Help Gabriel Fight Pemphigus Vulgaris

Rare Disease is Attacking My Brother's Body — Asking for Help For Him to Survive

Hi, my brother’s name is Gabriel, and I know he never thought he’d find himself here, trying to survive and needing help. So I would like to ask on his behalf. He’s been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Pemphigus Vulgaris, and it’s turned his own body against itself in a most painful and terrifying way.

This disease causes blisters, sores, and mucous membranes on his skin over every inch of his body. Currently, over his scalp, eyes, ears, nose, arms, legs, stomach, back, inside of his mouth, and other sensitive areas you could think of. Daily, he could feel his skin tearing and sometimes falling off. Underneath the skin, he feels as if he's on fire. Every movement hurts. Every step, every shift, every breath he takes, tears open a new or an older sore. Difficulty eating with open sores inside his mouth. He can't lie down with sores that cause excruciating pain. He's lost close to 50 lbs as a result of not eating due to the oral pain.

Without proper treatment, his condition will worsen

And yet, this isn’t the only battle he’s had to fight. It's been a tough year for all of us, but my brother has taken a lot on his shoulders mentally and emotionally, which the Doctors agreed triggered this rare autoimmune disease.

The last few years have been filled with heartbreak we could never have prepared for. My sister in-law, his wife, was diagnosed with a large brain tumor that covered both sides of her brain. She underwent brain surgery last year. He stood by her through her recovery, doctor visits, and physical pain. All this at the same time we were battling with losing our mother to ALS, one of the most cruel and devastating diseases. This tore my brother apart, doing his best to be there for his wife and our mother at the same time. He was trying to be in two places at once and working full-time. There just weren't enough hours in the day when you needed them the most. Our mother passed too soon after, and our family was shattered into pieces. These back-to-back traumatic events had drained everything from him he had left, emotionally and financially. He never had the chance to breathe. He didn't take the time off work that he should have used for grieving. That's how our mother raised him, though. You don't call off work when you provide for your family at home. She would say, "Unless you're dying." An exaggeration, of course. But now he is in a position where he is fighting for his own life. His immune system is mistakenly attacking his skin cells and breaking them down. He can't even hold or hug his wife, kids or family. Too painful and sensitive. It's been months like this. Try to imagine that. He was diagnosed in late March 2025. Symptoms started mid to late 2024 after finding out more devastating news within our family circle, which I respectfully will not discuss on my brother's behalf. He was hospitalized on May 26th for 7 nights, 8 days at Loma Linda University Hospital, "Special and Severe ICU", High to severe cases only. He's currently at home. His love for his family and his faith in god keep him hanging on.

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The Treatment He Needs:

• IVIG Gammagard Infusions (minimum 35, up to 80 depending on response)

– Owes $2,876.37 of $28,763.69 billed

• Rituximab Infusions (3 total) Pvrr Inj per 10mg at 100 (Each one cost $31,610.88)

– Owes $14,524.89 of $94,832.64 billed

• Medical expenses (Does not include labs, co-pays, hospital stay, doctor follow-ups, medications during stay, admission into hospital and emergency)

– Owes $2,203.68 of $11,018.40 billed

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Total Out-of-Pocket: $19,604.94

He’s tried everything he can to do this on his own, but I know he can’t do this on his own anymore. He's physically incapable. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to feel completely trapped in your own body, he’s living it right now. He just wants to heal. To hug and hold the people he loves closely. I want my brother to heal. His family wants and needs my brother to heal.

If you can donate, it will directly go toward life-saving treatment. If you can share, that helps more than you know. Every act of kindness counts.

Thank you for reading his story. Thank you for seeing him. And thank you for believing he can make it through this