After a Tick Bite, a Fitness Influencer Experienced Symptoms Often Ignored – Now She’s Partially Paralyzed
Maria Palen: From Fitness to Fight — A Rare Illness Changed Everything. Maria Palen, a fitness influencer and chemical engineer, lived a life centered around health and wellness. But in early 2024, her body began showing unusual signs — fatigue, small aches, and unexplained weight loss. She assumed it was stress or overtraining, but her condition quickly worsened.
After months of tests, doctors diagnosed her with babesiosis, a rare tick-borne illness that attacks red blood cells and weakens the immune system. The infection was aggressive. By March, Maria was bedridden. By October, she was paralyzed from the waist down due to transverse myelitis — spinal cord inflammation triggered by the illness.
Though a 15-day antibiotic course cleared the infection, the damage had already been done. She lost her mobility, her apartment, and her financial independence.
With no income and medical bills piling up, Maria moved in with family in Texas and began intensive rehabilitation. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $12,000 to help cover her $50,000+ in medical expenses.
Despite the trauma, Maria shares her story online to raise awareness. From once running long distances to now celebrating small movements in physical therapy, she focuses on progress, no matter how slow. Her journey is a powerful reminder that even the healthiest bodies are vulnerable — and early detection can be life-saving.
