Stefan Bradley
The Rotary Club of Sale recently welcomed Tanner McMillan to share his story about contracting Lyme disease as a young 11-year-old.
Tanner, now 16-years-old, is in recovery, but that’s not stopping him from a charitable Epic Hike for Lyme, by walking 90 miles at the Ninety-Mile Beach this November.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is usually contracted via a tick or insect bite. One tick may transmit pathogens and can also result in releaspse of latent viruses, leaving patients with complex, multi-system illnesses that are poorly understood.
Sixteen-year-old Tanner McMillian wants to ensure that no other child in Australia has to endure what he did. Having achieved a remarkable recovery, he is now on a mission to make a difference by raising awareness for Lyme disease and giving back to the community that supporting during his darkest days. To do this, Tanner and his best mate Ed Blandford are undertaking the mammoth challenge of walking the length of the Ninety-Mile Beach, from McLoughlin’s Beach to Lakes Entrance. He and Ed will walk past Woodside Surf Life Saving Club and the Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club.
“I want to support as many Lyme Warriors as I can to reduce suffering, support dying Lyme Disease patients, change Australia’s healthcare system and its attitude toward Lyme sufferers,” Tanner said.
Tanner’s journey began at the tender age of 11 when a tick bite in rural Victoria unleashed the devastating effects of Lyme disease on his young body. This vibrant and sporty country kid was quickly reduced to a shell of his former self, at times unable to even stand up on his own. Tanner’s desperate parents sought answers from countless doctors, but their pleas for tick-borne disease testing fell on deaf ears. Despite daily seizures and a host of debilitating symptoms, Tanner was also dismissed by a psychologist who claimed it was all in his head. It was a heart-wrenching experience for Tanner, as all those who were supposed to care turned their backs on him.
Hope finally emerged when the McMillans reached out to the Lyme Disease Association of Australia. Through their support, the family connected with one of the country’s few ‘Lyme-literate’ doctors. Tanner’s diagnosis turned out to be Lyme disease. Years of expensive and arduous treatments followed, but Tanner’s determination paid off. He can now attend school full-time and enjoy a life that closely resembles normalcy.
If you’d like to sponsor or otherwise support the boys on their Epic Hike for Lyme, contact: lymedisease.org.au
