Deputy Leatherman Medical Expenses

In 2009 Garland joined the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department. During his time in the department, he was very active working as a Patrol Deputy and working with the Motorcycle Unit as a member of the Crash Investigation Team. In June 2016, Garland was experiencing tingling in his hands and feet which left him temporarily paralyzed and was later diagnosed with a rare condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). This condition is “a rare but serious autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system”. There’s no cure for GBS, but most people eventually make a full recovery which can be slow, lasting anywhere from several weeks to several years. “According to the Mayo Clinic, 80 percent of people affected by Guillain-Barre Syndrome can walk independently at six months, and 60 percent recover their regular muscle strength. For some though, recovery takes longer. Thirty percent still experience some weakness after three years. About 3 percent of people affected by GBS will experience a relapse of their symptoms”. It appears that Garland has a long road ahead of him and his insurance has limited the coverage for his Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy treatments. We ask for your thoughts and prayers and also for donations to help Deputy Garland Leatherman and his family during this time of his recovery.