Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease

Dutch-American TV personality Hadid (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) describes a five-year battle with chronic neurological Lyme disease in this raw and intricately detailed medical memoir. Though her initial Lyme tests in 2012 were negative, the 48-year-old divorced mother of three suffered from numerous physical complaints, including brain fog, migraines, hair loss, fatigue, and insomnia. Eventually doctors diagnosed her with Lyme. Hadid, once an active mother, found herself unable to converse, socialize, or attend her children’s events; she spent most of her time in a mentally paralyzing cocoon. Two of her children eventually contracted the disease as well. The author takes readers on an intense journey in search of a cure, seeking relief through various treatments in Germany, Mexico, South Korea, Switzerland, and across the U.S., visiting scores of physicians and clinics. Hadid’s suffering and frustration lead her to a resolve to help others and to unravel the puzzle of this “global epidemic.” Readers will cheer her on as she digs deeper into her story, revealing her spiritual nature, her maternal devotion, and an unwavering and admirable determination to “turn a mess into a message.” (Sept.)