Nowhere Land focuses on the chronic Lyme disease community in the U.S., a marginalized group that has faced neglect and mistreatment for decades. After being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2021, I sought alternative treatments when standard CDC-recommended options failed. This led me to a vast chronic Lyme community, where I discovered shared struggles, including isolation from loved ones, trauma from medical abuse, and financial stress due to the lack of recognition by the insurance companies. Inspired by these shared experiences, I began Nowhere Land in 2022. The CDC estimates that half a million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Lyme disease annually, with many more misdiagnosed due to inaccurate testing and misleading information. Chronic Lyme remains on the fringes of mainstream medicine, with some doctors questioning its validity. Patients are often dismissed, their suffering invalidated, and their pain attributed to psychological causes. For decades, they have awaited answers from the medical system, feeling trapped in the middle of nowhere. As I immerse myself further into the chronic illness community, I see the vast number of debilitating conditions that are misunderstood by mainstream medicine and the public. Through this project, I aim not only to raise awareness for the chronic Lyme community but also to spark discussions about the importance of empathy for those facing chronic illnesses, particularly those long overlooked by our medical system.
