My son Joe went from saving lives to suddenly fighting for his own. A Maryland EMT who relocated to Florida was preparing to start his Fire 1 & Fire 2 training to become a Paramedic when Guillian-Barre Syndrome halted those dreams...for now. Unfortunately Joe was financially not able to afford insurance while working, taking care of his daughter, bills and getting ready to attend school fulltime when this disease hit him. Joe originally went to the hospital with a sore throat and high fever. They told him it was the symptoms of strep throat and sent him home. He went back again the next day and was told he had pharangitis. Still not feeling well, he went back on the 3rd day and they told him he had an endovirus and he needed to go home and rest. The 4th day he went back and they continued to say it was a virus and that he needed to go home and rest, that it pretty much was a waste of their time and money. They did bloodwork, a CT scan and EKG & saw nothing. The next day Joe was so bad that he couldn't breath or keep down liquids. He was numb and tingly, throwing up and was having a bloody nose. He called me telling me his symptoms and I immediately told him to go to ANOTHER hospital right away which they did and St. Vincents Southside ran tests and admitted him to the ICU unit within 30 minutes of him being there with double pneumonia and within days dianosed with the GBS. The next day Joe was placed on life support and remained on it for the next 25 days, having to have a trach placed in a few weeks after being in the hospital. A feeding tube was placed in his stomach which he still has as well. Joe has lost a tremendous amount of weight. The first two weeks paralysis set into his body leaving him unable to move. He became depressed and was having problems being able go to sleep worrying that he would not wake up. This past month Joe has suffered a great deal BUT is determined to get back to normal. After being totally paralysed the first two weeks, treatment from the hospital made it possible to reverse the symptoms. Joe started to regain movement within the third week starting to move his fingers and toes.

The pain and emotions this 26 year old has gone through because a doctor didn't want to take the time to help someone with no insurance. As his mother I am here today to ask for help to keep Joe on the mend with the tools he is going to need once he leaves the Rehabilitation Center. St. Vincents has paid the his hospital bill 100% through charitable donations and Brooks Rehab will have a charity bed for Joe for the next two weeks. After this Joe will have to make sure he is able to get the care he needs to get him back to normal. We will be repsonsible for the doctors bills, supplies he'll need items at home such as a wheelchair, walker, bed, medicine and other medical supplies to keep his progress going.

Many have asked what can we do to help!!!.....Well this is where we are right now as to what Joe will need in the next month or so when he comes our of the rehabilitaion center. Please forward this to everyone you know as any amount is not to small. Every $1 will help wth his recovery. Joe has come such a long way for those who have seen his pictures and videos. He will need special support shoes that I was unable to get him right now but he is doing his best with what we are able to work with as well as clothes to fit him now that he has lost weight, the doctor bills, the medical supplies, the medicines...they all add up. Let's get this message out there - the sooner he gets better the sooner he can fullfil his dream of becoming a Certified Paramedic and once again saving other lives - this is his passion. Please help me get Joe back on the road to his dreams!!

Again we thank you all for the love, support and prayers that have kept him strong and motivated. He reads each and every post and your encouragement makes him even stronger to get past this.

Love and God Bless from the "Joe Schreck Dream Team".

  
LET'S GET JOE BACK ON HIS FEET AND READY TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION FOR HIS CAREER OF BECOMING A PARAMEDIC!

if you prefer to mail a donation please forward to:
Joe Schreck
c/o Anita Schreck
12700 Bartram Park Blvd #430
Jacksonville, FL 32258

Thank you again for all your love, support, and prayers - you have made a huge difference already!!