From Misdiagnosis to Mission: Better Lyme Testing with Nicole Bell

In this episode, Dr. Kasey Holland sits down with Nicole Bell — CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics, MIT-trained engineer, and author of the bestselling memoir What Lurks in the Woods — to discuss why current Lyme disease testing is failing patients, what direct detection testing means for the future of diagnosis, and how Nicole turned her family's devastating experience into a mission to change the standard of care for tick-borne illness. About Nicole Bell Nicole Bell is the CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics and author of What Lurks in the Woods, a raw and powerful memoir detailing her family's journey with undiagnosed tick-borne illness. She holds degrees from MIT and Duke University and has an extensive background in medical diagnostics and device development. After losing her husband Russ to complications from undiagnosed Lyme disease, Bartonella, and Babesia, Nicole dedicated her career to ensuring no family has to go through what hers did. What We Cover Nicole's personal story: how her husband went from misdiagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's to finally receiving a Lyme disease diagnosis — 15 months too late Why standard antibody testing (Western blot) fails so many patients — and the science behind why The critical window: waiting just 30 days after a tick bite more than doubles your risk of developing chronic symptoms What "direct detection" testing means and why it's a game-changer for Lyme diagnosis Galaxy Diagnostics' urine antigen test for Borrelia and high-sensitivity blood-based tests for Bartonella and Babesia Why Lyme isn't just one infection — co-infections like Bartonella and Babesia require completely different treatments Digital PCR: how Galaxy's technology finds the "needle in a haystack" of low-abundance pathogens Provocation methods (sauna, exercise, herbal protocols) — do they improve test sensitivity? Why patients with brain fog shouldn't have to navigate complex testing decisions alone The future: Galaxy's path toward FDA clearance and making direct detection the new standard of care Key Takeaways Don't trust a negative Western blot alone. Antibody tests miss early infection, immune-suppressed patients, and chronic cases. Demand better. Time matters. The sooner tick-borne illness is detected and treated, the better the outcome. You know your body. If something feels wrong, keep digging — even when doctors dismiss you. Think beyond ticks. Bartonella can be transmitted by fleas and lice — pets can be a vector. These pathogens are thieves. They steal identities and lives. But with better tools, we can stop them. Resources & Links 🌐 Galaxy Diagnostics: galaxydx.com 📖 What Lurks in the Woods by Nicole Bell — available on Amazon 📲 Follow Nicole: @GalaxyDx on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn 🧪 ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society): ilads.org 🧪 ISEAI (International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness): iseai.org Connect with Dr. Kasey Holland 🌐 Website: [madetohealpodcast.com] 📲 Instagram: @drkaseyholland 🎙️ Subscribe to The Made to Heal Show wherever you listen to podcasts The Made to Heal Show dives deep into the hidden obstacles that keep people sick, stuck, and searching for answers — from chronic infections and viral reactivations to environmental toxins, burnout, and nervous system dysregulation. Because you weren't made to just struggle. You were made to heal and thrive.