Rally For Richie Szorc

This page has been created for Richie because of all of the outpouring of love, concern, support, Prayers, and the continuous requests from his family and friends as to what they can do to help Richie, his wife Mary Beth, and their two children in this extremely difficult time.  As many of you know, Richie was recently diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica, a very uncommon disease syndrome of the central nervous system that affects the optic nerves and the spinal cord.  After weeks of unexplained pain and every test imaginable, while in the hospital, he became paralyzed from the waist down.  Fortunately, he has already started to regain some of the strength in his legs and is now walking with assistance and making great progress.  After the initial attack, NMO follows an unpredictable course.  There is a possibility for relapse, and/or a moderate degree of permanent limb weakness.  At this point, the doctors cannot say for sure what the affects will be.  We just know it's a long road ahead in his recovery, involving physical therapy, occupational therapy, doctor visits, more tests, and medications, and of course, all this results in time off of work.  Particularly uncertain because of the physical job that Richie has as a City of Chicago Water Department Worker and Plumber. 
Throughout this whole ordeal, those who have been with Richie at the hospital, or spoken to him on the phone, have seen a man who is faced with an autoimmune disorder that changed his life in an instant, but who has still remained, hopeful, optimistic, appreciative and grateful for all that he has, for the ability to walk again, for the doctors, nurses, friends and family that have rallied around him and especially for his wife Mary Beth and his children, Richie Jr and McKenna. 
Thank you for your donation to help reduce the financial pressure all this has caused Richie's family so that he can recover to the fullest extent possible.  We thank everyone for their continued love and support and constant prayers and well wishes, it has been nothing short of miraculous and so inspiring for Richie and his family.