Lyme Disease has just gotten a whole lot more coverage! Even though I didn't win the pageant, I did get to talk a lot about Lyme. My state senator even replied personally to one of the emails I sent her about it.
Thank you all for your support in writing me emails. My goal was to make it through the week and do my best, which I accomplished.
I plan to continue to keep Lyme as my platform and continue to do pageants, so there should be a lot more publicity for this illness. I have a newspaper and radio interview coming up about LYME DISEASE, not Miss South Dakota. They even want to talk to my doctors and include it in the media coverage. That is what it all is about!
Let me know if you have any more good statistics or good Lyme disease stories. It's very helpful to tell about how Lyme has affected people's lives in dramatic ways.
Charis "Miss East River 2006"
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Hi Miss South Dakota~
It's great all that you are doing to promote Lyme awareness.
I live in Arizona, so lyme is everywhere. I believe I got it in AZ.
I am hoping to get the word out to orthopedic doctors that steroid shots can activate latent lyme in people. That is what happened to me. And that steroids should not be used in any one who has a history of lyme disease.
I went from being a very active, athletic person to someone who was basically disabled. Medical costs last year were $65,000. All because of a steroid shot, and a doctor who couldn't recognize lyme in someone.
Timaca
Posted by LostCityAgent (Member # 9050) on :
I was up for Miss South Dakota and they rejected me! Apparently it was a weight issue.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by missextreme: I have a newspaper and radio interview coming up about LYME DISEASE, not Miss South Dakota. They even want to talk to my doctors and include it in the media coverage. That is what it all is about!
That's wonderful!!!!! We're very proud of all you've done!
Lost City....It was a wise decision to drop out. Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Charis, welcome home, and glad you made it in one piece. We are so proud of you for your courage in taking this on, and the lyme platform! uffda.
Do a search on latest lyme book, THE SINGING FOREST, a story of lyme by PJ LANGHOFF, Wisc. That's an out-of-the world story of not only lyme, mental, divorce, spouse being custody of kids, etc. It just goes on & on.... Bettyg
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Charis, you're a winner in our book.
I think of all the "cutesy" little platforms you could have taken on.
I'm so grateful that you took on a really important one -- albeit one that might not be that popular.
Every time someone newsworthy -- let alone as GORGEOUS AS YOU!!! -- shines a light on lyme disease in public, well, that opens a lot of eyes.
And the lyme community really appreciates it.
So thank you very much.
Now, please keep us posted and don't be a stranger!
Michelle
Posted by karatelady (Member # 7854) on :
Hello Charis,
I too want to thank you for helping bring lyme out into the forefront. I see you also went to Pensacola Christian College. I've known quite a few who have gone there.
You are a beautiful girl with a lot of integrity which is nice to see in this day and age.
Sandy
Posted by OhDannyBoy (Member # 9368) on :
Miss East River?
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Charis, to those you talked to about chronic lyme disease, etc; what was their reactions?
What did they find the most mind-boggling about our disease? Thank you Chris! Posted by LostCityAgent (Member # 9050) on :
my ex-girlfriend was the Wicked Witch of East River. Do you know her? j/k.
Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :
Charis, you rock! Keep up the good work spreading the word. Posted by missextreme (Member # 3610) on :
I got some very interested people when I told them about chronic Lyme. Everyone was very positive. No one doubted my story or even the connection between Lyme and fibromyalgia or MS.
A few of the people I talked to personally had people around them with chronic Lyme. Most, however, hadn't heard about it. After seeing me half-sick most of the week, but still having a great time, they were very willing to hear what I had to say.
I know a lot of you are doing a whole lot more than I am with spreading the word. Keep up the great work!
Charis "Miss East River" (which was my title going into the pageant)
Posted by Nancy-FL (Member # 7986) on :
Hi Charis!
So sorry that I missed your post until now (was busy watching a grandchild the past few days). But I was in touch with the Rapid City Journal and the Hot Springs Star and let them know of your platform and that you have friends from all over the world that were cheering you on.
I am so relieved to know that you made it through all of the activities, as you had hoped. I am sure that it was a wonderful experience for you, and we all had fun riding along on your "platform coattails" and sharing in your excitement.
The news of your upcoming newspaper and radio interview is so exciting. You are doing so much for all of us, and we do appreciate it.
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