TOUCHED BY LYME: Decorated female Air Force pilot now “unfit for duty”
The first patient advocate to address Monday’s inaugural meeting of the Tick-Borne Diseases Working Group in Washington really knocked our socks off.
Air Force Colonel Nicole Malachowski, the first female pilot ever chosen to fly in the elite Thunderbirds, told the panel she will soon be permanently medically retired, due to “damage and ongoing effects of neurological tick-borne illness.”
Listen to her compelling story.
TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, LymeDisease.org’s VP for Education and Outreach. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org
Dorothy Leland
Dorothy Leland is a longtime advocate and researcher focused on Lyme disease education, policy awareness, and patient support. She has contributed to numerous publications and works closely with medical professionals and organizations to improve understanding and treatment of tick-borne diseases.
Do You Have Lyme Disease?
Use our symptom checklist to better understand possible Lyme disease signs and next steps.
Newsletter Sign-up
Helpful Resources
Support LymeDisease.org
Your support helps us advocate for patients and fund critical Lyme disease research.
