It took a long time for me to decide on a background for our pages. Nothing seemed right. Very common feeling when you are afflicted with Lyme Disease! I saw several Lyme sites with green ribbons, and contemplated using it. Then I came upon a site with a list of all the ribbon "causes", and quite a few were using a green ribbon. At that point, I started looking for symbols, particularly for a symbol of truth. I found a rather interesting symbol to use, but how?
The actual definition of this symbol is: An ideogram used in geology to represent twisted rock formations. The Nsibidi people in Ghana, Africa, use the same structure to indicate a situation where two witnesses contradict each other, and one is telling the truth (the straight line).
The definition certainly was appropriate for a symbol for the treatment, or lack of, for Lyme Disease. I still knew something was missing, so I ventured on, now with the thought of a medical symbol to somehow work with this one.
Interesting hits from the search engine, quite a few about the controversy of the symbol of the caduceus, which is the symbol of the medical profession. I am not here to say which is correct, but the controversy states that the staff of Aesculapius should be the correct symbol. It is a single staff with one snake winding up it.
The symbol for truth I found earlier, was actually the staff of Aesculapius, only sideways. Plus, the snake wound in the opposite direction. Aesculapius was said to be the most important among the Greek gods and heroes who were associated with health and curing disease.
I now had the basis for my design.
In Aesculapius' time, the snake, was a symbol of rejuvenescence, as the snake changes its skin. I am depicting the snake to represent Lyme disease, which I would gladly shed, given the proper medical care!! The staff I have depicted as golden, to represent all of the wonderful people I have met, Lyme victims, their family members and the medical community who stand behind us, trying to find the answer to this insidious disease.
We are intelligent, loving people who once had normal, productive lives. We deserve answers. We deserve decent medical care. We deserve to be whole again.
No one should die from a tick bite! Sadly, too many lives have already been lost to this disease. I have only two words for those trying to cover-up how disabling, dangerous and widespread this disease is....NO MORE!!!
If you would like a copy of this symbol to use, please email me.
Dedicated to all those who have lost their life due to Lyme disease, especially Jenny Umphress, who died at the age of 21. Read Jenny's story: Part 1 and Part 2
Listen to Jenny's Mom talk about Jenny.
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