DEBBIE KIMBERG

This memoir displays the author’s courage and the relentless pursuit of root causes underneath her son’s autism disorder, psychiatric issues and hijacked brain. It is unfortunate that countless other families are dealing with similar life circumstances, watching their child’s wellbeing and mental health decline right before our very eyes. This very personal story will inspire, validate, and empower all mothers who are currently struggling with helping their children through chronic mystery illnesses. We are not alone. Kimberg sheds light on root causes of these disorders and models the empowerment mindset, courage and mama-bear resilience we all need.

Kimberg’s narrative is both deeply personal and universally relatable. As a mother and a patient, her journey to understand the root causes of her children’s behavioral issues and her own mental health struggles provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by families grappling with Lyme disease. Through her diligent research and unwavering determination, she illuminates the path to healing by outlining the importance of understanding the root causes of mental health struggles, fostering a supportive community, and encouraging self-advocacy. The book also sheds light on the connection between Lyme infections and conditions like autism, ADHD, and psychiatric issues, offering hope and inspiration to those affected by these challenges. Kimberg’s vulnerability and honesty in sharing her story create a strong emotional connection with readers, making “Our Hijacked Brains” an unforgettable read.

This mother’s story of her relentless journey to search for the answers to her children’s physical and mental health challenges is one that many parents with children suffering with chronic illnesses will both relate to and also find hope in. I hear from families and patients every day who strive to get the answers to their complex medical issues and yet are thwarted in their efforts, most notably due to a problematic medical model that suffers from a lack of research and medical education in the fields that need it most. However, I am hopeful that sharing stories, such as this one, will help raise awareness and, ultimately, lead to better answers and solutions.

In this beautifully written book, I am impressed by this mother’s honesty, intelligence and passion for her children. She captured the painful journey that parents of kids with vector induced infections go through in a very real and vivid way. The ups and downs; the different doctors each having only a piece of the puzzle; the poor parents struggling with their intuitive sense that there is more help somewhere but are often left on their own to track down the next step. Sadly, her story and travails are too familiar. It is heartbreaking but these are the stories I hear everyday. This mother and mothers like her are heroes. This book will serve as a gift to many other families that are facing similar struggles. For those that search each day for answers on how to help their dysfunctional, but wonderful children, this book will aid in making many concerned parents feel much less alone.

While addressing various neuropsychiatric symptoms in her three sons, a mother skillfully takes the reader through the heart wrenching trials and tribulations of a family’s emotional medical journey, ultimately implicating stealth infection as the cause and thus providing the possibility of a potential cure. Our collaborative research currently focuses on the impacts of Bartonella on psychiatric and physical symptoms in patients. Sadly, we have seen other families like this one who are infected with Bartonella, potentially one of the most important and underappreciated infections contributing to chronic illness today. The mother’s story of the potential familial impacts of this disease is an important addition to our evolving understanding this stealth bacterial pathogen is having on our country.