Nicole Bell is an engineer, entrepreneur, medical advocate, and author of What Lurks in the Woods, whose life was transformed when her high-performing husband developed rapid cognitive decline that was repeatedly misdiagnosed. Drawing on her background in engineering and diagnostics, Nicole brings a clear, systems-level lens to the failures of conventional testing, the complexity of Lyme and co-infections, and what it really takes to demand better care inside a dismissive medical system.

Expect to learn:

• How Nicole’s training as an engineer and experience in diagnostics shaped the way she investigated her husband’s symptoms.

• Why standard Lyme testing often fails and how co-infections and other pathogens can masquerade as dementia and psychiatric issues.

• Practical ways to advocate for yourself or a loved one when doctors say “everything looks normal” but you know something is wrong.

• The emotional and logistical reality of being a caregiver, and how to think about asking for help without feeling like a burden.

• Why “demanding better” from the medical system is not being difficult—it’s necessary for finding true root causes and real healing.

  Nicole Bell