Surviving the Unsurvivable: Mary Lyn Hammer’s Decade-Long Battle with Lyme Disease

Send us Fan Mail "I actually feel like it [my upbringing] gave me a lot of strength that I might not have otherwise had, because I had to survive on my own and I had to figure out ways to survive." — Mary Lyn Hammer Mary Lyn Hammer shares her incredible transformation from an elite extreme skier to a medical detective fighting for her life against chronic Lyme disease. Learn the truth about biofilms, mother-to-child transmission, and how she found the path to recovery. Imagine being one of the top skiers in the world, only to wake up one day unable to walk up a flight of stairs. This was the reality for Mary Lyn Hammer, who spent the next decade fighting a "ghost" illness that threatened to take her life and her daughter’s. The Butte Montana Origin Story Mary Lyn shares her roots in Butte, Montana, and how an abusive upbringing ironically gave her the survival instincts needed for her health battle later in life. The Medical Detective & Biofilm Breakthrough Frustrated by a medical system that told her she would simply suffer and die, Mary Lyn became her own medical detective. She uncovered the role of biofilms and enzyme therapy—a breakthrough that led to her and her daughter's full recovery. The Narrative: This episode isn't just about illness; it’s about the fierce love of a mother and the relentless pursuit of truth. From student loan reform in Washington to the intricacies of chronic infection, Mary Lyn’s story is a masterclass in resilience. Key Timestamps & Moments of Gold 00:00 – Intro: The illness no one could identify. 01:41 – Origin Story: Growing up in Butte, Montana. 02:29 – The Extreme Athlete: Skiing with Warren Miller. 02:46 – The Crash: Losing the ability to walk at age 38. 10:30 – Protecting the Next Generation: Her daughter’s birth with Lyme. 25:44 – The Science of Recovery: Biofilms and Medical Detective work. 55:01 – Champion for Life: Turning tragedy into a mission for others. Guest Contact Info: Mary Lyn Hammer (Personal): FB: facebook.com/8hmr1tym8 IG: @hmr_tym Champion for Life: FB: facebook.com/champion4life2 IG: @champion.forlife Site: Championforlife.com The Lyme Crusher: FB (Group): facebook.com/groups/lymecrusher Site: Support the show THE NOT-SO-FINE-PRINT DISCLAIMER: While we are very thankful for all of our guests, please understand that we do not necessarily share or endorse the same beliefs, worldviews, or positions that they may hold. We respectfully agree to disagree in some areas, and thank God for the blessing and privilege of free will. For more Remarkable Episodes, Inspiration, and Motivation, please visit now!

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Surviving the Unsurvivable: Mary Lyn Hammer’s Decade-Long Battle with Lyme Disease is an episode from Remarkable People Podcast by David Pasqualone.

This episode is 71:52 long.

This episode was published on Apr 8, 2026.

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