From Caregiver to Advocate: A Mission to Transform the Standard of Care

The Overlap Between Infection and Mental Health: "They've got case stories of people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and then get diagnosed with Bartonella, which is one of the pathogens that my husband had. And then they get treated, and their symptoms go away."Title: From Caregiver to Advocate: A Mission to Transform the Standard of CareOn this episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood," we welcome Nicole Bell, engineer, author, and passionate advocate for improved tick-borne disease care. Nicole opens up about her deeply personal journey as a caregiver for her husband, whose rapidly progressing cognitive decline was eventually linked to multiple tick-borne pathogens, not just early-onset Alzheimer’s as initially diagnosed. Through her pain and persistence, Nicole discovered how misdiagnosis and inadequate testing can alter the course of lives, and she’s on a mission to change the standard of care for others navigating similar challenges. In this heartfelt conversation, Nicole and Kim discuss the complexities of diagnosing tick-borne illnesses, the potential links between infection and mental health, and the crucial role that advocacy and community play in driving medical advancements. If you care for someone with a chronic illness, wonder about mysterious health symptoms, or want to learn about groundbreaking approaches to diagnosis, this episode is for you.How to Contact Nicolehttps://www.galaxydx.com/, [email protected] Social Media Contact information: https://www.facebook.com/galaxydx/https://www.instagram.com/galaxydiagnostics/https://www.linkedin.com/company/galaxy-diagnostics-inc-/Bio:Nicole Bell is an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for tick-borne and neurodegenerative diseases. Her memoir, What Lurks in the Woods, details her husband's harrowing experience with misdiagnosed tick-borne illness and seeks to help others navigate chronic conditions. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Nicole earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and a Master’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. Nicole is currently the CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics, where she combines her professional experience with her passion to change the tick-borne disease landscape. Galaxy’s mission is to create a new diagnostic standard of care for tick-borne diseases and save millions of people from descending into chronic illness.______________________________________________________________Contact Kim Hegwood- Elder Law AttorneyWebsite: https://www.yourlegacylegalcare.com/Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/YourLegacyLegalCareLinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourlegacylegalcare YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@YourLegacyLegalCareInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourlegacylegalcare/