Editor:
So sorry to hear about the long struggle that Rose Schwarz and her family have faced to diagnose and treat her illness. The diagnosis is a good start, but treatment for Lyme disease is still a huge challenge, and I wish her the very best in her recovery.
The article (Coast Reporter, March 28) should also be a wake-up call to those living on the Coast who like to hike through wooded areas. Although it is suspected that Rose got her tick bite in the Kootenays, ticks are quite common on the Coast as well. I would urge residents to be diligent about making sure to check after a wooded walk for any ticks on family members or pets.
Over the years, we have removed dozens of them from our dogs and have also found several on family members, and these ticks seem to be active all year round. We also had a dog that was bitten by a tick and eventually had Lyme disease.
Yes, the ticks on the Coast can carry Lyme disease, and we all need to be aware of what the ticks look like and take quick action to remove them.
Diana Mumford, Sechelt
