Family of man whose life was ruined by a tick bite share stark health warning
The family of a man who has spent six years fighting for his life after being bitten by a tick near Essington Pools have warned everyone to take bites seriously.
Stephen Raynor, 63, was a successful, married company managing director when he was bitten but is now a shadow of his former self, losing his voice, five stone, mobility and marriage, and now requires round-the-clock care from his older sister.
The father-of-one was bitten on the back of the leg while walking his dog around Essington Pools in the summer of 2017 and although he took antibiotics afterwards did not realise the tick had given him Lyme disease.
Stephen and his family battled to get a diagnosis of Lyme disease from the NHS but was forced to pay for private care and enlisted the help of medical experts in Germany to help him stay alive.
Due to being undiagnosed for months Lyme disease took hold in Stephen. After developing a lump in his mouth he was passed between doctors and dentists, which meant it was untreated when it burst in 2018 and wrecked his vocal cords.
Losing his voice, mobility and ravaged by headaches, Stephen lost his managing director job and his marriage broke down due to the pressure of his care needs on his wife.
