In December 2017 Todd started experiencing muscle weakness and fatigue.  Since he was working two jobs he just thought it was overexertion.  Never one to shirk away from work he just tried to work through it.  He steadily got weaker and was having trouble keeping his head up.  He speech started to slur a little bit and he went to his PCP.  She thought he had conditions of a stroke and sent him to ER.  They diagnosed him with a herniated disc in the neck.  After a few weeks his symptoms got worse and he went to see a neurologist in Pittsburgh.  After a thorough workup in the Doctor's office, he was asked to have some blood work done on a hunch.  He was never given the results of the blood tests and after 3 weeks called his doctor only to find that he had gone on an Emergency Medical Leave.  So still no answers. 

His condition worsened and on Good Friday his wife Emily drove him to AGH to the ER.  They reviewed his blood work and the On Duty Neurologist informed him that he had a Rare disease known as Myasthenia Gravis.  This is an Auto-Immune Neuromuscular Disease.  It can affect muscle control, swallowing, breathing and speaking.  He was released from the hospital on Easter Sunday .  Every thing seemed to be going better for about a week and a half until the symptoms got much worse.  On Friday April13 Todd was so weak from dehydration that he slipped off the couch and struck his head on the floor.  He soon had trouble breathing and had to send a message to Emily to come home from work to help him off the floor.  He also had to have her call 911 as he couldn't communicate.  They arrived just in time to save him.  He was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital and then transferred to AGH.  He spent 7 days in Neuro ICU on a ventilator and then was released on Tuesday April 24th. 

Currently he is doing better but needs Physical Therapy to build his strength back up. 

Todd has not been working for a month and this has drained all Family funds.  They are having trouble paying normal household bills and medical expenses.  This is a disease that can cause flare ups at any time and unfortunately has no cure only treatments that may require further hospital stays.  Todd's wife Emily was a trooper through the whole ordeal constantly updating his situation on social media.  His condition has put a large financial and emotional strain on the family and they could really use your help.  Any contribution is appreciated and sharing of our story is also appreciated.

I must lastly mention my poor 10 yr old daughter.  She had to endure not seeing me for my time in ICU as she wasn't old enough to visit.  During my first hospital stay she had to watch one of our dogs die.  Our other dog has also deteriorated to where we need to send him over the rainbow bridge.  But alas we can't afford it currently.

Anything you can do to help us would be greatly appreciated.  Prayers help too.