A woman from Pittsburgh is sharing her powerful story after a Lyme disease diagnosis left her with lasting neurological damage — hoping others will take tick safety more seriously.
Krista Mazefsky says her life changed dramatically after developing what doctors identified as neurological Lyme disease, a more severe form of the tick-borne illness that can affect the nervous system.
“It impacted my neurological system,” she explained. “I wouldn’t say you ever truly beat it.”
More than six months after her diagnosis, Mazefsky still struggles with limited movement on the left side of her face. The paralysis altered her facial expressions, speech, and even caused complications affecting her teeth and salivary glands.
“When I talk, everything shifts to one side. My eyebrow doesn’t fully lift. It’s something I live with every day,” she shared.
What makes her story especially concerning is that she never noticed a tick bite. She never saw a rash. She didn’t recall any warning signs commonly associated with Lyme disease.
Last year, after spending time outdoors, she began feeling unwell. The symptoms were vague — fatigue, discomfort, general sickness. Then, without warning, she lost feeling on one side of her face, which progressed to facial paralysis. She was in and out of hospitals before finally receiving a Lyme disease diagnosis on July 1, 2025.
“I didn’t see a tick. I didn’t see a rash. I just suddenly wasn’t okay,” she said. “The symptoms can be so unclear at first.”
As warmer weather approaches — when ticks are more active — Mazefsky is using her experience to educate others. She posted a video online warning people to be more vigilant about tick checks, and it quickly gained thousands of views.
Infectious disease specialists emphasize that prevention and early detection are critical. Wearing long sleeves, using insect repellent, and performing thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors — even in your own yard — can significantly reduce risk.
Medical experts stress that the first 24 to 36 hours after a tick attaches are crucial. Removing a tick promptly lowers the chances of disease transmission. Because ticks are tiny, careful inspection is necessary, especially around the hairline, underarms, waistline, and other hidden areas.
Lyme disease, if detected early, is typically treatable. However, delayed diagnosis can lead to more serious complications affecting the joints, heart, and nervous system.
Now, Mazefsky hopes her experience serves as a reminder — not to avoid the outdoors, but to stay aware.
“Go outside. Live your life,” she said. “Just make sure you check yourself when you come back in.”
Her message is simple: awareness can prevent long-term consequences.
