PENSACOLA - Lyme disease rates are rising across the country. In 2008, there were 35 thousand diagnosed cases in the U.S., more are expected this year.
One of our own found herself a medical statistic this summer.
After years of medical reporting, Channel Three's Kathryn Daniel became the patient.
Here is her story.
For 28 straight days, it's been Nurse Tara Halstead and I and an IV of high-powered antibiotics.
In mid-July, a friend rushed me to the ER. I had a blinding headache and my body suddenly went numb. A six-day hospital stay yielded the diagnoses of Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but i was lucky to get such a swift answer.
David Crews spent five years and eight specialists searching for the same one.
David Crews/Lyme Disease Patient: "I felt like I was dying. But I didn't have cancer and I was very scared. I didn't feel like I had long to live."
Crews lived with torturous pain, constant nausea, collapsing legs.
Sandra Crews/David's Sister: "I don't think he would've had more than six months."
David's sister Sandra begged him to come home and see a local infectious disease doctor.
He was quickly diagnosed with Lyme disease.
He was relieved, but worried.
David Crews: "There was a little bit of anger in my heart because I didn't understand why the doctors back in Memphis did not do a simple blood test for this, could've alleviated a ton of suffering on my part."
Doctor Kevin Swartz says prolonged undiagnosed cases can cause major neurological damage and destroy organ systems.
Dr. Kevin Swartz: "People can also have heart rhythm problems and the heart rhythms can actually be lethal if not treated."
Crews's mother has not been able to walk for sixteen years. Again, Sandra insisted on a Lyme disease test.
David Crews: "She was found to be positive with Lyme."
Lyme disease isn't transmitted person-to-person, just through tick bites.
Neither Crews nor his mother know when they were bitten.
I found my tick after a trip to my parents' mountain home in Georgia, but none of us had the bull's-eye that often accompanies a tick bite.
Today, David Crews says his pain is down, his energy up.
The health care executive is back to work and getting close to normal.
David Crews: "I would never blame my doctors for what's happened, but I think there's a responsibility that doctors should consider it."
Kathryn Daniel, Channel Three News.
Crews says he expects to make an almost-full recovery, but Lyme disease can recur.
He's not sure if he'll have long-term effects of having late-stage Lyme disease.
Some patients report developing chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.Lyme Disease Rates Rising, Hits Close to Home
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