In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, Doug Morrow, a retired Hofstra University professor and professional musician, shares how a family outing to the Morton Bird Sanctuary in April 2012 changed his life. Doug went on a picnic after visiting the bird sanctuary with his 6-year-old son, Antonio, and his wife, Diane. He found a tick biting him the day after the picnic. Just months later, Doug developed mysterious, recurring fevers that doctors struggled to diagnose. It wasn’t until a medical emergency during a trip to California that Doug learned he had Babesiosis, a life-threatening parasitic infection spread by ticks.
With the tireless advocacy of his wife Diane and the sharp eye of a California infectious disease doctor, Doug was properly diagnosed and began a months-long recovery that included antimalarial medications, blood transfusions, and natural remedies. Today, Doug reflects on the importance of early detection, preventive care, and maintaining a strong immune system through lifestyle, diet, and love.
🧭 Key Topics Discussed:
- ✅ Tick bite during Easter break in East Hampton, NY
- ✅ Early symptoms: intermittent fevers, misdiagnosis
- ✅ Emergency room visits and missteps
- ✅ Babesiosis diagnosis and spleen involvement
- ✅ The critical role of Diane’s advocacy
- ✅ Recovery, red blood cell destruction, and blood transfusions
- ✅ Natural repellents and tick prevention strategies
- ✅ Organic lawn care, tick tubes, and essential oils
- ✅ Life lessons: stress reduction, nutrition, love, and spiritual health
- ✅ Reflections on health, gratitude, and retirement
🛡️ Prevention Tips from Doug & Diane Morrow:
- Use natural tick repellents with lemongrass, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, and white vinegar
- Apply frequently, especially during outdoor activity
- Maintain short-cut lawns, avoid watering, and plant lavender as a natural repellent
- Use tick tubes to reduce mouse-based tick populations
- Prioritize organic lawn care to protect local ecosystems
- Check for ticks daily – especially on children
- Advocate for yourself and your family in healthcare settings
🕒 Timestamped Highlights:
- 00:03 – Doug’s background: musician, educator, polymath
- 10:05 – Growing up in Stony Brook and Smithtown; early tick awareness
- 31:01 – The 2012 tick bite and mysterious fevers
- 36:58 – Emergency room misdiagnosis and worsening symptoms
- 45:08 – Babesiosis diagnosis and hospital treatment
- 52:16 – Return to Long Island and local follow-up care
- 58:15 – Dr. Clawson’s care and herbal support during recovery
- 1:02:15 – Acupuncture and natural treatments
- 1:07:02 – Doug’s current preventive practices and immune support
- 1:23:26 – Environmental and lifestyle contributors to tick-borne illness
- 1:26:13 – Final reflections on health, balance, and love
