>>> TONIGHT, OUR LISTENING IN SERIES IS BACK WITH MAYOR ADAMS IN THE HOT SEAT, GETTING GRILLED BY ONE OF NEW YORK'S FORMER TOP PROSECUTORS ON HIS TAXES, HISSING AND SO MUCH MORE.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS," WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

TONIGHT WE REPREMIER OUR LISTENING IN SERIES, KICKING OFF WITH A MUST-SEE CONVERSATION FEATURING NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.

HIS HONOR RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH PREET BHARARA, THE LEGAL SCHOLAR AND FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR NEW YORK'S SOUTHERN DISTRICT, WHO IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS HARDLINE APPROACH TO FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN ALBANY AND ON WALL STREET.

HE WAS FIRED BY DONALD TRUMP THREE MONTHS INTO HIS PRESIDENCY.

THEIR SITDOWN AT COOPER UNION COLLEGE TACKLED ALL OF THE LATEST CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE MAYOR, FROM RELEASING HIS TAXES TO BROKEN POLICING AND REMOVING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND A POSSIBLE WHITE HOUSE RUN.

FEATURED AS PART OF BHARARA'S PODCAST IT WAS PART OF THE JOHN J. IZLEEN -- LET'S LISTEN IN.

>> HOW MUCH ATTENTION TO YOU PAY TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

HOW MUCH ARE YOU MANAGING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

HOW INDEPENDENT IS THE POLICE COMMISSIONER FROM THE MAYOR?

>> SHE -- IF YOU KNEW THE COMMISSIONER YOU SHOULD HAVE HER ON ONE DAY.

>> WOULD SHE COME?

>> YES, SHE WOULD.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU RUN HER.

SHE IS ONE TOUGH, TOUGH COOKIE.

YOU KNOW THAT?

BUT HERE'S THE IMPORTANT THING -- I'M THE LEADER OF THE CITY, AND GENERALS SHOULD LEAD FROM THE FRONT.

THEY SHOULDN'T LEAD FROM THE REAR.

I'M NOT GOING TO SEND MY COMMISSIONERS, MY DEPUTY MAYORS INTO BATTLE AND SAY, HOW WAS THE WAR?

I'M GOING LEAD THEM INTO THE WAR AND FIGHT THE BATTLE.

AND AS A FORMER -- I'M THE ONLY MAYOR IN THE MYSTERY THAT WAS A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

TRADITIONALLY THE MAYOR S HAD T TURN OVER PUBLIC SAFETY TO THE POLICE COMMISSIONER AND TAKE A STEP BACK.

>> RUDY GIULIANI WAS NOT A COP.

HE WAS AN ATTORNEY, BUT THAT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING.

>> AND IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT, WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

>> HE WAS.

>> IT IS APPARENT THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE DEVELOPED IS TO REALLY BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF EACH OTHER, AND SHE IS A PERSON THAT DOES NOT COME WITH AN EGO.

SHE'S ABOUT, HOW DO I MAKE THE CITY SAFE?

THAT IS HER ONLY FOCUS, AND SHE'S DOING AN AMAZING JOB ACCOMPLISHING THAT, AND WARRIOR GOING TO TURN AROUND THIS CRIME.

>> SO, A LOT OF BAD THINGS HAPPENED WITH RESPECT TO CRIME IN THE CITY SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN MAYOR.

IN YOUR THIRD WEEK, TWO YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOT TO DEATH.

ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS YOU CAN SEE.

JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THERE WAS A SUBWAY SHOOTER WHO BROUGHT TO MIND AWFUL TERRORIST ATTACKS.

THE CRIME STATISTICS ARE NOT GOOD.

CRIME HAS GONE UP.

THERE'S A FLURRY OF HATE CRIMES HAPPENING IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, AND IN THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST HERE, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION ABOUT THAT IS, WHAT MATTERS IS NOT JUST WHETHER CRIME IS INCREASING BUT THE PERCEPTION OF WHETHER CRIME IS INCREASING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PERCEPTION IS OF NEW YORKERS ABOUT THAT?

AND DOES IT MATCH REALITY?

>> YES.

WHEN YOU SEE THE INCREASE IN CRIME, THOSE ARE REAL NUMBERS.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT TWO THINGS.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE PERCEPTION, BECAUSE PERCEPTION IS REALITY, AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF THE CRIME.

>> DO YOU THINK THOSE ARE ALIGNED OR ARE THERE PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATING OR OVERESTIMATING CRIME IN THE CITY AT THE MOMENT?

>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION.

YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, READ THE PAPER AND HEAR ABOUT SOMEONE HIT IN THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER WHILE ENTERING THE SUBWAY STATION.

THEN YOU ENTER THE STATION AND SEE ENCAMPMENTS, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, YELLING AND SCREAMING, DIRT AND TRASH.

NOW WHAT YOU READ TURNS INTO YOUR REALITY.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A VICTIM OF A CRIME, YOU ARE SAYING, I SEE A STATE OF DISORDER.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ACTUAL CRIME AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO ARE SEEING CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO YOU FEELING UNSAFE.

THAT'S WHY WE WENT INTO REMOVING THE ENCAMPMENTS ON OUR SUBWAY SYSTEM.

>> SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

FOR YOU AS A MAYOR AND WERE YOUR POLICE COMMISSIONER, IS THE WAY TO ATTACK THE ACTUAL PROBLEM OF CRIME AND PERCEPTION OF CRIME TO GO AFTER ACTUAL CRIME, OR ARE THERE THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT ARE DIFFERENT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR PERCEPTION?

>> COMBINATION.

I USE THE TERM INTERVENTION, PREVENTION.

INTERVENTION ARE THE LONG-TERM THINGS WEIR GOING TO DO.

PREVENTION IS RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE PEOPLE SLEEPING ON OUR SUBWAY SYSTEM.

THAT WAS AN INDICTMENT ON US.

THERE'S NOTHING DIGNIFIED ABOUT LIVING IN THOSE CONDITIONS.

WE MUST REMOVE THE ENCAMPMENTS.

>> ARE THOSE PEOPLE ENGAGING IN CRIME, OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE UNHOUSED?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD ASK THE GOLD FAMILY.

IT'S AN UNHOUSED PERSON WITH MENTAL ILLNESS THAT PUSHED HER TO THE SUBWAY TRACKS.

THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, NO ONE IS GIVING THEM THE MENTAL HEALTH THEY DESERVE.

I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL MS. GOH IS PUSHED TO THE TRACKS.

I'M GOING GIVE PEOPLE THE HELP THEY DESERVE.

WHEN WE STARTED DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ONLY 22 PEOPLE IN THE FIRST WEEK RESPONDED TO OUR CALL.

NOW WE HAVE 700 PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE BUILT TRUST.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO KCRITICIZE YOU AND SAY, REALLY WHAT MAYOR ADAMS HAS DONE IS TO GET THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WITHOUT HOMES OUT OF SIGHT RATHER THAN GET THEM HELP?

>> I THINK IT'S TO THE CONTRARY.

I THINK THEY SHOULD DO WHAT NORMAN SIEGEL IS GOING.

HE'S PUTTING TOGETHER A VOLUNTEER GROUP OF 100 DIFFERENT NEW YORKERS THAT ARE WILLING TO GO IN THE STREET AND SPEAK WITH PEOPLE.

BEFORE I STARTED THIS INITIATIVE, I SPENT WEEKS GOING INSIDE ENCAMPMENTS, TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS.

I SAW HUMAN WASTE IN THE CORNER.

>> WHEN YOU WENT -- >> I SAW PEOPLE USING DRUG P PARAPH PARAPHERNALIA.

>> WHAT DID THEY SAY TO YOU?

>> THEY SAID THEY WERE AFRAID TO GO INTO SHELTERS.

THEY SAID THEY'D RATHER BE ON THE STREET.

>> ARE THEY RIGHT TO BE AFRAID OF SHELTERS?

>> THEY'RE NOT RIGHT.

>> SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT.

>> LISTEN, NEW YORK, 38 MILLION PEOPLE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

BUT ONE MAYOR THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION.

SO WHAT DID I DO?

I TOLD MY TEAM AFTER HEARING FROM THOSE PEOPLE, I SAID, LET'S MAKE BROCHURES AND SHOW THEM WHAT THEY'RE MOVING INTO.

WE WENT OUT WITH BROCHURES AND THEY LOOKED AT THEM AND SAW THE CONDITIONS.

THAT'S HOW WE WENT FROM 22 TO 700.

>> I'VE SEEN BROCHURES OF HOTELS THAT I'VE GONE TO AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT.

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

BUT PEOPLE WERE HOLDING ON TO THE CONDITIONS OF WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE SHELTERS WERE.

AND NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL ME THAT LIVING ON THE STREET IN A TENT WITH NO BATHROOMS, NO SHOWERS, NO MEALS, NO ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, NO ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE, NO ONE IS GOING TO CONVINCE ME THAT IS MORE DIGNIFIED THAN SOME PLACE THAT HAS THREE MEALS, ACCESS TO SHOWER, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN MY ADMINISTRATION.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> IS BROKEN WINDOWS POLICING GOOD IN YOUR VIEW?

AND IS IT BACK?

>> IT'S BAD WHEN IT'S ABUSED, AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT OF BROKEN WINDOW POLICING.

>> BUT YOU DO BELIEVE IN THE COB SEPTEMBER OF -- I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON WHAT LABEL YOU GIVE IT -- IN QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENT.

>> AND HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

MS. JONES IS WAITING ON THE STORE GETTING READY TO TAKE HER HARD-EARNED MONEY AND BUY HER SOME SHAMPOO.

SOME OTHER CHARACTER COMES IN WITH A BAG AND DECIDE HE'S GOING STEAL EVERYTHING OFF THE SHELF AND WALK OUT WITHOUT PAYING.

NO.

IT'S COST MONEY!

BECAUSE IF DWAYNE REED SAYS TO ME, I'M CLOSING DOWN MY STORES HERE BECAUSE EVERY DAY SOMEONE IS COMING IN AND STEALING WHATEVER THEY WANT AND WALK OUT, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?

THAT LOW WAGE CLERK IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED.

THAT PERSON STOPPING THE SHELVES IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED.

I'M NOT CRITICIZING ANYONE BY SAYING YOU CANNOT DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IN THIS CITY AND DISRESPECT OTHER PEOPLE.

SO I'M SAYING THERE'S A STANDARD OF RESPECT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HEAVY HAND IN THE POLICING TO GET THERE.

>> THIS IS NOT A GOTCHA, BUT IF I DON'T ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS I'LL BE -- ONE MORE THING AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

WHEN YOUR TAX RETURNS ARE AVAILABLE -- [ LAUGHTER ] HOW CAN I NOT ASK THE QUESTION -- WHEN YOUR TAX RETURNS.

I KNOW YOU GOT AN EXTENSION.

YOU GOT COVID.

YOU RECOVERED.

YOU LOOK GREAT.

WHEN YOUR TAX RETURNS ARE FILED, WILL YOU DISCLOSE THEM TO THE PUBLIC LIKE MOST MAYORS HAVE DONE?

>> YES.

>> IS THAT A YES?

>> HERE'S THE -- >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

>> I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.

HERE'S WHAT I WAS SAYING TO THE ARROGANCE OF THE REPORTER THAT ASK A QUESTION AND HOW HE ASKED IT.

WATCH HOW HE ASKED THE QUESTION.

AND THE CITY -- >> DID I ASK IT ARROGANTLY?

>> NO, YOU DIDN'T.

YOU WERE POLITE.

>> THE CITY GAVE CLEAR RULES -- THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE TRANSPARENT.

THEY GAVE US THE RULES.

MY COIB REPORT, MY FILINGS, THEY TOLD US WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

I COMPLY EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR.

SO WHEN YOU ARROGANTLY COME TO ME, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DISRESPECT ME, AND ASK ME A QUESTION LIKE I GOT TO ANSWER YOU YES OR NO, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET?

YOU'RE GOING TO GET A NO.

>> YOU WANT ME TO TEACH THAT REPORTER HOW TO ASK THE QUESTION PROPERLY?

>> YES, YOU SHOULD.

I PAY A LOT OF TAXES AND NEW YORK IS GOING SEE HOW MUCH I PAID.

>> SO DO I.

GOOD.

THE LAST THREE MAYORS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, WHATEVER YOU THINK OF THEM, THEY ALL HAD ONE THING IN COMMON -- RUDY GIULIANI, MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, BILL DE BLASIO, THEY ALL RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND I THINK THEY WERE LIKE THE WORST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES EVER.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> LIKE, THEY -- THEY SUCKED SO BAD.

AND DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, BLOOMBERG, WHATEVER PARTY HE WAS FROM -- I THINK THEY GOT A TOTAL IN THREE ELECTIONS OF LIKE NINE VOTES.

SO MY FINAL QUESTION TO YOU, SIR, ON THIS IMPORTANT DAY -- IS IT IN THE CITY CHARTER THAT YOU MUST RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

AND ARE YOU COMPETITIVE ENOUGH THAT YOU WANT TO GET, LIKE, 11 VOTES?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU WITH RESPECT TO NATIONAL POLITICS AND THE PRESIDENCY?

AND I KNOW YOU WILL DODGE IT, BUT I HAD TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

>> NO DODGING.

YOU CAN RUN AN AMERICA FROM NEW YORK.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU WERE PREPARED FOR THAT.

YOU WERE PREPARED FOR THAT.

IS THAT ALL YOU WANT TO SAY?

>> YES.

>> THAT'S IT?

>> NEW YORK -- LISTEN, THIS PLACE, I DON'T THINK NEW YORKERS REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE MEAN TO THE ENTIRE GLOBE.

THE WAY GOES NEW YORK GOES AMERICA.

THE WAY GOES AMERICA GOES THE GLOBE.

AND WHAT WE DO HERE IMPACTS OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY.

YOU CAN RUN AMERICA FROM NEW YORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHERE TO LISTEN TO PREET BHARARA'S FULL INTERVIEW AND MAYOR ADAMS AND THE STAY TUNED PREET BROADCAST, VISIT US AT METRO FOCUS.ORG.

AND BE SURE TO STAY TUNED FOR MORE OF OUR LISTENING IN SERIES AND POWERFUL CONVERSATIONS FEATURING NEW YORK'S NEWSMAKERS.

>>> IMAGINE.

IF EVERY DAY YOU THOUGHT YOUR LEGS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF FROM THE AMOUNT OF PAIN RUNNING THROUGH THEM.

AG IMAGE IF YOU STARTED BLACKING OUT AT VARIOUS PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

>> THAT WAS ALLEY HILFIGER, THE DAUGHTER OF RENOWNED FASHION DESIGNER TOMMY HILFIGER REVEALING THE EXCRUCIATING PAIN SHE FELT FOR YEARS WHILE BATTLING LIME DISEASE.

HER ORDEAL BEGAN AT THE AGE OF 7 WHEN SHE WAS BITTEN BY A TICK.

HER TEST LYME DISEASE WAS UNCONCLUSIVE.

ALONG WITH THE UNBEARABLE PAIN, YEARS OF MISDIAGNOSIS FOLLOWED.

FIRST, GROWING PAINS.

THEN AT 11 IT WAS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS OR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

WHEN SHE WAS 19, HER DESPERATE FATHER CONVINCED HER PROBLEMS STEMMED FROM A MARIJUANA HABIT HAD HER COMMITTED TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

IT WAS ONLY AFTER SHE LEFT THE HOSPITAL SHE WAS CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED.

HILFIGER IS TELLING THE STORY OF HER LONG STRUGGLE IN HER NEW BOOK CALLED "BITE ME".

ALLEY HILFIGER JOINS ME NOW.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS A WONDERFUL BOOK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S REALLY RIVETING AND HA HARROWING, BUT ALSO FUNNY.

YOU HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR BETWEEN ALL THE PAIN.

WHEN YOUR MOTHER FIRST SAW THAT LITTLE TICK ON YOUR BELLY WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE KID, ABOUT 7, SHE DID EVERYTHING SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DID, PLUCKED IT OFF WITH STERILIZED TWEEZERS, PUT KNIT A TEST TUBE, BROUGHT IT FOR TESTING BUT IT CAME BACK INCONCLUSIVE ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM.

HOW COULD THAT BE SINCE YOU DID CONTRACT LYME DISEASE?

HOW COULD THEY MAKE THAT MISTAKE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, MY STORY IS LIKE MANY OTHERS IN THAT MANY PEOPLE'S BLOOD TESTS COME BACK WITH INCONCLUSIVES OR FALSE NEGATIVES.

SOME FALSE POSITIVES BUT MOST FALSE NEGATIVES.

WE HAVE ARCHAIC TESTING AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

>> STILL?

>> YEAH, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO DIAGNOSE AND TEST.

>> GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW YOUR HEALTH BEGAN TO DEE TERIORATE, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU MEANT WILL I AND PHYSICALLY AND HOW THAT AFFECTED YOUR CHILDHOOD.

>> I STARTED OUT WITH PAIN IN MY LEGS AND JOINTS AND KNEES, STREP THROAT AND HEADACHES, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS PAIN.

AND I WHEN I FOUND OUT THEY DIDN'T, I FELT DIFFERENT.

WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS, THERE WAS NO SOLUTION, I FELT LIKE I WAS A BABY.

AND THEN I HAD A MAJOR SNOW BOARDING ACCIDENT AT THE AGE OF 13, AND THE LYME DISEASE, OR WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED, AND IT WENT TO MY BRAIN, AND I STARTED HAVING FAINTING SPELLS.

A LOT OF COGNITIVE ISSUES.

MY READING SKILLS WENT DOWN THE DRAIN, AND MY MEMORY AND RETENTION SKILLS WENT OUT THE WINDOW.

>> YOU CARRIED A CAMERA SO YOU COULD PHOTOGRAPH AND FILM THINGS SO YOU COULD REMEMBER THEM.

>> YES.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

>> YES.

>> AND THE WORST PART OF IT, WHAT WAS SO STRIKING TO SAD TO ME, THE WORST PART OF THE IT WAS NOT EVEN ALL THIS PAIN FOR YOU.

IT WAS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAD, AND YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LONELY.

YOU'RE TOLD IT'S THIS, OR IT'S THAT BUT THERE'S NOTHING WEEK DO ABOUT IT.

YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE OKAY.

AND WHEN THE SYMPTOMS GET WORSE -- I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A COMBINER TO MY PARENTS, WHO WERE DOING EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY COULD BRINGING ME TO ALL THE DOCTORS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY SCARY NOT HAVING ANSWERS.

AT ONE POINT I JUST SHUT MY MOUTH.

I KIND OF GAVE UP.

>> SO YOU PUT UP WITH ALL THE SYMPTOMS.

YOU WERE KIND OF LIKE -- LIKE YOU WERE POISONS EVERY DAY, BUT YOU HAD TO PUT UP WITH IT.

>> I THOUGHT EVERYONE WAS JUST AS TIRED AS I WAS.

IT'S BEYOND -- A FATIGUE THAT YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

IT CAME TO A HEAD WHERE THE SYMPTOMS WERE COMPLETELY UNBEARABLE AND UNIGNORABLE.

IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG.

>> NOW, IT GOT TO A POINTS AN I SAID IN THE DESTRUCTION THINGS WERE SO ODD AND THINGS YOU DID WERE SO BIZARRE, YOUR FATHER ASSUMED YOU HAD A MARIJUANA HABIT.

HE WENT TO YOU ONE TIME AND SAID, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

YOU SAID, THE ONLY THING IS GET ME MORE POT.

WHY WAS THAT?

>> THE MARIJUANA HELPED THE NAUSEA, THE CHRONIC DEBILITATING NAUSEA AND POINT PAIN, AND I WAS TIRED ALREADY.

SO IT SORT OF DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT GOT ME THROUGH SOME REALLY PAINFUL TIMES.

PHYSICALLY.

>> SO HE DECIDED THAT THE ONLY THING HE COULD DO WAS COMMIT YOU TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

PHYSICALLY HE DID.

>> ON TOP OF THAT I WAS SUFFERING FROM A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AND NOT MAKING SENSE, NOT ABLE TO PUT SENTENCES TOGETHER, BABBLING, I HAD GONE CRAZY.

>> PSYCHOTIC.

>> PSYCHOTIC.

IT WAS PSYCHOTIC.

>> BUT THAT WAS PART OF THE LYME DISEASE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH LYME HAVE PSYCHOTIC BREAKS AND SOMETIMES DON'T RETURN FROM THEM, SO I'M REALLY LUCKY AND GRATEFUL HE PUT ME IN A HOSPITAL.

>> YOU'RE GRATEFUL NOW, BUT SOMETIMES YOU SAY YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND IT STILL MAKES YOU MAD, BUT THAT SAVED YOUR LIFE.

>> IT DID.

>> EXPLAIN THAT.

>> WHEN I WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL I WAS VERY ANGRY, AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY I WAS THERE.

WAKING UP IN A PSYCHIATRIC WARD IS NOBODY'S DREAM.

IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.

AS TIME WENT ON I MET A WONDERFUL DOCTOR THERE, ELLEN CHA CHANDLER.

SHE TOOK ME SERIOUSLY AND LISTENED TO ME AS A PERSON, AND ONCE I GOT OUT OF THERE, I SAT IN HER OFFICE AND I TRUSTED HER ENOUGH TO SAY, LISTEN, WE'VE GONE TO MANY, MANY DOCTORS AND NOBODY'S DONE ANYTHING, AND THERE'S NOTHING -- I FEEL HORRIBLY.

THESE ARE ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS AND I'M STILL IN PAIN.

THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BEFORE I ENTERED INTO THE HOSPITAL.

AND THERE'S -- STILL NOBODY'S DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND SHE SAID, I REALLY THINK YOU HAVE LYME DISEASE.

I SAID, NO, NO, NO, I'VE BEEN TESTED FOR THAT.

THEY THINK IT'S FIEB RO MAI ALLEGE YA.

TESTS CAME BACK THROUGH THE ROOF.

>> AFTER THE TESTS CAME BACK, YOU GOT TREATMENT AND YOU WERE GOOD AS NEW, RIGHT?

>> NOPE.

I WISH!

WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS LYME DISEASE, HARD CORE LYME DISEASE I WAS LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I WON THE LOTTERY.

YES!

THEN YOU GO ON YOUR MERRY WAY TO THE PHARMACY AND GET THE ANTIBIOTICS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY -- LISTEN, THEY DID A LOT OF GOOD.

THEY REALLY DID.

BUT AFTER A LONG COURSE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND FEELING WELL, I WOULD GO BACK TO WORK AND BACK TO LIFE AND RELAPSE AGAIN.

AND THIS WENT -- THEN I'D HAVE TO GO BACK ON ANTIBIOTICS AND ON AND ON AND ON.

I TRIED EVERY ANTIBIOTIC.

MIXED WITH THE COINFECTION, COUSIN OF MALARIA, IT WAS DIFFICULT.

SO MANY TIMES I WAS LIKE, ANOTHER ONE?

I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN.

I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE TURNED TO HOMEOPATHY AND CLEAN LIVING AND MEDITATION AND AYURVEDIC DOCTORS AND DETOXING AND HERBS, AND MOVED TO CALIFORNIA.

ULTIMATELY I THINK THAT MADE IT MORE MANAGEABLE.

>> REALLY?

SO HOW ARE YOU DOING NOW?

HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW?

>> MANAGED.

I'M MANAGED TODAY.

I'M ALSO ABLE TO BE HONEST WITH MYSELF.

IF I'M STARTING TO FEEL UNWELL, I HAVE A TOOLBOX, AND I CAN DIVE INTO THAT TOOLBOX AND CALL DIFFERENT THEIR RAPISTS OR HEAL OR DOCTORS, GO ON DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS, DIETS, AND SEE PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER, GO TO A PLACE THAT MAKES ME FEEL WELL, AND SAY, LISTEN, I HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT LESS.

AND I'M AN OX IN THE CHINESE ZOE ZODIAY AND A REAL WORKER AND A MOM.

MY ENERGY LEVEL CAN BE COMPROMISED SOMETIMES.

I HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT HOW I FEEL AND SAY, LISTEN, I NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK AND TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

>> HAS LYME DISEASE ONLY GOT BIT BY A TICK?

CAN YOU PASS IT ON TO YOUR CHILD, FOR EXAMPLE?

>> THAT'S NOT PROVEN RIGHT NOW.

RESEARCHERS ARE LOOKING INTO ALL OF THAT.

FORTUNATELY WHEN I BECAME PREGNANT, I HAD A LOT OF DOCTORS TEST ME AND, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID I WAS CLEAR OF ACTIVE LYME.

OF COURSE MY SYSTEM FLARES UP SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED FOR SO MANY YEARS.

SO THERE'S NO PROOF YET.

THEY'RE LOOKING INTO ALL THAT.

MY BABY GIRL IS HEALTHY AS CAN BE, HEALTHY AND SMART, THANK GOODNESS.

MAYBE OTHER INSECTS CAN PASS IT ON, I THINK.

MAYBE.

>> THE THING THAT SURPRISED ME -- ONE OF THE REASONS YOU WERE MISDIAGNOSED FOR 11 YEARS, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO READ THIS IN THE BOOK, IS BECAUSE DOCTORS HAVE A -- HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW, AND MAYBE THE ONLY EXPLANATION I CAN COME UP WITH IS THAT IT'S SO COMPLICATED AND SO DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT YET.

AND WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

YOU DON'T GET BLAMED.

SO THAT COULD BE IT.

IT'S BEYOND ME.

AND SO SADDENING AND FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE SO SICK AND THE DOCTOR'S LIKE, NO, NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE DOCTORS WILL BE READING YOUR BOOK.

HOW COMMON IS LYME DISEASE?

>> IT'S SPREADING AT A RAPID PACE.

IT'S A GROWING EPIDEMIC.

IT'S ABOVE PROBABLY WHAT THE CDC SAYS, AND IT'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS IN 50 STATES AND 80 COUNTRIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO'S SUFFERING FROM THE SAME KIND OF DESPAIR AND PAIN YOU WERE SUFFERING FROM JUST A FEW YEARS AGO AND MAY BE LISTENING TO US NOW?

>> I WOULD SAY KEEP A GLIMMER OF LIGHT AND HOPE AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

WHATEVER THAT GOAL MIGHT BE -- MAYBE IT'S TO WRITE YOUR STORY DOWN, BUT ALIVE FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT AND TO WATCH A LOT OF FUNNY MOVIES IN BETWEEN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AND LIFT YOUR SPIRITS.

THIS BOOK IS NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH LYME DISEASE.

THIS IS FOR AWARENESS.

IT'S GREAT AWARENESS.

BUT MY STORY OFFERS A LOT OF HOPE WITH ANYTHING THAT ONE MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH, AND TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT LIGHT.

MY FATHER TAUGHT ME THIS -- TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL NO MATTER HOW DARK THE TUNNEL BECOMES, YOU KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT LIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY -- SUMMER'S ALMOST UPON US.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS WHERE TICKS CARRYING LYME DISEASE P PREDOMINATE.

>> IT'S IN CENTRAL PARK.

IT'S IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S IN MISSOURI.

IT'S EVERYWHERE.

>> WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO?

>> SPRAY YOURSELF DOWN WITH TICK SPRAY.

WEAR LIGHT CLOTHING.

TUCK YOUR PANTS INTO YOUR SOCKS.

LOOK LIKE A DORK, BUT WHO CARES?

I MEAN, AND JUST SPRAY YOURSELF DOWN AND CHECK FOR TICKS.

CHECK FOR TICKS.

THAT'S HOW MY MOTHER FOUND MY TICK.

>> SO, "BITE ME, HOW LYME DISEASE STOLE MY CHILDHOOD, MADE ME CRAZY AND ALMOST KILLED ME".

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS BOOK?

>> AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND ULTIMATELY TO FIND A MORE ACCURATE WAY TO TEST FOR THE DISEASE SO THAT PEOPLE, MY DAUGHTER AND HER GENERATION, NEVER HAVE TO GET BIT BY A TICK AND GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH.

>> IT'S A HARROWING BOOK, BUT IT'S HARD TO PUT DOWN.

IT'S REALLY WELL DONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING IT AND BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> FOR MORE INFORMATION AN LYME DISEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT ME ME METROFOCUS.ORG.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --