The Hudson Family

For the first part of my journey with Lyme and co-infections, I left each doctor’s appointment in tears. Tears of frustration, fear, and helplessness. I went to the Stram Center hoping for a better path. I also finished each appointment with Dr. Stram in tears – and it wasn’t because of his bad jokes – they were tears of hope and tears of pure happiness.....

To Dr. Stram & Staff:

For the first part of my journey with Lyme and co-infections, I left each doctor’s appointment in tears. Tears of frustration, fear, and helplessness. I went to the Stram Center hoping for a better path. I also finished each appointment with Dr. Stram in tears – and it wasn’t because of his bad jokes – they were tears of hope and tears of pure happiness.

When my husband and I entered the doors at the Stram Center for the first time, we didn’t think a “normal” life would ever be possible again. In our minds, Lyme and all its fun friends would forever be a part of our new normal. This past summer, we walked through those doors again – this time with our three kids – better than normal. Not only is Lyme not a part of my life anymore, but I feel better than I did before getting sick.

There is such a comfort in knowing that we have Dr. Stram in our corner. His expertise has guided us now through so much more than Lyme Disease. He’s our health guru and is constantly helping us get to the root cause of what might be making us feel anything less than perfect. There is no greater gift as parents than knowing our family’s health is in the very best hands.

What we’ve learned over the years is that the reason Dr. Stram can be the doctor he is happens because of the team with which he’s surrounded himself. They allow him to be able to be continually learning and staying at the forefront of the modalities that keep his patients feeling their very best. I think they even laugh at his jokes too!

Dr. Stram and staff – you not only saved my life but made it better than I ever imagined possible. The care you give our entire family is priceless and to this day makes me cry tears of happiness and hope. “Thank you” will never be enough.

With so much love and appreciation,

Jess and the entire Hudson family

Shyra

It was the fall of 2021 when a devastating disease effectively took over my life.  I had just started a college nursing program.  I was elated to have finally gotten a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream.  My young children were one (Gabbie) and four (Callie).  I was a full-time mom, wife, and now a fulltime nursing student.  I was ready for the tough journey ahead, although my journey would transition quickly from a lifelong dream to fighting a debilitating disease. 

Shortly after I had given birth to our second daughter Gabbie in 2020, I had fallen ill.  My pregnancy and her birth were anything but normal.  I ended up needing a cesarean and a hysterectomy at the time of delivery.  The recovery was long and exhausting, but I managed to get back on my feet. As time carried on, I learned to live with a multitude of symptoms which I mostly thought were residual pregnancy and delivery related.  I had a lot of unexplained joint pain, fatigue, and insomnia.  I saw multiple doctors and they could not come up with a definitive diagnosis.  There were no answers, and I quickly became frustrated.  I knew my own body and knew something was seriously wrong.   The best advocate in health care is yourself, but I questioned my advocacy as I felt dismissed, unheard, alone, and frustrated after every doctor’s appointment. A lot of physicians told me my symptoms were residual due to the trauma and birth of my daughter, but it had been months since her birth.  With each passing day my symptoms seemed to worsen, and new symptoms were arising.    

A few of these symptoms included hair loss, sore muscles, muscle weakness, joint pain primarily hips and knees, hot and cold intolerance, runny nose, fatigue, insomnia, sensitivity to light, chills (without fever), chronic headaches, brain fog and the inability to smell certain foods and products.  This is just a few symptoms I was experiencing. I finally made an appointment with my primary doctor who decided to test me for Lyme Disease, even though I did not remember removing or being bitten by a tick.  Long story short, I was tested for the Lyme Disease seven times by several different doctors.  Toward the end of my first semester in college my joint pain, muscle pain and fatigue became debilitating, affecting my daily life and tasks.   

Finally, an answer!  A nurse called me to tell me my Lyme antibody was positive.  I was overwhelmed with emotion as I had finally gotten an answer.  I was treated with a twenty-one-day course of an antibiotic known as Doxycycline.  The brain fog seemed to subside, and my symptoms seemed to lessen, but shortly after I had finished the antibiotic, I had fallen sick again.  This time my symptoms seemed to have come back with a vengeance.  I knew I needed help but, wasn’t sure where to go.  I reached out to a friend later that evening.  I remembered her son had been treated for Lyme Disease at a facility near Delmar, New York.  I told her a bit of what I was going through and how I was feeling, this when she told me about The Stram Center.   

By the time I had finally heard about the Stram Center I had withdrawn from the College Nursing program and had given up a per-diem job at a local health center.  All the energy I could muster in a day was needed to take care of my children.  I could barely walk after sitting for any length of time.  I was extremely fatigued no matter how much sleep I thought I was getting.  Taking care of my children and daily tasks had become overwhelming.  I remember waking one morning, thinking “How am I going to get through the day feeling like this?”  My husband worked full-time, so I knew he could only help during evening hours.  I was in a very dark place mentally and physically wondering and wishing if I would ever get the help I so desperately needed.   

My journey continues at Stram.  Consultation day, I remember my first appointment at The Stram Center, I was nervous, overwhelmed, and a bit skeptical if the facility could help me.  The Nurse Practitioner I saw that day was amazing, she really listened to me and for the first time in a very long time, I felt understood and heard.  We consulted about a plan for over an hour and a half.  I had fifteen vials drawn that day; this was to gather as much information as possibly to come up with a proper treatment plan.  My doctor had explained that getting to the root of the disease was most important for my healing journey to properly begin.  My blood work came back positive for several Lyme bands, Bartonella, and Anaplasmosis, which are co-infections that ticks carry.  Treatment started with oral antibiotics, for several months.  Nutrition, supplements, and probiotics also became important components and part of my daily treatment routine. I still suffered from fatigue, joint pain, and muscle soreness, my quality of life had improved, but I was still testing positive for Lyme Disease and coinfections.  The disease had gone undiagnosed and mistreated for so long I ended up needing a PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Line).  This line is used for long term intravenous antibiotics, medication, nutrition, blood draws and hydration.  Once my PICC line was placed, I started home IV antibiotic administration.  I had days I felt like giving up, but I knew had to fight for my children who so desperately needed their mom and my husband who needed his wife.    

After a few months of home IV antibiotic administration, I noticed I was having a couple of days where I wasn’t experiencing symptoms.  Those days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months.  I am happy to say that today, I am in remission, and I am symptom free!  The treatment was challenging and everyday was a fight, but it was a fight from the beginning I knew I wasn’t going to give up on.  With the love and support from my family and the reassurance and quality care from Dr Stram and his staff, my journey to health was a success.     

I am forever grateful for Dr Stram, Heather Haslun, DNP, FNP, and the Stram team for giving me the gift of health and my life back.  Thank you, Dr Stram and Heather for guiding me through my Lyme Disease battle. “Stars cannot shine without darkness”- and for me that darkness was Lyme Disease, and the light was The Stram Center.     

 

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly,  

but rarely admit the changes it has gone-  

through to achieve that beauty.” 

~Maya Angelou   

 

Hunter B

After months and months of debilitating neurological and physical symptoms, countless visits to the hospital and the ER, and feeling like I was dying/going crazy, I became my own health advocate, did research, and knew that I had Lyme disease and most likely one or more co-infections. Tens and tens of panels of bloodwork, urinalysis, and even a spinal tap I was left with 0 answers and doctors continuing to dismiss me. I begged my mom to make me an appointment with Dr. Stram.....

 and after watching me suffer for so many months, she felt as if she had no other choice but to believe me and hold onto the hope that this doctor could help us. 3 weeks later, I had my first appointment with Dr. Stram. He took his time with me and listened to everything I said intently. I gave 18 vials of blood, and 3 weeks later it was concluded that I had been suffering from Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma and Ehrlichia. I have been on oral treatment for about 6 months now and have improved significantly. I am definitely not out of the woods yet, and many days are still spent extremely symptomatic, but I find solace in knowing that this wonderful man and his clinic will do everything they can to get me back to a fully functional level. Dr. Stram is one of my favorite people ever and I am so grateful for him and his staff who always make me feel at home, comforted and cared about. I would recommend anybody who is even remotely symptomatic that could point towards Lyme to see Stram; he will take good care of you and the expenses are worth it. He has helped thousands of people from all around the world and I will never have anything but positive things to say about the Stram Center. Onwards and upwards!!!

A Generous Donor Gives a Patient Hope After Coming to the Stram Center

Last year, Spectrum News 1 introduced viewers and readers to Delaney Parker, a new author whose debut novel was based on her own, very painful experience living with multiple sclerosis. An anonymous donor saw the story and offered to pay for Parker to undergo advanced treatments at the Stram Center for Integrative Medicine


Listen to this beautiful story of hope and healing.

Jennifer V

Dear Dr. Stram and his wonderful team of helpers,
Jim and I want to take this special holiday time to let you all know how much we appreciate everything   you guys have done for us.  Not only did all Jim's lyme disease and other co-occurring illnesses disappear, but also he experienced great healing from his traumatic brain injury of 30+ years ago. Jim is a new man now. I have my wonderful husband back. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the amazing healing you offer the world.
With deep gratitude,
Jennifer and Jim V

Angela and Patrick

Dear Dr. DiRoma, 

Thank you so much for everything. Another year of treatment has come and gone, a year of ups and downs, hurdles and struggle, revelations and more and through it all we've been beyond thankful for the patience, care, compassion and support we've received from you. 

You've truly saved me from the worst of a serious and severe amount of pain and debilitation in so many ways and situations. You've  given us hope and a pathway  to healing and life in spite of the limitations of the Lyme journey. Thank you for never giving up. Thank you for walking through the storm with us. I know I express thanks every year, but life on this earth is precious and short, and people who truly care to partner in safeguarding the quality of that life as you do are rare, and deserve to have the words of gratitude and appreciation. I'm not sure what my health journey will look like in the coming year, but we're both very thankful to have you at the helm watching over and supporting the best life. Thank you so much for all that you do and have done for us and so many people. We hope you have a wonderful  Christmas and holiday season and New Year. May God bless you and keep you and everyone here at the Stram Center. 

Love, 
Angela and Patrick

Tia

Dr Stram is like no other doctor I have met. And I’ve seen MANY

Dr Stram and his team have been a Godsend. I truly thought I was facing death when I went to my first appointment. Lyme Disease had attacked my body for almost a year, focusing on my heart. I had been in the hospital with abnormalities, and Dr Stram took that very seriously. He addressed the heart issues immediately. I am currently 12 weeks into treatment and having normal EKGs thanks to him. Many of my other symptoms have been minimized greatly. Dr Stram is like no other doctor I have met. And I’ve seen MANY. He sincerely cares, takes his time, addresses all questions I have, I never feel rushed, and he’s truly compassionate and giving. Between him and his staff, I never feel pushed off or like I’m a burden. I have many questions often and I never have to wait long for a response. I could go on for days about how I highly recommend Dr Stram and his staff. The team is highly equipped with many different services to help with detoxing and self care. Massage, acupuncture, HBOT, Sauna, and so much more. Thank you will never cover my gratitude. But thank you to the team at the Stram Center.

Sarah

The Stram Center team is grateful to have had an impact on Sarah’s young life and her family and bring hope to others who suffer from tick borne illnesses. Healing can happen. Listen to Sarah’s story.

Lisa Boley

We feel fortunate every day and we recommend Stram Center to everyone who comes to us with questions.

This review is long overdue. In the winter of 2014, my husband and I found ourselves getting sick every month for no apparent reason. We dismissed it due to wedding planning but then right after our wedding in early 2015, both of our bodies shut down and we were suddenly, severely sick. We spent the next year and a half visiting doctors and specialists with a couple trips to the emergency room. We endured scares of cancer, MS, Mono, Chikungunya virus, Typhus, MRIs of every major organ, the brain, and spine, countless amounts of blood work along with a painful spinal tap. We were checked for Lyme three times by our doctors but results came back inconclusive. Neither of us ever even had a rash! Eventually we were told, "We don't know what's wrong with you, wait and see what happens." We were so sick that we couldn't get up to get a drink of water without exhaustion or fully explain what was wrong due to impaired/delayed cognitive function, just to name a couple symptoms. We had no quality of life and thought we would never get better. Our doctors advised against going to Stram Center but we were fed up and desperately needed help. We went to Stram Center in Delmar, in the summer of 2016 and we are forever grateful we did!  who tested us and began treatment immediately. Treatment was intense but we followed protocols exactly as instructed and started feeling better within weeks!! We continued treatment as advised and I'm happy to say that I completely finished treatment by October 2016 and my husband finished this past March. We are both in complete remission without major symptoms. We have our lives back! We feel fortunate every day and we recommend Stram Center to everyone who comes to us with questions. Everyone we met at Stram Center in Delmar was not only very helpful but they were the most compassionate and patient people with us during the hardest time of our lives. Thank you so-so-so- much Stram Center!!

Beth Rye

Beth has come all the way from England for long term treatment at the Stram Center. She became like family to us and here is what she has to say:

Dear Ron (Dr. Stram): Thank you for being the doctor who has finally worked out what is wrong with me. This has been the hardest few years of my life but finding you and your amazing clinic has helped me find the positives. Thank you for giving me the hope of getting better. Thank you for the amazing staff at your clinic- I have been completely blown away by the incredible level of knowledge and support. I've been given the strength to not give up. Staff and patients have inspired me to keep going through the hardest of days. I know I have a long way to go but I couldn't feel in safer hands and I am so thankful my journey led me to you. You are such a special, unique clinic that provides a perfect healing environment. the world needs more Stram clinics! So from the bottom of my hear, thank you for everything.
To all the amazing nurses at the Stram Center: I really can't thank you all enough for what you have done for me! You have given me strength to keep fighting through some of my hardest days. You highlight perfectly what being a nurse is all about and I will be very happy if I can help people in the way you all do! Thank you all for sharing your incredible knowledge and kindness to help me on my healing journey.

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