Help Chris with living expenses while fighting GBS

We all have our favourite server at every restaurant and if you have ever eaten at Crabby Joe’s Woodstock or East Side Marios in the City of Woodstock, then we will all likely have the same person on our list…….Chris Debrowka. Chris started in the diningroom at Crabby Joes in 2008 and when he left in 2019 he had earned the position of diningroom manager. He has been at East Side Marios since August 2019 and remained there when Covid struck. Chris is a favourite of anyone who ate at either of these restaurants with his easy smile, hilarious jokes and wonderful personality. Chris would remember your name, order and the fine details you told him after just 1 visit. Chris loves being a server and despite other job offers chose to be in an industry serving others. In short, Chris is the perfect server.

In June 2020 Chris was headed to his shift at East Side Marios and noticed his vision wasn’t right. He went to the Woodstock Hospital where they assumed he was having a stroke and rushed him to London. After many hours and as many tests it was determined that it wasn’t a stroke but they didn’t know what was affecting Chris. Chris continued to have issues with his eyes and legs and was sent for multiple tests, eventually admitted to the hospital in London, and after weeks of not knowing what was happening to his body in July 2020 he was finally diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is a rare disorder where the body’s immune system damages nerves. The damage to the nerves causes muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. It affects how you walk, talk, see and move. It is rare for anyone under fifty, especially a man, to get GBS once and Chris has now had 3 reoccurances of this dreadful disease. In the last reoccurance Chris fell and fractured his leg in 3 places requiring surgery to insert a rod and pins. Obviously, with all of these symptoms and issues, Chris has been unable to work since July 2020.

While Chris is an amazing server who adores his customers and would never consider any other employment, the job does not come with health and disability benefits. Despite the short-term disability allowance provided by the government, which has now run out, Chris has had to dip into his savings and they are now dwindling. Chris has the same expenses he had when he was able to work, including his mortgage, car payment, hydro, insurance, phone, food, etc. Any donation would go a long way to help Chris through his recovery and allow him to get back to what he does best, which is putting a smile on our faces when we want to go out and have fun.

I met Chris 13 years ago when he was my server at Crabby Joe’s Woodstock. It was his first day and it was sidewalk days, which are always crazy in Woodstock. Despite being brand new, sidewalk days and me being a picky eater, Chris managed to make that day perfect and has done so every time he has served me. He has become one of my best friends and like a brother to me. I have spoken to him about this fundraiser and all funds will go directly to supporting Chris and his expenses.

Please don’t forget to tip your server!