‘There were a lot of monkeys who you can assume were tick-ridden. 

‘One morning I had a mysterious bite with a large ring around it. I went to see a doctor in South Africa who gave me antibiotics for three days.’

She was initially diagnosed with ME and then depression, but she knew that was not the cause.

In 2007, her business, which counted Scarlett Johannson and Helena Bonham-Carter as customers, received investment from a leading underwear manufacturer.

Fine in hospital during Christmas last year on a drip and tried to stay jolly in a Santa hat

Fine had to keep a mattress in her office so she could lie down after just a few hours working

Fine, pictured when she was healthier, is now living with her parents and had serious relationships end because of her condition

But that year she found herself becoming increasingly clumsy and forgetful.

She said: ‘In the first six years I was becoming more and more unwell and if I fell I would blame it on my heels. 

‘By 2009, I had a mattress in my office and I would manage a couple of hours work before passing out. 

‘My wonderful mother tried to keep my business going when I became bedridden but by the end of 2009 we had to close.’

Fine had to leave her Primrose Hill flat and move back to live with her parents.

Fine was eventually diagnosed in the US and has sought treatment in other countries and the States

She said: ‘Romantic relationships unfortunately became impossible and I had two major break-ups. 

‘No one wants to become someone’s nurse but I have got to the point where I am happy to be single.

‘I am lucky because I have the most amazing parents. We try to make light of the situation. For example, if I have the shakes we refer to them as my amazing new dance moves.’

Fine has spent all her savings and thousands of pounds from family members on tests and treatments across Europe and America.

Bella Hadid attended the Global Lyme Alliance Inaugural Gala in New York this month 

In 2012, she was finally diagnosed after being tested in the US.

She said: ‘Over the last year I have really deteriorated and I am now in a wheelchair. 

‘A good day for me used to be being able to go to work and now a good day is being able to get myself dressed. 

‘Lyme disease can affect you in so many ways it can mess with you cognitively it can give you the shakes and sometimes you can wake up to the most unbearable pain.’

Although it concerns her how few people are aware of the disease, she doesn’t think the interest from high-profile sufferers like model Bella Hadid is important.

She said Phones4U billionaire John Caudwell talking about his experiences is more of a victory.

She said: ‘Cases like John Caudwell speaking out on the community’s behalf are very important as he is a serious entrepreneur rather than a young model or socialite and so is more likely to be taken seriously.

‘We need GPs to be taught more about the disease. At the moment we are just a footnote and people aren’t aware of how devastating the disease can be.

‘My message to sufferers would be that it can only get better. 

‘We can’t be ignored any more. Our community is full of optimism and we will stride forward. 

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE? 

Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks.

Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and heath areas. 

They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. 

Ticks that carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease are found throughout the UK and in other parts of Europe and North America.  

Many people with early-stage Lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around 3 to 30 days after being bitten.

Some people with Lyme disease also experience flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as tiredness (fatigue), muscle pain, joint pain,headaches, a high temperature (fever), chills and neck stiffness.

More serious symptoms may develop several weeks, months or even years later if Lyme disease is left untreated or is not treated early on and include pain and swelling of the joints, problems affecting the nervous system including numbness and pain in the limbs, facial paralysis, memory problems and difficulty concentrating.

It can also lead to heart problems like myocarditis, where the heart muscle becomes inflamed and heart failure. Meningitis is also a risk. 

A few people with Lyme disease go on to develop long-term symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, which is called post-infectious Lyme disease.

Share or comment on this article

Comments (43)

Share what you think

• 
  
  Newest
• 
  
  Oldest
• 
  
  Best rated
• 
  
  Worst rated

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Who is this week’s top commenter?
Find out now

Share and Enjoy

‘I was in tears knowing that he loves me no matter what and that we have an unconditional bond.

‘He just knows me as Mummy and how I look doesn’t change that.’ 

After the difficulty and pain of coping with the disease and gruelling treatment, posing in the matching underwear, which come with cups for women who wear padding after their mastectomies.

She said: ‘I wanted to feel feminine and be able to wear clothes that show my figure. I wanted to be able to wear a young person’s matching underwear set.’

Debbie with Rory, aged three, above. The single mother had to make tough decisions about Rory’s daytime care as she does not live near family and was forced to place him in a nursery while she had treatment

As part of winning the Everyday Superwoman competition, Debbie will also receive a year’s supply of Lorna Drew mastectomy lingerie.

The single mother, who used to work as a nursery nurse and had qualified as a medical nurse shortly before her diagnosis, does not have family living nearby and had to make tough decisions about Rory’s daytime care.

‘I had to get help to find respite for him in a nursery school. I’ve always looked after other people’s children and then I was looking for someone to help look after my son.

‘He has gone through so much and I am stronger because of him.’

Each candidate applying for the competition to become the new face of the luxurious range had to share their experience of breast cancer treatment.

Debbie’s only focus during treatment was the stay strong for Rory, her ‘fabulous’ little boy. She was inspired to enter the lingerie modelling competition after he said she looked beautiful with a shaved head

Debbie explained in her application that her only focus during chemotherapy, radiotherapy, three surgeries and ongoing treatment was her ‘fabulous’ little boy.

She wrote: ‘We snuggled up together when I was too poorly to get up, then explored and built precious memories together during the limited non-poorly time.

‘Hearing your child say you are beautiful with a bald head and no breasts has reinforced that our bodies do not define us as people.

‘It is who we are on the inside that matters most.’

Lorna Murchie, managing director of Lorna Drew, said: ‘This is a why we call this competition Everyday Superwoman. These are real women battling a real crisis under difficult circumstances. Debbie is a deserving winner.’

Share or comment on this article

Comments (3)

Share what you think

• 
  
  Newest
• 
  
  Oldest
• 
  
  Best rated
• 
  
  Worst rated

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Who is this week’s top commenter?
Find out now

Share and Enjoy