Friday, April 18, 2025

Lyme disease is haunting Canadians, especially some living in Ontario. Not only do they have trouble getting diagnosed, they have few treatment options.

The bulk of Anita Kos’ day is spent in her darkened Hamilton bedroom. Over the last two months, she’s developed an extreme sensitivity to smells, sounds and light. And has very limited mobility.

Nancy Kos is Anita’s Mother: “She can’t eat. She can’t drink. She can’t think. She can’t process words. Everything gets jumbled. My daughter will die. I know she’s going to die.”

We first met Anita last July, six-months after she started developing a bizarre string of symptoms. She was anxiously awaiting an appointment with a New York State doctor who specializes in lyme disease. Although she tested negative for the condition in Ontario, U.S. tests confirmed lyme. But the prescribed treatment in New York an extended course of antibiotics didn’t work for Anita. Her condition had worsened.

Nancy said: “The pains, just keep moving. She says mom there’s something attacking me. It’s attacking me mom. I can’t do anything. There’s nothing I can do. And no one will listen.”

Yvonne Finlayson of St. Catharines understands that helpless feeling. Her daughter Kamea was only 10 when flu symptoms stretched into months, and then years of fatigue joint pain and periodic paralysis: “I knew there was something wrong. Seriously wrong. She was a competitive athlete training 17-hours a week who could barely do a handstand when she could do tumbling and bars.

Kamea Crowe: “I got really bad fatigue. And I kept trying to do gymnastics and I wasn’t strong enough at all. I would just fall down. I was scared I was going to hurt myself.”

Doctors suggested mono, chronic pain syndrome and even stress for Kamea’s condition. Yvonne embarked on her own research and sent blood samples to California where Kamea tested positive for lyme disease and babesia, a malaria-like parasite. Kamea was referred to an infectious disease specialist in Hamilton.

Yvonne said: “And the doctor there basically said no I don’t think she has lyme disease or babesia. I don’t think she has any infection of any kind. And then he did the Canadian testing and it came back negative.”

Years of deteriorating health and conflicting diagnoses took an emotional toll.

Yvonne said: “One day she could walk and another day she couldn’t and kids at school would say well you had lyme yesterday and you don’t have it today? It’s hurtful and it’s hard to explain. People don’t see it. It’s inside of you. It can move different locations. The bacteria goes anywhere your connective tissue is.”

They tried the doctor in New York State. But like Anita, the treatment didn’t work for Kamea. Then Yvonne learned of another possible therapy in Florida. The Sponaugle Wellness Institute used daily IV infusions to treat lyme disease. Yvonne was initially skeptical: “I questioned a lot because he has a proprietary blend that he doesn’t tell you what’s in his IV’s and I think as a patient you have the right to know.”

After numerous consultations, Yvonne and Kamea went to the clinic. The expense for 10-weeks of treatment and accommodation was significant; about 50-thousand dollars. But the results were also significant. Dr. Rick Sponaugle has posted this video to his website of the 14-year old St. Catharines’s girl who arrived in a wheelchair. Though no longer competing, Kamea in the white shirt is back to enjoying an active lifestyle: “Since I’ve been better I’ve been doing gymnastics again and basketball. And just feel like more alive really.”

Yvonne describes her daughter’s recovery at about 80%: “The lyme disease is not gone in her body, based on the tests but her immune system is strong now, that she’s fighting it.”

Fighting the disease with help from the Sponaugle Wellness Institute is what Nancy Kos would like to see for her daughter: “I don’t know if it’s going to work for Anita. I pray, there’s nothing else. I don’t know anyone that’s come up with a solution.”

Here are the details for a charity event in support of Anita Kos:

Save Anita Kos – Lyme disease treatment fundraiser

Knights of Columbus Hall, 222 Queenston Road, Hamilton

Friday, April 11, 8:00PM – 1:00 AM

Tickets: Call Frances at 905 388 0103 or Nancy at 905 662 6904