Help Claire recover from Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Dear friends, family and supporters,

We reach out to you with a heartfelt plea for assistance as we navigate the challenging journey imposed by Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) on our beloved mother and talented artist, Claire. Diagnosed with the debilitating AMAN variant of GBS in May of 2023, Claire's life took an unexpected turn. Hospitalized and paralyzed from the shoulders down, she faced a daunting battle against this rare neurological condition. Only 2 in every 100,000 people get GBS and Claire has a variant that makes up only 10% of GBS cases that sadly takes much longer to recover from.

Over the ensuing months, Claire's resilience and the unwavering support of medical professionals, family and friends saw her through intensive care where she had had to overcome a blood clot, a collapsed lung, infections and paralysis which even included her breathing and swallow muscles. She laid in a hospital bed for months with a ventilator and feeding tube unable to eat, speak or breathe on her own. Finally in September of 2023 Claire was transferred to a rehabilitation facility where she had the feeding and breathing tubes removed, and by October, she returned home—a testament to her tenacity. Today, we celebrate her strength and the progress she has made. Claire can now eat independently, breathe unassisted, sit up on her own, and has regained movement in her arms and legs.

Despite these milestones, the journey is far from over. Claire, still unable to stand, walk, or move her fingers, is facing the challenges of daily life. Widowed and living alone, she relies on the limited home aide support provided by insurance and supplemented by our personal savings for additional care in the comfort of her own home. Live in home aides cost $350 a day on average through an agency or $30-$35 an hour which we simply can't afford. My sister and I have been taking turns staying in her apartment while using our modest savings to ensure she has round the clock home care, medical supplies, mobility equipment and physical therapy, but the financial strain is becoming overwhelming and we have found it to be an uphill battle to keep up with our jobs (we both have freelance jobs) while also caring for our dear mother. The mounting medical and care expenses, coupled with the doctors' prognosis of a 1-3 year recovery, have brought us to a difficult crossroads.

Any assistance is much appreciated. We have launched this fundraiser to ensure Claire receives the care she needs, facilitating her recovery and enabling her to reclaim her life—especially her love for painting and art, volunteering and the joy of church and community engagement. Insurance covers only a fraction of the expenses, leaving us responsible for medical supplies not covered, mobility aids, additional home care, physical therapy, and lingering bills from her 6-month hospital stay.

Your contributions will help alleviate the financial burden while also providing Claire with the treatment needed to alleviate her suffering and put her on the path to recovery. Your generosity will have a huge influence on the progress of her recovery and help facilitate the healing process. We will use the money to pay for extended physical therapy at Push to Walk (that insurance won't cover), supplemental home care for nights and weekends, medical supplies and equipment, mobility aids such as braces and outstanding medical expenses from her 6 month hospital stay. Her condition is not permanent and with the proper therapy and care she can again walk, paint, cook and do all the things she used to love to do but she still has a long road ahead.

Thank you for your compassion and for being part of Claire's recovery. Please share this with family and friends or anyone you think might be interested in helping.

Here is her art webpage

We hope one day, with your help, she can return to painting.