Makalea and her three younger siblings suffered from a mysterious illness for a decade: They had headaches, felt weak, and some even showed signs of paralysis. But while the siblings spent years puzzling over the source of the symptoms, their dog Molly had been the key all along!

Molly was diagnosed with Lyme disease at the very start of those difficult ten years – and was immediately put on antibiotics.

It turned out that this very illness was the key to solving the mystery of Makalea and her siblings.

In early June, the young woman shared on her Instagram how terrible that time had been.

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Unfortunately, neither she nor the others had ever considered that they might also be suffering from Lyme disease.

Although all four had been bitten by ticks, none of them developed the characteristic bull's‑eye rash.

This rash often appears a few days to a few weeks after transmission – but it doesn't have to. Consequently, none of the siblings suspected they had the same disease as Molly.

In an interview with Newsweek, Makalea explained that she and her siblings must have been infected around the same time as their furry companion.

However, the doctors found more than just Lyme disease in the siblings.

Bartonellosis, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever also appeared in some of them!

And while Molly recovered quickly thanks to early treatment, the four adults had to live with the symptoms for a decade.

That's why Makalea now wants to raise awareness about this issue on social media.

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"It turns out, it's a myth that Lyme disease always means you get a bull's-eye rash," she told Newsweek.

After years of treatment, Makalea believes she is now about 90% healed.

"If I had caught Lyme early, my life could've been so different," she said. "So I hope sharing our story helps others avoid that path."