You have our patients dancing
Healing from Lyme Disease because of your support
Marco thought he had gout, or maybe he was getting older. Perhaps it was stress, or too much Pepsi. Whatever the cause, his knee swelled so badly he could barely fit into his jeans, despite being thin. The pain spread into every part of his life: he lost his appetite, struggled to sleep, and stopped playing his favorite sport, soccer. Marco and his partner, Tina, couldn’t figure out what was wrong.
Marco’s father, a pathologist, encouraged him to eliminate inflammatory foods to see if something in his diet was triggering the swelling. Marco reduced his meals to chicken and crackers, slowly reintroducing foods one by one, but nothing changed. His pain persisted.
Pictured: Katallasso's Staff Nurses: Samantha and Nia
Marco and Tina avoided doctors as long as possible. They were tired of feeling rushed, unheard, and handed prescriptions without explanations. Eventually, they stepped away from the traditional healthcare system altogether. But when Marco’s pain became unbearable, they came to Katallasso.
The moment Marco walked through our doors, he was greeted with a smile and the question, “Hi, how can I help you?” Along with warm eye contact, those words communicated something deeper: welcome, you are safe here, and your needs matter.
“The man I love is back.”
After checking in with our Patient Access team, Marco met with our nurse, Nia, for a health history and vitals check. As he explained his symptoms, Marco broke down in tears. Nia listened without interrupting and prayed with him, asking God to grant him peace and answers. Before any tests, conclusions, or treatment, Marco was heard.
And when a patient is truly heard, clarity can follow. During Marco’s exam, one of our volunteer family physicians said, “I think you have Lyme disease.” Marco and Tina were shocked. Bloodwork later confirmed it: 10 of the 12 Lyme markers came back positive. Marco had a severe case of Lyme disease. Marco began a 30-day course of antibiotics, but care at Katallasso didn’t stop with a prescription. Care meant explanation, follow-up, and walking forward together.
One month later, Marco wasn’t just pain-free; he was dancing in the kitchen on his birthday, healthy and full of life again. Tina shared that “the man I love is back.”