Grieving Dad Makes Moving Tribute to Daughter Who Died by Suicide After Lyme Disease Battle: "She Was So Courageous"

Trigger Warning: The following content includes descriptions of suicide which may be distressing for some readers.

A Canadian woman suffering from chronic Lyme illness died by suicide, "to free herself from the unbearable pain." Her father, Alain Champagne, CEO of Le Groupe Maurice in Canada, announced her death in a LinkedIn post, per New York Post. He wrote earlier this month, "It is with the heaviest of hearts (and still in shock) that I share the tragic news that our sweetheart Amelie (22) took her own life this past Sunday." 

He added, "We were witnesses as to how challenging life had become for her in dealing with the evolving Lyme disease symptoms." He further mentioned that despite several medical treatments, "the disease had evolved way beyond the numerous physical symptoms and was now severely impacting her brain." According to Mayo Clinic, "Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected black-legged tick, commonly known as a deer tick." It is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. 

Early symptoms of the disease include rashes, fever, child, and headaches. The disease, if left untreated, leads to Erythema migrans, Joint pain, and neurological problems. Alain said that "over time, Lyme essentially highjacked" Amelie but she was, "so courageous throughout this ordeal." She had suffered from the disease for years but only received the diagnosis this year in June. Despite his daughter's condition, the father applauded Amelie's influence on people she encountered. He wrote, "For those that had the opportunity to cross her path, Amelie left a long-lasting impression through her engaging and empathetic personality." 

He said that despite dealing with the disease she, "persevered through university, kept working at a respite center for handicapped kids, was starting to volunteer at a homeless shelter near our place." He added that Amelie, "remained ever the vibrant/fun-loving friend and member of our family."

"The resilience and continued optimism she displayed while dealing with the ever-increasing symptoms was and remain my main source of inspiration." Her father said, "We are confident she is now in peace and that her spirit is shining bright upon the large number of people she touched over her short stay with us." He concluded his post by writing, "Despite the fact that every breath and every moment is painful at this stage, in her honor we will try to keep living our lives with the same altitude she lived hers. A long road lies in front of us (every day)…We are hopeful that Amelie is now in a position to help guide and support us through it."

"We will love you forever, and cherish every memory of our wonderful time together. You made us all better people. It’s now up to us to rise up to the challenge…"

References:

https://nypost.com/2022/09/26/woman-dies-by-suicide-after-battle-with-lyme-disease/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374651

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alain-champagne-02b03a12_to-my-linkedin-community-while-i-never-activity-6976178718503272448-A7su/

Cover Image Source: Alan Champagne/LinkedIn