At the lowest point in his life, this Canadian native was so sick that he could do nothing more then lie in a dark room, thinking about the fact that his body seemed to be on fire. His symptoms of twitching, swollen muscles and raging emotions were out of control. However, after a series of antibiotic regimens that finally led him to Autoimmunity Research Foundation’s Marshall Protocol, he has recovered to the point where he feels like a kid in a candy store. Meet Ken L.

Can you describe the progression of your disease?

When I first started to suffer from symptoms of Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) I was living in South America. 2001 was the beginning of a gradual downhill slide. My feet started to become very sore, I became increasingly forgetful, and my balance was impaired. But it wasn’t until May 1st of that year that I was suddenly struck with incredibly severe symptoms. That day, when I went into the office, I felt terrible. I told my co-worker “Something is very wrong with me”, and he proceeded to take me to the hospital. My symptoms were terrifying . I had a crawling sensation that started in my hands and feet and crept up the back of my legs, until it finally reached my arms and the back of my head.

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Maybe vitamin D isn’t the answer after all.

Not only does the above statement ring true, it’s also the title of a recent post on “Dr. Len’s Cancer Blog” – a website written by Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the national office of the American Cancer Society, in order to facilitate communication with the public on important issues related to cancer.

Dr. Lichtenfeld, as described by his website, is a frequent spokesperson on a variety of cancer-related subjects, and serves as a liaison for the Society with many professional and public organizations. He’s also a board certified medical oncologist and internist who was a practicing physician for nearly 20 years and serves on several national committees focused on physician payment, the quality of medical care, and the role of health information technology in healthcare delivery.

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At a very young age, Doreen’s son Brendon began to suffer from symptoms of autism and other behavioral disorders. Over the years, he also began to suffer from CFS, obesity, and a “tremendous array” of other symptoms. Today, Doreen’s entire family, including Brendon, are on Autoimmunity Research Foundation’s Marshall Protocol. In the following interview, Doreen discusses the progress that Brendon, now 18, has made during Phase 1 of the treatment. Brendon’s experience thus far suggests that he is already becoming a more social and outgoing individual, and that full recovery may well be on the horizon.

Can you describe the progression of Brendon’s illness? Was he born sick or did it take time for his illness to develop?

Brendon exhibited the subtle signs of autism at a very young age. I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back, even as an infant he was socially indifferent–- he did express emotion, but only if we went out of our way to over-emphasize cues. A photographer waving around stuffed animals and talking loudly and actively in order to elicit a smile would get him wildly laughing. Otherwise, he really didn’t ever giggle or grin. He did not actively explore faces and was uninterested in taking his turn sitting on my lap at reading time. Whereas the other children in my daycare clambered to hear favorite books over and over and especially enjoyed the “audience participation” pieces they knew were coming up, he did not have the patience to sit through a book if he had already heard it.

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Several years ago this finance lawyer and mother of two was so debilitated both physically and mentally that she thought it unlikely that she’d live to see her children go to high school. Today, after five years on Autoimmunity Research Foundation’s Marshall Protocol, almost all of her symptoms have resolved and she has rejoined the world – picking up many of her old activities including tennis lessons. Meet JST.

During my teenage years but it took another twenty years or so before I was to become chronically ill and debilitated.

Describe the progression of your disease

While I was at high school I had odd bouts of ill health including chronic tonsillitis and sinusitis. In 1979, while at university, I suffered an episode of sudden fatigue and paralysis in both legs which disabled me for about three weeks. I was not seen by a specialist and it was concluded that I was suffering from “hysteria.”

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In 2000, this former RN was a “chronic mess” – so ill that her life was an endless series of painful and debilitating relapses. Today, after three and a half years on Autoimmunity Research Foundation’s Marshall Protocol she’s bid goodbye to most of her symptoms and is out and about again – taking water aerobics classes and volunteering at the local nature preserve. Meet Melinda Stiles.

When did you first start to become ill? Describe the progression of your disease.

I was exposed to L-form bacteria at an early age. During the 1970s, I was a practicing Registered Nurse in Connecticut, first at Yale University, then at Middletown Memorial. At the time, a number of young boys were admitted to our hospital with strange muscular, arthritic complaints, swollen joints, and fever of unknown origin. After being given high doses of antibiotics, one boy even developed a heart block. I was in the ICCU and assisted with the temporary pacemaker before he was transferred to Yale Medical for diagnosis. We were following the prognosis of these young men with interest at the time. Most of the cases were originating around the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut. Later, scientists at Yale would group the symptoms these boys presented under the label of “Lyme disease” – inspired, of course, by the name of the town in which the boys first became sick.

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Paul W. Ewald is an evolutionary biologist, specializing in the evolution of infectious disease. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington, in Zoology, with specialization in Ecology and Evolution. He is currently director of the program in Evolutionary Medicine at the Biology Department of the University of Louisville.

The first recipient of the George R. Burch Fellowship in Theoretic Medicine and Affiliated Sciences, Ewald’s publication of Evolution of Infectious Disease is widely acknowledged by doctors and scientists as a watershed in the emergence of the new discipline of evolutionary medicine. He has been featured in The Atlantic, Newsweek, Discover, and Forbes.

Professor Ewald is also the author of a groundbreaking book, Plague Time; How Stealth Infections Cause Cancers, Heart Disease and other Deadly Ailments.

How do the concepts of evolutionary biology support the idea that pathogens are to blame for most diseases?

When we consider the possible causes of disease, it’s important to make sure that at our starting point, we put all categories on the table. I believe the most useful way to do this is to think in terms of three main categories:

• inherited genes
• parasitic agents (this includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa
• non-living environmental factors (too much or too little of a particular substance, radiation, exposure to a chemical etc.)

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