About Me

My name is Robert Sabatino. I am a retired fourth generation New York City Police Officer, happily married for 20 years, with four beautiful children.  I was very active in my children's life, coached football and baseball. I used to enjoy the outdoors camping and fishing with my family. That all started ending about twelve years ago.

For over a decade, I suffered  from several illnesses and had a multitude of  symptoms that baffled one doctor after another.  I have seen numerous specialists and had multiple surgeries including both knees, shoulders, and a lung biopsy for my chronic shortness of breath.  After all these surgeries, the end result was no improvement.  My health continued to deteriorate, despite everything the best NYC doctors had to offer. 

Feeling emotionally hopeless and physically drained, I then saw a cardiologist in the hopes of finding an answer. The cardiologist diagnosed me with tachycardia and hypertension which later developed into SVT (Supra Ventricular Tachycardia).  I have had multiple ablations to my heart and have been in and out of the hospital with severe TIA's (mini strokes) for the past few years. Wearing a heart monitor turned into jewelry.

Eventually, I began to fail neurologically. I was then referred to a neurologist who diagnosed me with severe migraines and said that my symptoms were attributed to that. The pain, weakness and migraines continued to debilitate me physically and emotionally to the point I could no longer function. 

Soon after that, I lost the ability to walk without a cane or two. During bad episodes, bells palsy would set in. Talking while slurring words made me hate my voice. Swallowing became difficult and my GI track began to shut down.  I was no longer able to do any of the things that brought me joy.  At the depth of my illness, living in constant pain, knowing no doctor was able to help me, I began to lose the desire to try to get better. The hardest part was seeing the look in my children eyes. I’d gone from being the  protector and provider for my family, to a helpless victim of my illness.  It was a dark time in my life. 

As a last resort, I began to self evaluate my health. My wife decided to take me to an Infectious Disease Doctor, and to our amazement, I finally tested positive for Lyme.  Unfortunately, this doctor would only treat me for one month with oral antibiotics. Not feeling any better I was referred to a Lyme disease doctor in Washington, D.C. who ordered multiple MRI Scans with blood work weekly. It was then I learned I had late stage Lyme Borreliosis Complex with multiple coinfections. I have the 3 B’s, Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia. It is in my brain and it affects my central nervous system and every aspect of my life. My doctor estimates that I have been infected for at least 12 years. I have been on oral antibiotics  for over 2 years, and will continue for an indeterminate about of time until my symptoms from Chronic Lyme Disease and coinfections have subsided. Unfortunately, medical treatment for doctor visits and medication for this disease is barely covered by any insurance company. The medical expenses for my treatment has put a strain on our family financially and the symptoms of the disease itself has taken a tremendous toll on us emotionally.

Before I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease  I felt hopeless, weak, not being able to walk and think clearly. With the help of my doctor, my persistence and the support and encouragement of my family, I am walking and talking and beginning to enjoy life again. 

I am sharing my story with the hope of helping one person that might have a similar story as mine; the one person who had a false negative Lyme test; the one person who was told that they were not sick. For that one person, my data might change their life.  My message is "AWARENESS” is the key to fighting this horrific disease. If nothing else, I hope story will help to educate other doctors and the general public."  If not for me, then someone else who is battling this disease.