AUGUSTA – About 40 people testified Tuesday before the Legislature’s Insurance and Financial Services Committee regarding a bill to treat, insure and prevent Lyme disease.

Here are excerpts from written testimonies:

Nathan Fitzpatrick, 11, of Rumford said his entire family has Lyme disease. He said he had it since birth, passed down from his mom, Lynn. He wasn’t diagnosed until he was 8.

“I think it may be harder for a child in school who knows they have Lyme than it is with someone who doesn’t know they have Lyme because they are worried what may happen to them.

“I was born with Lyme and I know how it feels, doctors and school teachers or nurses telling you you’re fine when you have strep throat, ear infections and high fevers. . . .I tire much more easy than any other child I know without Lyme.

“My body aches often, and I just don’t feel well. I lose my breath and don’t get it back fast at all. I don’t have it in my brain yet, because my mom has brought me to Lyme specialists. I hope it stays that way. I want to be cured and I know others do too. Please help all of us through proper education,” he said.

Alana Kelley, 17, and her sister Amanda, 15, of Wells also come from a family affected by the disease.

Alana wrote:

“I was diagnosed with Lyme disease about a year ago, but the doctors didn’t want to test me because I had very few symptoms. It started with headaches everyday, progressing to chest pain and joint problems. I saw a primary care doctor, an orthopedic doctor, a heart specialist and an eye doctor. No one offered a solution to my problems except my eye doctor, who suggested I be tested for Lyme disease because she had family members with it.

“With the history of Lyme disease in my family, I was finally tested and it came back positive. Thankfully, my mother knew to have me tested out of the state of Maine because of our experience with bad testing here. After seeing a doctor that understood the disease, I was treated and am doing much better.”

Amanda wrote:

“I have had Lyme disease since I was young. I am only 15 now, but years ago I was sick, and it hasn’t changed much. To be able to get the medicine we need without the stress would be amazing. We could focus on trying to heal ourselves rather then worrying about getting money or whether or not we can keep our house. We should be able to live our lives as best we can without the worry of getting sicker because no one would help us.”