and one day return to a 'normal' life as an independent adult.
who cares My daughter wants to be well again, free of the endless exhaustion, tablets, herbs, supplements, tests, Drs, waiting......, hoping....... My daughter just wants to be a 'normal', happy 22 year old independent adult....is that too much to hope for?

Here in Australia, if you are diagnosed with Lyme Disease....it is.

Growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a Lyme like illness for many Australian patientsSubmission 805