My Memoir
The Battle Within is a powerful, insightful memoir revealing the beast that is Lyme disease. Jana lays bare a life burdened by chronic illness and her epic battle against this quiet epidemic. With courage and honesty, Jana effortlessly weaves a narrative that beckons us along. Her story is a celebration of resilience, hope and renewal.
“You know how in scary movies the priest comes in to exorcise the home or some human victim? He spreads around a bunch of holy crosses and splatters holy water everywhere and the demon gets really pissed off. Chairs start flying around, the body arches in weird inhuman contortions, the victim starts inexplicably speaking Latin fluently and backwards. That’s what this felt like. My body was being exorcised of bacteria and before those little fuckers left my body they were putting up a hell of a fight.”
available for purchase online:
available for purchase In store:
Bookworks, Whitefish, MT
Beargrass Gift and Drug, Columbia Falls, MT
The Bookshelf, Kalispell, MT
Bad Rock Books, Columbia Falls, MT
Synopsis
The Battle Within is a powerful, insightful memoir revealing the beast that is Lyme disease. Jana lays bare a life burdened by chronic illness and her epic battle against an elusive enemy. Her story culminates with a life-changing pilgrimage through psychotherapy. With courage and honesty, Jana effortlessly weaves a narrative that beckons us along.
At the age of three, Jana found her passion in the dance studio. By the age of nine, she had dreams of being a ballerina. Despite the exhaustion that plagues her most of her life, she barrels through the challenges. But, by the time she enters college as a dance major, the fatigue becomes all-consuming and a crippling pain begins to overwhelm her. Over time, the symptoms keep mounting: migraines, dizziness and a tremor that weakens her resolve to become a professional dancer. By her mid-thirties, Jana is floundering. After decades of slogging through life, her body can no longer sustain. Four dramatic health events finally lead to a diagnosis of Lyme disease, and the long tightrope of treatment towards full recovery.
Facing her fears and vulnerabilities, Jana finds healing and her truth. Her story is a celebration of resilience, hope and renewal.
As Jana nears her victory over Lyme, she is confronted with a new enemy. Diagnosed with chronic PTSD, she shares her inspiring pilgrimage through psychotherapy. Her voyage into the depths of her psyche reveals a creative cast of characters that fill her with hope, even in her darkest hours.
The Battle Within captivates us with evocative scenes of a life challenged by exhaustion, pain and fear. We witness Jana find the fortitude to push through the burden of chronic illness. She takes a deep dive into the reality of overcoming Lyme disease and finding inner strength in the face of PTSD. Facing her fears and vulnerabilities, Jana finds healing and her truth. Her story is a celebration of resilience, hope and renewal.
When diagnosed with Lyme and coinfections, you can feel such terrible isolation. Jana’s book is so raw and honest, you feel as if you have a good friend holding your hand through it, giving you hope and strength along the way. It’s a must read for anyone dealing with this disease.
Jean H., Lyme warrior
Jana is a warrioress in her battle against Lyme disease. The story of her recovery journey touches all of us who suffer from Lyme disease. She gives us all hope through her gift of storytelling.
Deborah B., Psychotherapist, Life Coach and Lyme warrior
Reading The Battle Within by Jana Steck was extremely profound for me. She describes things so well that I could really feel the pain, the frustration and the joy throughout. I came away from the book thinking I don’t know anyone in this world who is strong enough to go through all she did, keep trying and eventually winning!
Anne S., non-Lymie
An insightful and touching look at the silent, frustrating and challenging struggle against Lyme disease. This book does a wonderful job examining the numerous ways Lyme disease affects people physically and emotionally. Jana leaves the reader knowing that the best medicine against this growing threat is hope, perseverance and the support of loved ones.