It’s with deep unhappiness and a profound sense of loss that we share the information of the passing of our expensive good friend and long-serving President of the Lyme Illness Affiliation Inc, Patricia V. Smith. She died peacefully on August 17, 2024, underneath hospice care, together with her household at her bedside. These of us lucky to have labored carefully with Pat might have began as fellow advocates, associates, colleagues or board members, however we shortly grew to additionally turn into her pals. We noticed ourselves as her prolonged household and Pat all the time handled us as if we have been.
To say she was a robust drive for good within the Lyme disease group is an understatement. Backed by her husband, Wealthy, she traveled the nation, connecting with individuals, communities, and authorities companies. All of us knew that her cellphone by no means stopped, particularly when an affiliate member wanted assist getting good Lyme laws handed of their state. She identified the obstacles and landmines within the proposed invoice, in addition to the nice factors. She was an incredible trainer.
Above every thing else, Pat beloved her household. Once we have been collectively at conferences, she informed us heartfelt tales. When her first grandchild was born, she was completely joyous. And with every grandchild, her pleasure elevated. She was happy with her household and beloved to be with them. We thank Pat’s household for graciously sharing her with us. We notably thank Wealthy for his endless help of her work, our work, serving on the Board as vice chairman of the LDA, and being by her facet at so many conferences and occasions!
Why was Pat so dedicated to the group she took over? She gave just a few causes:
- Her personal daughter’s sickness gave her an consciousness of how severe Lyme might be, which led to her life’s work.
- It was in regards to the kids with Lyme, to help analysis that may in the end assist them get properly and to take away the obstacles to prognosis and remedy.
- It was in regards to the moms. When her daughter was hospitalized as a consequence of Lyme, she met different moms, and so they acquired to know each other. She informed one of many associates that she didn’t need to see one other mom undergo alone, recognizing how painful isolation was for these mothers.
Wherever doable, Pat constructed relationships. She constructed the LDA Affiliate Community, bringing collectively massive and small advocacy teams nationwide. Assembly yearly, the night earlier than the LDA Annual Convention, the advocate members acquired to know one another, and the work they have been doing. Pat and the LDA usually partnered with Lymedisease.org (an LDA affiliate) on massive nationwide initiatives.
Pat met her Congressman, Christopher Smith (R-NJ), at a city corridor assembly in Wall Township, NJ in 1992, the place Pat defined the plight of Lyme disease sufferers, together with her personal daughters. Congressman Smith instantly grew to become dedicated to Lyme disease points. He and Pat fashioned a friendship, which Pat dearly valued. Their collaboration on behalf of Lyme disease sufferers, households, and well being care suppliers lasted over 30 years.
Pat labored with Congressman Smith on many Lyme/TBD points over time, together with offering LDA’s enter in the course of the federal appropriations cycle yearly. Pat twice testified earlier than the US Home of Representatives on Lyme disease – earlier than the International Affairs International Well being & Human Rights Subcommittee and earlier than the Power and Commerce Well being Subcommittee.
Apart from serving as President of the LDA for over 27 years, Pat was a member of Columbia College’s Lyme and Tick-borne Ailments Analysis Middle Advisory Committee and a member of the Atmosphere Safety Company’s (EPA) PESP Partnership to advertise avoidance of tick publicity.
She served on a number of panels for LymeX, the public-private partnership between the Cohen Basis and HHS.
Pat served two phrases as a public member of the HHS Tick-Borne Illness Working Group (TBDWG). Her accomplishments within the group included serving on a number of subcommittees. She co-authored and contributed to a number of important paperwork inside the group. She was concerned with the US Military and Congress in varied endeavors.
Pat was a founding member of ILADS (Worldwide Lyme and Related Ailments Society). She was additionally a member of the Power Lyme Professional Panel of the on-line journal “Contagion: Infectious Illness At this time.”
Pat led the efforts to lift funds for researchers nationally. The LDA awarded 127 analysis grants – analysis that was acknowledged in 62 scientific journals. She organized 22 scientific conferences, providing CME credit for physicians, most sponsored collectively with Columbia College, with Brian Fallon, MD, as Co-Director. She spoke at many conferences – The College of New Haven (CT), California Lyme Illness Affiliation (now Lymedisease.org), Midcoast Maine Lyme Training and Help, Colorado Tick-borne Consciousness Affiliation, Lyme Connection (CT), and ILADS. She has spoken at a whole bunch of public college, enterprise, and authorities occasions.
Pat led the LDA in its efforts, with Time For Lyme in CT, to endow the Columbia Lyme and Tick-Borne Ailments Analysis Middle in New York, which opened in 2007.
Her accomplishments are too quite a few to say! For extra data on her extraordinary achievements as President of the LDA, click here for her bio. Pat’s life earlier than the LDA can also be obtainable there.
She was all the time dedicated to serving to kids and households, straight or not directly.
The ABC’s of Lyme IllnessTM brochure may be very useful to provide out to members of Little one Research Groups at college conferences in addition to to oldsters to start educating them in regards to the results of Lyme on college students. The LymeR PrimerTM (translated to Spanish in 2020) options 20 tick-borne illnesses, prevention, signs and tick identification. Finally rely, over 2.5 million academic gadgets have been distributed!
Pat has introduced oral and written testimony to help the passage of federal and state laws for Lyme analysis and doctor’s proper to deal with. (CT, MA, MD, MN, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI.) Click here for Pat’s Testimonies, Speeches & Positions
Pat has been given quite a few awards by varied organizations, and has had her articles revealed. Click here to view her list of publications
At all times pondering of youngsters and households, she labored with creator Amy Tan on creating LymeAid 4 Children (LA4K). This fund helped pay for prognosis and remedy for youngsters with Lyme and tick-borne illness and whose households have monetary difficulties. LymeAid 4 Children has, so far, awarded over $475,000.
Pat is now not with us, and the choice has been made to shut the LDA doorways in December. We’re working to maneuver a few of the LDA applications to different teams and organizations. We’ve determined to honor Pat by transferring possession of LymeAid 4 Children to the Colorado Tick-Borne Illness Consciousness Affiliation (COTBDAA), the group of longtime Lyme Advocate, Monica White.
Monica White has been a member of the LDA Affiliate Community for 8 years, working carefully with Pat. She has been a steadfast advocate for Lyme sufferers and households. We’re assured that she is going to run this program with the identical excessive requirements that Pat did. We’re thrilled that the identical volunteers who labored on this program will stay with it because it strikes to Monica’s group.
If you want to make a donation in Pat’s reminiscence, please go to COTBDAA’s web site and click on on LA4K within the drop-down menu. https://coloradoticks.org/donate/
Those that knew Pat understood that no matter she would undertake could be proper and simply. She by no means compromised her rules. If she discovered that one thing was not trustworthy or in pursuit of justice, she would stroll away. We may all rely on her having the best integrity and being an excellent thinker. Our requirements grew to become larger underneath Pat’s affect.
We’ll actually miss our beloved good friend, mentor and chief. We’ll carry her in our hearts and in our lives. Thanks Pat Smith for making the world a greater place.
There might be a Celebration of Life at Ely Funeral House, Neptune, NJ on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 12-3pm. Please check back here for updates and live stream option.
Warmly,
LDA Board of Administrators
Richard H. Smith, BA, Govt Vice President, Treasurer
Corey Lakin, AB, 2nd Vice President, Technical Help
Ruth Waddington, RN, Secretary
Jeannine Phillips, BA, Board Member
Timothy Lynagh, MBA, Board Member
Click here to submit Comments To Pat’s Family and/or LDA
Thanks for serving to us honor this wonderful lady. Pat Smith’s dedication and contributions to the Lyme Illness Affiliation Inc and the group are actually inspiring. She might be dearly missed, however her legacy will proceed to impression numerous lives.
