Eight-year-old Ben Kuhl of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was once an energetic preschooler who loved exploring nature. But four years ago, a tick bite on a family hike changed all that.

At the time, doctors told his parents that as long as Ben’s tick bite did not have a bull’s-eye on it, he would be fine. But it soon became evident Ben was not fine.

According to his mother, LeeAnn, by the time he was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease, it had spread to all of his organs, including his brain.

He is only able to talk on some days, his motor functions have worsened, and he has painful inflammation throughout his body.

“You mourn the life that he was supposed to have, so you mourn the parent that you were supposed to be,” LeeAnn said.

Click to watch this report from WBTW:

https://www.wbtw.com/video/myrtle-beach-parents-strive-to-help-son-with-lyme-disease/10908489