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8/4/79 – 22/7/24
Join us in remembering and celebrating the life of fellow Lyme Warrior, Natalie Glazier, a generous and giving friend with an open heart who fought hard until the very end. Natalie touched many of our lives with her kindness, courage, and unwavering strength.

Although her multiple infections were overseas acquired, (Ireland and Borneo), her search for life-saving treatment was marked by discrimination and betrayal by doctors, hospitals and Australian healthcare policy. She was laughed at, ridiculed and labelled a drug addict – abandoned by all but a handful of doctors. Thank you to those few doctors that did try so hard.

Despite the immense challenges she faced as a Lyme patient, she remained steadfast in wanting to recover and be a beacon of hope, resilience and support for the Lyme patient community. She just wanted to help others.

Natalie was a gifted artist and poet. Her poem, “Silent Fight,” beautifully captures the silent battle she endured and the deep scars left by disbelief, prejudice and neglect. Thousands of Australians relate so deeply.

~~
Silent Fight
A Poem by Natalie Glazier
(gifted to LDAA and published in the newsletter February 2022)

In the quiet of the sterile room,
I whispered my pain, my silent gloom.

But the medical eyes did not truly see,
The depth of the anguish inside of me.

I sought their help, their healing touch,
But they dismissed my suffering as too much.

They turned away from my desperate plea,
Leaving me lost in my own agony.

As days turned to weeks, and weeks to years,
The whispers of doubt turned into fears.

The damage grew deep, unseen and untold,
Leaving me broken, my spirit sold.

Now I stand, a witness to my own plight,
A victim of neglect, of a silent fight.

The trauma runs deep, a river untamed,
My faith in healing forever maimed.

So listen, oh world, to the words I say,
Believe those in need, don’t turn away.

For the scars of disbelief run deep and wide,
Leaving the wounded alone, lost in the tide.
~~

Natalie’s legacy is one of love, strength, and a call for compassion. Let us honour her memory by embracing those in need, by listening and believing. Those well enough will honour Natalieby continuing her fight for understanding, support and medical care for all who suffer in silence.

Rest in peace dear Natalie. Your light will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew and loved you. We all offer our deepest love and condolences to your family and loved ones for their unspeakably tragic loss that never should have happened.

Lymies, stay strong, link arms and may there be no more endings like Natalie’s for us to bear witness to.