Jody and Alex Hudson

Jody Hudson, director of operations for Catholic Charities, has started a new nonprofit organization to honor her daughter’s legacy.

For ten years, Alex Hudson suffered from painful physical symptoms that were misdiagnosed by numerous medical professionals. Despite all the tests and emergency room visits, Alex and her mother were at a loss for what was happening to her body. It wasn’t until 2017 that she was properly tested and diagnosed with Lyme disease and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a co-infection that often accompanies Lyme.

Despite her suffering, Alex lived for serving others and earned a full-ride scholarship to UCLA. It was there that she planned on earning her bachelor’s degree and starting a non-profit that would assist the Lyme and MCAS community. She passed away in March from her illness.

“Soon after Alex’s passing, I set about and did my research on establishing a 501c3,” Hudson said. “Those in the know said that it would take about 8-12 months to receive an answer, so you can imagine my surprise when just weeks later I received a notice that my charity’s status had been approved.”

It’s called the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation (AHLF).

The AHLF team has their eyes set on strategic ways to help the Lyme and MCAS community. Through cross-marketing campaigns with nationwide organizations such as Global Lyme Alliance, community outreach activities with local schools and networking with potential donors, the AHFL team is determined to raise awareness for Lyme Disease, while raising funds for proper research and testing specific to MCAS.

While AHLF is relatively new, it is already gaining momentum in the Central Valley. Its social media platforms are garnering attention from prominent Lyme-focused organizations and individuals like Global Lyme Alliance and Lyme Light Foundation.

“The speed at which everything has taken place has convinced me even more that this foundation is built on divine intervention,” Jody Hudson said. “Alex is at the helm guiding me every step of the way.”

For more information, and to contribute, visit https://www.gofundme.com/Alexhudsonlymediseasefoundation.