In memory- Neil L. Spector, MD. USA.

Jun 16, 2020 | Uncategorised

We are extremely sad to have to report the death of Dr Neil L. Spector, USA, Oncologist, and premier tick-borne illness researcher. Author, Gone in A Heartbeat, a physician’s search for true healing.      Neil was athletic, he ran marathons, but tick-borne diseases ravaged his body to such an extent that in 2009 he needed and received a heart transplant.   Neil, while working as a top Oncologist, decided to also turn his attention to tick-borne diseases, thereby implementing his oncology expertise to tick-borne infections. With vital support and generosity from the Steven and Alexander Cohen Foundation, Neil and his colleagues have been able to develop and continue an intrinsic and fundamentally valuable future for tick-borne illness research.         Such is the nature of tick-borne diseases that sadly, 11 years following his heart transplant, they continued to wreak havoc on Neil’s severely compromised immune system, and evidenced further complications too difficult to overcome.    Neil was a personal and true friend to our small charity, so much so that in 2016 and unpaid, he made the 8,000 mile round trip to the UK from North Carolina to support us as a key note speaker at our symposium where he presented his valuable work and research.    “To me, Lyme is the infectious disease equivalent of cancer. We don’t talk about cancer as just one disease anymore, and we should stop talking about Lyme this way. There are so many strains and co-infections. When you are bitten by a tick, you can get five or ten different infections at the same time. I also find it ludicrous to call...

HEART PROBLEMS AND TICK BORNE DISEASE

May 9, 2017 | Uncategorised

Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician’s Search for True Healing ‘Dr. Neil Spector, one of the nation’s top oncologists, led a charmed life. He was educated at prestigious universities, trained at top medical centers, and had married the woman of his dreams. It seemed too perfect. And it was. In 1994, it all came crashing down.’ https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Heartbeat-Physicians-Search-Healing/dp/1936946424 Dr Spector had a heart transplant as a result of the effects of Lyme Disease on his heart.  It is important to recognise the serious risks to the heart from Tick Borne Diseases   Medical   Just a selection of published papers on Lyme Carditis but other Tick borne diseases can also cause Cardiac problems.   Lyme Carditis   An earlier News Item about Dr Spector     Cancer Researcher Who Nearly Died of Lyme Discusses the Similarities Between the Two...

TICK-BORNE DISEASES SYMPOSIUM 2016

Oct 4, 2016 | Uncategorised

        I know one or two of you will be interested to hear how the Vis-a-vis symposium went om Saturday 01.10.16. Brilliant, is probably the best way I would describe it – by far one of the best conferences/symposiums I have been to on Lyme Disease in the UK. Perhaps the best bit was knowing there were Doctors, Consultants, Researchers and Veterinarians all listening attentively (and some taking copious notes) to the excellent presentations. Prof Hany Elsheikha, Veterinary Parasitology/Human/animal/Public Health from UK, gave an informative presentation, encouraging the audience to understand the clear and abundant presence of Ticks and the complexity of the numbers of pathogens they are able to transmit. The problems over testing and difficulties with diagnosis. Dr Jack Lambert Infectious and Tropical Diseases doctor from Ireland gave an outstanding presentation telling the audience the situation – how in other infectious diseases they acknowledged the limitations of testing and often treated empirically which is what he has been doing with considerable success with his suspected Lyme Disease patients. He talked about a study of 100 patients and how many had a good response to treatment in the just over 60% patients who chose to have the antibiotics or combination antibiotics he recommends (not everyone will opt for antibiotics, the patient has choices to make). It was so refreshing to hear so many positive comments about supporting this patient section. He also discussed a long list of suggested testing for a number of tick associated infections and immune markers plus the usual blood tests. Dr Carsten Nicolaus, Internal Medicine and Tick Borne Diseases from Germany, gave...

Welcome

Oct 27, 2015 | Uncategorised

A warm welcome to Vis-à-Vis Symposiums We are a small charity focusing on the welfare of patients whose lives have been decimated, courtesy of a Tick. A parasite so invasive, capable of destroying and reducing formerly active healthy humans, and their companion animals, to lives of complete devastation and a miserable existence. A quote from a patient, and echoed by thousands of others globally; “ Lyme won’t kill you………… but there are days when you wish it would” Correction: in extreme cases Tick-borne diseases will kill you, hence the need for you to know about them. Our first symposium was held in June 2014, and was funded by a patient and organized by a group of patients and dedicated tick-borne disease specialists. We joined forces with the aim of bringing doctors, veterinarians, and researchers together in a united effort to tackle the dilemma of ill- health caused by the many tick-borne infections that are increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world. The event was so successful and generated so much goodwill and interest that it was obvious we should keep the momentum, and so here we are, ready to join forces again. Please, let us work in a united effort to combat these insidious and destructive infections before more lives are left unnecessarily in...