NEWFANE — Emily Bracale, author and artist of “In the Lyme-Light,” shares her life with Lyme disease in her book, and it speaks to all who have had similar contact with this illness.
After years of sickness, Bracale found she was a “poster child for Lyme disease” and began the mentally and physically exhausting process of treatment and recovery. A former teacher and artist, she used her painting and writing to express her feelings and ideas about the disease.
“Until recently, I , like many people, did not realize that Lyme disease could be so serious,” she said. “Aware or not, anyone who plays outside in nature, gardens, hikes or even sits out in grassy fields painting, as I often did, is a potential candidate for Lyme.”
Bracale has created 28 paintings and collages for the book. Each piece covers a different aspect of the disease, from the confusion before diagnosis to the disease's symptoms, such as fatigue, decreased concentration, memory disorders, muscle spasms, and sleep disorders.
The Crowell Gallery of Newfane's Moore Free Library is exhibiting the original paintings and collages for the month of June. Bracale said she is sharing her reflections on the disease to help educate people about the growing epidemic.
Copies of the book will be available at the library for $17.95. The exhibit is open during library hours: Tuesday-Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call the Library at 802-365-7948 or visit moorefreelibrary.org.