Lyme Fight Foundation founder and CEO Melissa Moya founded Lyme Fight Foundation as a response to her own medical journey. Photo courtesy of Melissa Moya

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - As the months of unanswered symptoms stretched into years, Lyme Fight Foundation founder and CEO Melissa Moya began to wonder whether anyone would ever believe her.

Doctors tested her for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors and heart disease. She endured MRIs, spinal taps, heart procedures and endless specialist appointments while debilitating pain, fatigue and neurological symptoms worsened. At one point, she said, a doctor suggested the illness was “all in my head.”

Then, in November 2019, after years without answers, Moya finally received the diagnosis that would change her life: Lyme disease.

“I spent the rest of the day crying in bed praying he was wrong,” Moya said. “For some reason I had been ready for MS, not Lyme. I knew nothing about Lyme.”

Now, during Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Moya is using her experience to help others navigate what she calls an often invisible and misunderstood illness.

Founded as a response to her own medical journey, the Lyme Fight Foundation works to provide education, awareness and support for Lyme disease patients and families. The organization also advocates for prevention, education and improved medical coverage for treatment.

“Lyme Fight Foundation is my silver lining, a mission born from my pain,” Moya said. “We exist to raise awareness, promote prevention, education and support those navigating this cruel disease.”

 

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by bacteria transmitted through infected tick bites. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. Symptoms can include persistent fatigue, joint pain, neurological issues, dizziness, heart complications and cognitive difficulties.

Moya said misconceptions about Lyme disease remain one of the greatest barriers patients face.

“There are many misconceptions surrounding Lyme disease,” she said. “People think Lyme disease does not exist in California, that everyone develops a bullseye rash or that it can always be cured with just 10 days of antibiotics.”

Moya said many patients struggle for years before receiving a diagnosis because Lyme disease can mimic dozens of other conditions. Early testing may also fail to detect infection.

“Lyme disease is a master of disguise,” she said. “Current testing misses up to 60% of acute cases.”

For Moya, the search for answers became physically and emotionally exhausting. She recalled spending years undergoing invasive procedures while balancing motherhood and chronic pain. One of the most difficult experiences, she said, came after a spinal tap caused a spinal fluid leak that left her bedridden with severe headaches.

“There really is no win,” she said. “You lose if they finally determine you have something wrong, and you lose if yet again there are no answers.”

Treatment brought a new set of challenges. Moya said Lyme care is often not covered by insurance, leaving many patients responsible for enormous out-of-pocket costs. She said doctor visits can cost hundreds of dollars per hour, while specialized testing and IV therapies add thousands more.

“I’ve spent well over $100,000 on treatment,” she said. “Lyme treatment is brutal, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

Despite the hardships, Moya said the experience reshaped her understanding of resilience and purpose.

“It has taught me that I am stronger than I ever thought I could be,” she said. “Life is shorter than I ever really thought it could be.”

That perspective inspired her to create the foundation and become an advocate for others facing similar battles.

Treatment brought a new set of challenges. Moya said Lyme care is often not covered by insurance, leaving many patients responsible for enormous out-of-pocket costs. Photo courtesy of Melissa Moya

The organization offers educational resources, tick-testing information, support programs and care packages for Lyme patients. It also encourages prevention, especially as summer approaches and outdoor activity increases.

Moya advises people spending time outdoors to wear light-colored clothing, use tick repellents, avoid tall grass and conduct thorough tick checks after being outside. She also recommends saving removed ticks in a sealed container for possible testing.

“Awareness can make all the difference,” Moya said.

Throughout May, the foundation is encouraging community members to participate in awareness efforts by wearing green ribbons, sharing prevention information and supporting Lyme patients and families. The organization is also partnering with the American River Parkway Foundation for parkway cleanup events in Fair Oaks later this year.

For Moya, the mission remains deeply personal.

“The greatest threat Lyme patients face isn’t just the disease, it’s the despair,” she said. “No one should go through this alone.”

Even as she continues treatment, Moya said she hopes her story encourages others to keep searching for answers and reminds the public that Lyme disease is far more serious than many realize.

“We all hope and pray one day we reach remission,” Moya said. “Until then, we keep fighting.”