Help Bring Martin Home to his Peaceful Life on the Farm

Help Martin & Kim Gates Through Martin’s Recovery from Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Many of you know Kim and Martin Gates—their love of horses, their generosity, and the quiet life they’ve built together on their beautiful farm in Georgia.

Right now, they’re facing something unimaginable.

Martin is in the ICU, fighting a severe case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)—a rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s own immune system attacks the nerves.

This isn’t caused by a virus or bacteria—it’s a sudden, unpredictable condition that affects everyone differently.

Martin is currently paralyzed from the neck down and has been on a ventilator for three weeks. He cannot speak and communicates only by blinking and nodding.

Martin is fully mentally present—aware of everything happening around him—but he is unable to move, unable to speak, and cannot be sedated, as sedation dangerously affects his blood pressure.

He is enduring this experience with full consciousness, inside a body that cannot move. Imagine how hard that is. And yet, Martin continues to respond, patiently, day after day.

Kim and Martin live on a 10-acre farm with their four horses, an Aussie named Dawson, four cats, and chickens that roam the yard.

They’ve built a beautiful, meaningful life together - quiet, hardworking, and deeply connected to the land and animals they care for.

The Road Ahead

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is unpredictable and deeply individual.

Recovery cannot begin until the disease “plateaus”—when the immune system stops attacking the nerves. For some, that happens quickly. For others—like Martin—it can take weeks or even months.

Until then, this is a waiting game.

We are asking for your support, thoughts, and prayers—that the GBS will plateau soon and begin to reverse. Once it does, Martin will face a long but hopeful journey: regaining the ability to breathe on his own, beginning to move again, and starting intensive physical therapy.

Full recovery is possible, but it’s likely to take a year or more before Martin can begin returning to normal life.

While Martin fights to heal, Kim is carrying everything on her own.

After morning chores, she drives an hour each way every day to be with him in the ICU. She comes home to care for the animals and manage the full workload of their farm—tasks she and Martin have always shared.

They’ve lost half of their household income, since Martin’s farrier work is now on indefinite hold. Their insurance has a strict limit on how long it will cover inpatient care. With Martin’s condition still critical and no timeline for discharge, they may be facing significant out-of-pocket costs in the future.

This is a long road. And they shouldn’t have to walk it alone.

How You Can Help

This fundraiser is here to provide practical relief and peace of mind during an overwhelming time.

Your support will help cover:

If you live nearby and have experience with horses or farm work, we’re also welcoming volunteers. Even a few hours of help can make a meaningful difference.

Thank You for Standing With Them

Martin is enduring more than most of us can imagine—paralyzed, voiceless, and unsedated—but he remains present, calm, and deeply determined to heal.

With his quiet strength and steadfast positivity, he has won the hearts of every doctor, nurse, and caregiver around him. Everyone who meets him is amazed by his resilience, his patience, and the steady light he continues to carry through it all.

We believe in his strength. We believe in Kim’s resilience. And we believe in the power of community to help carry them through.

Thank you for your donation - however small. Thank you for offering your love, support, and prayers. Your help truly means the world to us.