A documentary on Lyme disease and the effects of the often-misdiagnosed condition will be screened at the Little House Society tomorrow night.
Karen Marchand, a local woman living with the disease, is inviting other sufferers to view Ticked Off: The Mystery of Lyme Disease, which is described as a "fascinating and eyeopening documentary that explores a disease that has devastating effects, is often misdiagnosed and mistreated, and continues to be mired in a medical controversy."
The film premieres Thursday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. on CBC's The Nature of Things and will be screened at the Little House in Tsawwassen (5061-12th Ave.).
Marchand, who has been living with the effects of Lyme disease since 2008, said the gathering will also give people with the disease a chance to meet others with Lyme, and find support and resources.
Marchand hosted a Lyme disease information night at the Little House in the spring.
"Since then, so many people have contacted me with their own heartbreaking story of being infected from ticks, and other vectors, but have nowhere to turn in the established medical community," she said in an email.
"Ticked Off will tell the story of a number of people in our own community who were interviewed, plus Dr. Murakami, who spoke at the May event, and many others across Canada afflicted with this debilitating disease."
Lyme disease is an inflammatory infection caused by bacteria that spreads to humans through tick bites. The bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) commonly infect rodents, birds and other small animals. Ticks pick up the bacteria by feeding on infected animals and then pass it along to their next host, including humans.
