Dorothy Kupcha Leland

Dorothy Kupcha Leland wrote four books related to California history before her life changed dramatically. Out of the blue, her then-13-year-old daughter became disabled by a mysterious health condition that turned out to be chronic Lyme disease. Leland and her family found themselves in a huge medical controversy and had to battle a system that denied her daughter’s illness. It took years, but once Rachel’s health improved, Leland started writing and speaking on behalf of Lyme patients. She is currently president of a national advocacy organization. She has co-authored two books about Lyme disease. The first one, When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide, she wrote with psychotherapist Sandra Berenbaum, LCSW. She wrote the newest one with her daughter, basing it on the journal Rachel kept during her illness. “Finding Resilience: A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease” tells the parallel story of mother and daughter--and what they learned along the way.