Denise was diagnosed with Morgellons in September of 2011. She later realized she had likely contracted Borrelia hermsii (Relapsing Fever) at a church camp in Montana in 1973. She does not recall any tick bites but assumes she contracted Lyme and Bartonella in California in the 1980’s. Like so many others with Morgellons, she had seen an extensive number of doctors looking for medical answers prior to her Morgellons diagnosis. Due to her worsening symptoms she was unable to continue her career in State Government Department of Transportation. Due to her own experience she understands what many others with Morgellons have to overcome and provides guidance.

Denise attended her first Morgellons conference in Austin, TX in 2014 and shortly after became a volunteer for the Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation (CEHMDF). In 2019 Denise was a presenter at the annual conference describing patient perspectives and helping to ease the panic many patients experience. Her own personal Morgellons experience and the vast knowledge she’s gained through years of Morgellons research publications, has equipped her to answer the daily email requests for information that come in through the website. She joined the CEHMDF Board of Directors in 2020 and continues to guide patients as they search for testing and treatment.

Originally from Montana, Denise currently resides in the Portland, Oregon area with her little dog, a Maltese named Ollie. In her spare time, Denise enjoys sewing, reading, gardening and the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest.