Panic, hallucinations, intrusive thoughts! These are all symptoms of PANS / PANDAS. It’s a terrifying ordeal to live through when your child is stricken with such a complex and mysterious condition. No one knows this better than Brandi Dean, Lyme advocate and founder of the Dean Center for Tick-Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Brandi has been a passionate advocate for patients with Lyme disease since 2011. Most recently she advocates for children and adolescents with PANS and PANDAS, as her 10-year-old son, Finn, was diagnosed with PANS in 2020. In this episode, Brandi shares her son’s story including his sudden onset, the complexity of his illness which also included a diagnosis of Lyme and other tick-borne illness, as well as his treatment plan. She credits her physicians for his remarkable recovery. His story is featured on Lymedisease.org and Fox News Boston. Learn how she managed to cope through this extra challenging period in her life and how they made it to the other side.
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About Liza’s Guest, Brandi Dean
In 2015, Brandi Dean founded the Dean Center for Tick-Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Her personal experience as a young mother with Lyme disease led her to identify a need for a multidisciplinary center to treat individuals suffering from persistent tick-borne illness. Acting as an advisor and advocate, she joined hands with both physicians and leadership at Spaulding Rehab to help open the first center embedded in a major academic medical institution focused on treating patients with chronic tick-borne illnesses. Brandi continues to serve as an active Advisory Board member for the Dean Center for Tick-Borne Illness. Her story has been featured in the Boston Globe, DoctorOz.com, Good Housekeeping, and WCVB.
Brandi has been a passionate advocate for patients with Lyme disease since 2011 and most recently for children and adolescents with PANS and PANDAS. Her 10-year-old son, Finn, was diagnosed with PANS in 2020, whom she credits her physicians for his remarkable recovery. His story is featured on Lymedisease.org and Fox News Boston.
Brandi’s determination to make a positive difference in the lives of patients with Lyme disease is additionally demonstrated in her leadership of Ride Out Lyme, a charity event she designed and that raises financial grants for adults with the tick-borne illness. The event is held annually at SoulCycle in Boston, NYC, and Los Angeles with expansion into other cities. She also serves on the Board for the Alex Manfull Fund.
Prior to her work in the field of Lyme disease, Brandi’s professional life included a four-year tour of duty in the United States Coast Guard. Brandi also has a decade of experience in leadership in the hospitality industry and has a degree in Business from Boston University.
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MAY IS LYME AWARENESS MONTH!
Very Happy Stories has partnered with The LymeLight Foundation. Their mission is to provide grants to enable eligible children and young adults with Lyme disease to receive proper treatment and medication as well as raising awareness about Lyme disease. When you support the LymeLight Foundation you are supporting a child’s recovery.
Here are some ways you can donate.
Donate Here and mention Very Happy Stories
Purchase a Very Happy Stories Gratitude Hat. All proceeds are donated to The LymeLight Foundation.
Purchase merchandise from The LymeLight Store
Thank you for supporting a child’s treatment and recovery. My hope and belief is that we will heal all the beautiful children infected with Lyme and tick-borne infections. Grateful for you and your support.
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