Episode 552: Childhood Lyme Disease, Medical Gaslighting, The Quiet Epidemic, and Becoming the Doctor She Needed – Julia Bruzzese
Tick Boot Camp
In this powerful and deeply moving episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we sit down with Julia Bruzzese, a 22-year-old Lyme disease survivor, disability advocate, and future physician whose life was forever changed by an untreated tick bite in childhood.
After developing a classic bull’s-eye rash at age 9, Julia went undiagnosed for nearly two years, despite textbook symptoms of Lyme disease. By age 11, she experienced a catastrophic neurological decline that left her paraplegic and wheelchair-bound. Over the next decade, Julia saw more than 100 doctors, endured profound medical gaslighting, and navigated an exhausting journey through antibiotics, IVIG, IV antibiotics, plasmapheresis, stem cells, ozone therapy, and integrative care.
Julia’s story became internationally known after a moment with Pope Francis on the JFK airport tarmac went viral in 2015—an event that opened doors to care, advocacy, and awareness. She later became the emotional centerpiece of the award-winning documentary The Quiet Epidemic, appeared at New York Fashion Week as a Lyme disease advocate, and was profiled by renowned journalist Mary Beth Pfeiffer.
Today, Julia is finishing her undergraduate degree and has been accepted into medical school, determined to become the kind of doctor she needed when the system failed her.
This episode is a masterclass in:
Pediatric Lyme disease
Medical gaslighting vs. lack of education
Clinical diagnosis vs. unreliable testing
The patient-doctor relationship
Chronic illness, disability, and purpose
Why Lyme disease changes lives—and why early treatment matters
Childhood Lyme Disease & Missed Diagnosis
Tick bite and bull’s-eye rash dismissed at age 9
Two years of worsening symptoms labeled as “growing pains,” viruses, or psychological
Why early Lyme treatment saves lives
Neurological Collapse & Hospital Trauma
Sudden onset of paralysis, vision loss, fevers, hair loss, and weakness at age 11
Over 100 doctors and repeated hospitalizations
Being accused of malingering and conversion disorder
The devastating impact of medical disbelief on children
The Quiet Epidemic Documentary
How Julia became the heart of the film at age 12
Why she initially hesitated to share her story
The emotional impact of seeing her illness reflected on screen
How the documentary helps families explain Lyme disease to others
Meeting Pope Francis & Global Awareness
How a school principal secured last-minute tickets
The Pope walks directly to Julia’s wheelchair
The moment that changed everything
Media coverage that led to access to lifesaving care
Treatment Journey
Lyme-literate diagnosis by NP Somer DelSignore
Oral and IV antibiotics
IVIG (including under-dosing issues)
Plasmapheresis
POTS, Babesia, Bartonella, and autoimmune complications
Stem cell therapy abroad
Ozone and integrative protocols
Why there is no single silver bullet for Lyme disease
The Medical System & Lyme Denial
Why doctors often say “it’s all in your head”
The difference between malice and lack of training
How medical education fails chronic illness patients
Fear of insurance companies, lawsuits, and “accepted guidelines”
Why Lyme is a clinical diagnosis, not a test result
Reframing “Medical Gaslighting”
Why anger is understandable—but not always healing
How patients and doctors can become better partners
Understanding doctors’ limitations without excusing harm
Advocacy with clarity, not hostility
Disability, Identity & Resilience
Navigating life and education as a wheelchair user
Accommodations, accessibility, and invisible illness
“I have Lyme. I am not Lyme.”
Learning when to rest, when to fight, and when to live
Becoming the Doctor She Needed
Working as a medical assistant and hospital volunteer in a wheelchair
Applying to and being accepted into medical school
Becoming the first wheelchair-using medical student at her institution
Why lived experience belongs in medicine
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Lawsuit filed in NYC (March 2021) against multiple doctors and hospitals
Failure to diagnose and treat Lyme disease despite clear evidence
Why Lyme malpractice cases are rare—and necessary
Seeking accountability, not revenge
Purpose, Faith & Meaning
From “Why me?” to “Why not me?”
How suffering clarified her calling
The role of faith, family, and community
Why Julia wouldn’t give this journey back—even now
Memorable Quotes
“I was criminalized as an eleven-year-old child for being sick.”
“It actually
was
in my head—the bacteria was in my brain.”
“I have Lyme disease. I am not Lyme disease.”
“There is no silver bullet for Lyme. Healing is trial and error.”
“I wouldn’t be who I am—or know my purpose—without this journey.”
Why This Episode Matters
This episode is essential listening for:
Parents of children with unexplained symptoms
Lyme disease and chronic illness patients
Medical professionals and students
Advocates fighting for better diagnostics and care
Anyone who has ever felt dismissed, unseen, or unheard in healthcare
Julia Bruzzese’s story is not just about Lyme disease—it’s about truth, resilience, accountability, and hope.