Gina’s Fight with Chronic Guillian Barre Sydrome/CIDP

Friends & family of Gina Zarelli-Sajjadi,




I am putting this Go Fund Me together for Gina and her kids, so they can focus on being there to support her through this ongoing, unexpected battle.  Your support is valued and appreciated, whether in the form of warm meals and financial assistance, or prayers and positive energy.

As some of you may know, on January 3rd, Gina began experiencing some numbness and tingling ranging from her lower extremities up to her pelvis.  Her symptoms rapidly progressed, causing complete paralysis from the navel down through her lower extremities, and in most of her face.  She was initially diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, defined by Mayo Clinic as “a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves.  These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body.”  As a follow-up to this diagnosis, she began to receive Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a standard treatment for GBS.  Unfortunately, the IVIG did not produce the results that her family and doctors were hoping for.

Gina’s symptoms quickly continued to spread, with the severity of her paralysis in her arms and hands coming in waves, starting with numbness and tingling, before complete paralysis would set in.  After a month of worsening symptoms, including a reduced ability to speak, breathe and swallow on her own, she was intubated and put on life support on February 4th. 

Doctors believe she may have the chronic form of GBS, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), rather than the acute form.  Regardless, rehabilitation is expected to take months, if not years.  Gina, who has owned her own business and managed her home-farm for decades, will no longer be able to work.  The financial assistance obtained from this go-fund me will initially be used to cover any medical necessities not covered by insurance, and to cover bills that she is unable to pay while being hospitalized.  Once Gina is weaned from life support, and begins her recovery at home, funds will be used to create a handicap accessible space (room, bathroom, etc.) and vehicle, as well as cover her cost of living for her and Kian while she works toward recovering.  Gina’s every effort should be focused on her recovery, and we’d like to ensure that money is the last of her worries.