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JT's Recovery

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Hello everyone,

My name is Kristi Brubaker.  I am asking for your help.  My grandson, Joshua (JT as he is called), who just turned 13 in March, was diagnosed with Guillane-Barre Syndrome on Thursday, May 7th of this year.
 
JT's legs were feeling funny a few days before and in a matter of 3 days, he had lost the use of them.  At first complaint, his Dad took him to the Dr. who thought that he had pulled a ham string.  Then, the next day, he fell in the bathroom and couldn't get up.  His father, Josh, rushed him to the hospital where they immediately sent him down to Kaiser in San Jose, CA which has the specialists and pediatric ward to meet his needs.  Tests were done; a MRI and a spinal tap which confirmed that it was GBS.  He is still there. 

This is a tough and rare disease.  Although it is curable, it is a long process to get there.  His immune system has attacked his muscles leaving him without the use of his legs and left arm.  His speech is slurred from his facial muscles being weakened.  He has not been able to move since he was admitted.  He began a treatment last Thursday which has shown to be helpful.  When the Dr.'s are confident that the treatments have done what they are intended to do, he will be moved to another facility where he will begin his journey in physical therapy to build up his muscle strength.  The recovery can be a very long time, up to a year in some cases.  Some people don't recover completely - it is different in every case.  We are continuing to hold only possitive thoughts. 

JT and his family live in Pacifica, CA which is over an hour's drive to the hospital in San Jose.  His Dad has been by his side since this happened.  He is there at the crack of dawn and doesn't leave until the wee hours of the morning.  He would be there 24/7 but he has Eva, JT's little sister that needs him too.  He has had to take off work since this started and he is in the process of applying for FMLA to make sure his job is not in jeporady while caring for JT.   

Being a young family and living in California, each paycheck just barely gets them by to the next.  He is fortunate to have insurance through his job, however, there is a heafty deductable that has to be met.  Having no income at the moment and making the drive from Pacifica to San Jose has added to the stress of the situation.  Right now, I am unable to be of much help.  I am recovering from a shoulder replacement that I had in late February.  I am just now back to work part time and am not in a financial position to be of much assistance.

My hope in reaching out to you is that we can give this family just a little bit of releif from the realities of every day life and the left turn it has taken.  The every month bills coming in along with the medical bills that will be arriving soon, the gas tank eating up $ while driving to and from, the meals needed to keep Dad going so he can be a great support to his son.  I can assure you, without doubt, that anything you can do will be returned with unsurmountable grattitude and love; not only from Josh, JT and Eva, but from me, "Oma".  Even if you are not in a position to donate, your prayers are appreciated for a safe, healthy and rapid recovery.

Thank you for taking the time to read and ponder this.  We all are very thankful. Please be well and stay blessed.

With grattitude,
Kristi Brubaker/Oma
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Donations 

  • Chari and David Binstadt
    • $100
    • 9 yrs
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Organizer

Kristi Jo Brubaker
Organizer
Honor, MI

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