One of the University of Delaware’s basketball greats returned to the Bob Carpenter Center, but not to play.
The Delaware 87ers are partnered with WNBA star and Wilmington-native Elena Delle Donne to host a Lyme disease awareness night during Monday night's game against the Maine Red Claws.
Proceeds from the game, as well the silent auctions of special lime green uniforms worn by the players, went to LymeAid 4 Kids, a program of the Lyme Disease Association, Inc. that provides financial aid to the families of children who have been diagnosed with the disease.
Delle Donne was diagnosed with and treated for the disease in 2008. She says that after a relatively quiet two years, the disease came back.
"I had so many false diagnosis that it was really affecting me and I wasn't able to play," said Delle Donne. Doctors told Delle Donne that she was suffering from chronic fatigue that would plague her for her entire life. "At that point in time, I didn't think I'd ever be able to play again."
Fortunately, Delle Donne found a treatment that works for her and last year was the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year after being drafted second overall by the Chicago SKY.
"Going through that truly almost changed the path that I've gone on now," said Delle Donne. "If I can do anything to make this thing better and not have someone else experience that then I'm going to do whatever it takes."
Delle Donne believes that events like this are an important step to changing the public perception of the disease.
“There is hardly any awareness around Lyme disease which is crazy to think because of how many people it’s reached," said Delle Donne. "There’s still not a good test to diagnose it and no treatment protocol so it’s really important to get the word out.”
Delaware is among the top 10 states for Lyme disease with 507 confirmed cases in 2012 alone. Between 20,000 and 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are confirmed each year in the US.
Even though there is no cure, Delle Donne encourages those with Lyme disease to never give up looking for a treatment that works for them.
"When you find that right treatment you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel and a way to get through it."