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Teen Battles Lyme Disease While Helping Others
 
Feb 15, 2009 08:41 PM
 
 

Click photo to view a short video.
 

Summer may be far off but a summertime pest turned the life of a 19 year-old Norfolk, Nebraska girl upside down. Five years after her diagnosis Sarah Endorf continues to battle the disease while reaching out to others. What started with flu-like symptoms turned into a nightmare.

"I'm in pain constantly," says Sarah Endorf.

At the age of 13 Sarah contracted Lyme Disease, a tick borne illness afflicting thousands of people across the country.

"They couldn't figure out what it was. I got really sick in march of 04 and we went to doctor after doctor," says Sarah.

14 doctors and five years later Sarah continues to fight the disease, battling light sensitivity and memory loss.

 

"I completely forgot who my brother was, what my favorite food was. I even forgot who Jesus was," says Sarah.

But now she's teaming up with her parents to form the Nebraska chapter of the Lyme Disease United Coalition to reach out to others suffering with the disease. 

"We have needed this for a long time because we have traveled to Missouri and Iowa to go to Lyme Disease support groups," says Sarah's mom, Charlotte Endorf.

"That helps to know that we're not the only ones that are suffering," says Sarah.

Sarah's also used her own experience to write a book for teens on overcoming obstacles.

"She would tell me things and I would dictate and we went through and wrote this book about, 'A to Z: Overcoming Obstacles,'" says Charlotte.

As she continues to battle the disease she writes a new chapter that others can learn from. Sarah and her mom have co-authored seven books. The Lyme Disease United Coalition meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 pm.

Click here for more information on Lyme Disease.

Reported by Kate Springer. You can reach Kate at kspringer@kmeg.com.