Brian Bobka's Battle with Behcet's
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As I write this, the common phrase “why do bad things happen to good people” comes to mind. My cousin Ally is a pretty amazing person and the someone she has found to spend the rest of her life with is truly the epitome of “good people”. I’ve known Brian for over 2 years now and in that time I’ve seen him go from an active, healthy Air Force Staff Sergeant, to a 26 year old in need of a cane. From Spring 2019 when he was at my wedding to the following Thanksgiving, the effects of this disease seemed to have tripled. He went from dancing and celebrating with Ally, my husband, and I to relying on a cane to walk, being incapable of working and needing several hours of extra rest to simply manage his level of pain- not even to resolve it. Since July of 2019 he has been unable to work due to the rapid progression of incapacitating symptoms, not responding to medications, trying various aggressive and experimental treatments. After enduring several months of doctor visits, various tests, treatments and medications he was diagnosed with a very rare auto-immune condition called Behçet’s Disease.
Behçet’s Disease is a rare, chronic, multisystem inflammatory disease affecting vascular, neurological, gastrointestinal and ocular systems but also causes dermal and oral ulcers, skin lesions and extreme joint pain. The multisystem impact contributes substantially to diminished quality of life as a result of their debilitating impact on daily functions. Five in 100,000 people in the United States have Behçet’s Disease and it typically takes over 5 years for most people to be diagnosed due to the widespread impact this disease causes.
Through all the unknown, the pain, the fear and losing so much of what made him who he is physically; Brian has never lost his zest for life, hilarious sense of humor or silver-lining positivity. Its never easy asking for help in this type of situation and its not in either of their nature ask for this kind of support but if we can help contribute to better medical care, coverage and treatment then I have no problem in asking for them! The money raised will be humbly used to help pay for aggressive treatments and medications over the next few months to help give Brian a fighting chance at a normal life. Let’s help out two genuinely wonderful people with their medical costs.
More info on Behcet's Disease
Behçet’s Disease is a rare, chronic, multisystem inflammatory disease affecting vascular, neurological, gastrointestinal and ocular systems but also causes dermal and oral ulcers, skin lesions and extreme joint pain. The multisystem impact contributes substantially to diminished quality of life as a result of their debilitating impact on daily functions. Five in 100,000 people in the United States have Behçet’s Disease and it typically takes over 5 years for most people to be diagnosed due to the widespread impact this disease causes.
Through all the unknown, the pain, the fear and losing so much of what made him who he is physically; Brian has never lost his zest for life, hilarious sense of humor or silver-lining positivity. Its never easy asking for help in this type of situation and its not in either of their nature ask for this kind of support but if we can help contribute to better medical care, coverage and treatment then I have no problem in asking for them! The money raised will be humbly used to help pay for aggressive treatments and medications over the next few months to help give Brian a fighting chance at a normal life. Let’s help out two genuinely wonderful people with their medical costs.
More info on Behcet's Disease
Organizer and beneficiary
Erin Mahan Deg
Organizer
Dunlap, IL
Ally Rae
Beneficiary