I am writing this on behalf of someone I love very much, and it is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

For years, I have watched him deal with a complicated and progressively disabling set of medical problems that have affected nearly every part of his life. Since 2019, there have been countless emergency room visits, hospitalizations, specialist appointments, procedures, medications, imaging studies, and tests as doctors worked to understand what was happening to his body.

He has experienced severe neurological and cardiac symptoms including profound weakness, difficulty walking, balance and stability problems, fainting/POTS type episodes, cognitive and memory problems, dissociation, intense tremors, severe migraines, seizure like episodes along with an actual seizure, numbness, tachycardia, high blood pressure, and more. It had gotten so bad, he has had to crawl from room to room and he’s now in a wheel chair.

Alongside his neurological problems, he has dealt with autoimmune disease, liver dysfunction, rhabdomyolysis, and other serious physical complications. He has been prescribed more than 25 different medications over the years as doctors worked to manage his symptoms and determine what was causing them. He has undergone numerous CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, IV treatments, and other medical testing that has destroyed parts of his body.

For a long time, some of these symptoms were believed to be anxiety or panic. Eventually, it became clear that there were significant physical and neurological problems contributing to what he was experiencing.

This year, his condition became dramatically worse.

Last month, he was hospitalized for two weeks after becoming unable to swallow solid food. He was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), and at one point went nearly a month without being able to eat normally. He lost approximately 30 pounds in a single month and became skin and bone. 

Thankfully, steroids have helped him regain the ability to swallow liquids and drink enough calories to avoid needing a feeding tube at this time. However, he still cannot swallow solid food. His doctors are carefully managing his nutrition because of the risks associated with severe weight loss and reintroducing calories after prolonged inadequate nutrition.

At the same time, his neurological symptoms have progressed to the point where he is currently in a wheelchair and struggling to walk.

He is beginning neurorehabilitation with the goal of improving his ability to walk, restoring as much memory and cognitive function as possible, reducing his autonomic symptoms, and addressing the tremors, seizure like episodes, and other neurological episodes he continues to experience. His doctors are hopeful that rehabilitation can help him regain function, but there are no guarantees.

Watching this happen to someone who has always been active and independent has been incredibly difficult.

He can no longer play soccer, exercise normally, travel freely, work consistently, or even eat solid foods. He has had to put his education on hold, leave jobs, move back home when his health made living independently unsafe, and eventually put his own business on hold.

Some people may see photos of him traveling or sharing positive moments online and assume that he is doing better than he actually is. What those moments do not show are the hospitalizations, medical appointments, exhaustion, neurological symptoms, swallowing problems, setbacks, and the enormous amount of effort it takes for him to simply function.

Despite everything, he continues to fight.

His current treatment plan requires extensive medical care, neurological rehabilitation, testing, medications, and specialized therapies. Unfortunately, he does not have good insurance, and many of the treatments he needs are not fully covered. Even his daily medications can cost hundreds of dollars. Because of the severity of his current condition, he may also need to take a leave of absence from work while he focuses on treatment and recovery.

The financial burden has become overwhelming.

Funds raised will help cover medical testing, medications, neurological rehabilitation, specialized treatments, living expenses while he is unable to work, and other costs associated with managing and recovering from these complex medical conditions.

As someone who loves him, I want nothing more than to see him regain the abilities that illness has taken from him: to walk independently, eat normally, return to the activities he loves, work, travel, and live his life without his health dictating every decision.

He has spent years fighting through symptoms that have repeatedly disrupted his life. Now he finally has specialists working toward a clearer understanding of what is happening and a treatment plan focused on helping him regain function.

We are asking for help so he can continue receiving that care.

If you are able to donate, any amount can make a meaningful difference. If you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser is also incredibly helpful.

To everyone who has already donated, shared his story, reached out, checked on him, or supported him through these years: thank you. Your kindness means more than I can express.

He is still fighting. We are just trying to make sure he has the resources to keep fighting.

— Fadi

oabona moncho

Virginia Sullivan

Alexia Melvin

Anaka Rojas

Amanda Allmaier

Benjamin Davis

Lucas Andal

Noah Hundley

Adar Zorluoglu

Makenna Garner

Jack Hecker

William Vuong

Michele Porch

Sheila Clark

Jean Gray

Aqueelah Askia-Brun

Sondra Hardin

Anonymous

Michael’s Medical Treatment

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Michael’s Medical Treatment

Still $12,280 to go. Help us build momentum.