'You made us all better': Heartbroken dad pens tribute to daughter who died by suicide battling Lyme disease
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
QUEBEC, CANADA: The death of his daughter who died by suicide after being diagnosed with Lyme disease has left Alain Champagne in deep sorrow.
The president and CEO of Canada-based Le Groupe Maurice revealed in a LinkedIn post that his daughter Amelie, 22, "took her own life." Champagne wrote in early September, "To my LinkedIn community … while I never do personal posts, I wanted to share this … It is with the heaviest of hearts (and still in shock) that I share the tragic news that our sweetheart Amelie (22) took her own life this past Sunday." He added, "Every day is extremely difficult but Joanne, Mathieu (19) and I are leaning on each other along with her boyfriend Nic." Opening up about the health issues his daughter faced, the executive continued, "We were witnesses as to how challenging life had become for her in dealing with the evolving Lyme disease symptoms."
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According to Champagne, his family eventually received a positive result for Amelie's illness in the US in June 2022 after searching for many years but the sickness had already claimed its victim, according to a report by People.
"Over time and despite the recent treatments, the disease had evolved way beyond the numerous physical symptoms and was now severely impacting her brain," Champagne continued in his LinkedIn post.
"Despite the fact that every breath and every moment is painful at this stage, in her honor we will try to keep living our lives with the same altitude she lived hers. A long road lies in front of us (every day)…We are hopeful [that] Amelie is now in a position to help guide and support us through it," the grieving father wrote.
Champagne concluded the post by sending an emotional message to his beloved daughter by writing, "We will love you forever, and cherish every memory of our wonderful time together. You made us all better people. It's now up to us to rise up to the challenge… Take care everyone."
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is also known as Lyme borreliosis. An infected black-legged tick bite can spread the potentially crippling sickness which is brought on by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and, in certain cases, Borrelia mayonii. Lyme disease can be cured quickly for some people but it can also have long-term negative effects on their health. Fever, headaches, lethargy, and a rash known as erythema migrans are among the symptoms, according to the CDC. The infection can, however, spread to the heart, the brain system, and joints if left untreated.
