A fund to push forward science and access to care

We are creating this fund to honor the memory of our beautiful Amélie, who took her own life in September of 2022. Amélie had been suffering for years through an obstacle course that ultimately led to a belatedly confirmed Lyme diagnosis, as the disease symptoms had been accumulating and increasing in severity for years. Her growing anxiety eventually played a major role in her decision to end her suffering, after years of medical aimlessness and growing frustration.

Amélie is not alone. Lyme disease is vastly under-diagnosed. The experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that the true number of Lyme disease cases is six to twelve times as high as the number of confirmed or probable cases (CDC, 2021).

Quebec is significantly lagging in terms of research capacity, detection norms and protocols, treatment and follow-up for Lyme disease. Too many patients wander in our healthcare system for years before they can get a diagnosis, often by reaching outside of Quebec to try to get the support they need. This fund is being created for them. Thanks to your donations, we aim to support patients and the medical community, as well as research in order to push forward the science and access to care. The Fund will support initiatives that will allow:

- The elaboration of research protocols aiming to deepen our knowledge in terms of the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease;
- The funding of scholarships in order to train doctors and healthcare professionals specializing in the treatment of Lyme disease;
- The funding of resources to support and follow-up with patients and their families.
Amélie was always in support mode, day in and day out. Over the years, she extended her hand to seniors living in retirement homes, to youth living with multiple disabilities (at the Centre aux Quatre Poches) and to people living in homelessness in downtown Montreal - and those are just some examples. Her legacy of empathy will be front and center in every activity the Fund will support, with the goal of supporting patients living in situations similar to her own, and to ensure despair no longer prevails over hope.

For any other type of donation, please contact the Foundation of Greater Montréal team by email at philanthropie@fgmtl.org or by phone at (514) 866-0808 ext. 123.

In Amélie's name, and in the name of all patients living with Lyme disease, thank you in advance for your invaluable support.