Leo's Fearless Fight: New Hope Together

My little brother, Leo, was born in 1966 with a chronic disease that turned out to be scientifically progressive and debilitating in the last year. To our surprise, it has morphed into its current state, which all neuroscience sources echoed and were baffled with, yet it was so widespread on planet Earth and millions of people lost focus and were dying at warp speed .

This disease was not supposed to present itself as it has according to the medical community and what Leo/our mom were told by all MD’s from 1966 to 12.2024. Luckily, a lot of those like Leo had developed a voice when it was thought nobody was listening as was the case with a lot of people wearing these moccasins.

Over the last 4 years, Leo has had to slowly built and reassembled his care team because his symptoms and issues worsened to this current point over the last 4 weeks. His nurse case manager mentioned last week, stunning Leo, that he may need to seriously consider a reality (a nightmare for Leo as a 4-years old) - getting confined to a wheelchair.

It has become more difficult for Leo to walk, maintain his balance while standing, see; and concentrate to drive (he has not driven in over 14 months), read, hold onto utensils a cup while he eats and drinks, talk, stay awake for more than a few hours, carry anything in his hands, and go up/down stairs.

What used to be simple tasks like showering, going out in public for long periods of time, watching TV or a movie, and so many other activities we all may take for granted have become increasingly more arduous for Leo.

However, times have changed over 60 years and new health issues have arisen. It took the Pandemic 6 short years to take 6,990.000 lives and infect 772,000.000 people worldwide from February 2019 to August 30, 2025.

Those are staggering numbers, but what is more perplexing is the impact on people like my little brother who was born with a disease which was completely unseen and has morphed into one that has crumbled Leo's 32-year career as a career transition coach for 1,000’s of multinational C-Suite leaders and professionals with comp. packages ranging in the high 5 to 8-figures.

I, Dean, am on here now due to the fact this has impacted my brother’s family and his life now and to provide them with safety and security we all need as they go through this chronic disease crisis. For Leo/his family this has developed medically and physically in a fast 13 months.

It has turned everything upside-down for them from a central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disease first diagnosed as ataxic cerebral palsy, and downbeat nystagmus potentially as a result of strokes and seizures during a 24+ hour birth and 59 years after from the strokes/seizures/balance/vision/high-risk fall issues that have suddenly slowly, and randomly come back into his life in Nov. 2021.

Leo has not experienced strokes or seizures since the early 1970's. The unsuspecting cause is the the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is infecting and attacking the weakest part of his body (verified medical journals, studies, and research) , his CNS and PNS.- control center and outlying extensions of his body. It has been affecting his CNS and PNS making everyday an agonizing battle for the last 376+ days. Since August 22, 2024 this has progressed to a stage where his CNS/PNS-CP has become progressive and debilitating.

Leo did everything he could possibly do to hide the fact up into our early 50’s that there is not/was not anything “different” about him. Without having to say too much, he has been through a lot when we were young and we grew up very close since his birth in 1966.

I do not think I really knew the extent of the huge stroke at his birth and small ones he had with seizures until a recent MRI Leo had done at Duke Health and MUSC less than 4 and 8 months ago in 2024, and in 2025 in November 2021, 2018, 2012, and prior MRI's consistently showing large deep scars inside his brain in all his 10 MRI’s with a total of 8 done since 2012, along with the stroke causing his CNS problems that have started resurfacing out of nowhere. He had the biggest stroke none of us knew about until almost 8 weeks ago with over 20 dangerous high-risk falls since 3.20.25 to present.

Based on what has been shared with me, it was touch-and-go when Leo was in the birth canal for over 24+ hours about 60 years ago. I would have never imagined I would witness my brother today back in worse physical condition than he was in back in 1966. I stood up for my little brother defending him from the cruelest of neighborhood bullies non-stop from when he was 4 to 16.

They nicknamed Leo “drunk” because of his gait and lack of motor control when he was about 4 or younger, plus those same mean kids threw rocks at Leo, beat him up daily, and worse as Leo innocently rode his bike in our neighborhood in NY.

His doctors told Leo and our mother he would “never ride a bike, catch a ball, and so much more (because of his CNS disease and coordination issues. Leo proved his physical therapists and neurologists all wrong by accomplishing all of those physical activities.

As of August 2025, 4 years after the pandemic, he started getting sick again 10 hospitals and a crazy number, (30+) neurologist’s/ PT's, 21 falls 3,20.25 to 8.20.25.

Leo received a direct referral last Thursday to a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic from his neurologist in Charleston, SC. These two happen to know each other from medical school overseas. Again, fearless as Leo has become, he asked if his CHS neurologist knew anyone at the Cleveland Clinic. His doc pulled off another miracle. Leo has an appointment at Cleveland Clinic, which Leo happened to boldly register with in September 2024.

More background: Leo had the SARS-CoV-2 infection twice in July ‘21 (7.20.21 to 11.30.22: includes Long Covid and he’s had it from 8.22.24 to present) and a significant bout with SARS-CoV-2 in March and April 2025.

Typically in the course of the SARS-CoV-2 disease, degeneration occurs within the spinal-cerebellar tracts, posterior cords of the spinal cord, and the pyramidal pathways and cerebellum. It is not something that will disappear; however it doesn’t return nor has it been a debilitating and/or progressive disease until the COVID-19 virus attacked and infected a human’s (Leo’s) CNS and PNS.

Now, Leo has been diagnosed with the same chronic neurological disease/disorder he was born with defined as ataxic CP (a CNS/PNS disease he battled and beat in silence against practical medicine, ignorance, naysayers, and science in the 1960’s through the mid 1980’s as he typically did until the Covid-19 pandemic, which turned his non-progressive disease upside down into a debilitating condition rendering Leo disabled erasing his 32-year career and undying enthusiasm. There is not too much that keeps him down and out of this kind of a fight.

Leo loves the concept of a Career Position and Career Management. Leo started working FT at age 13; was forced to stop working FT in 2022. Then, he was diagnosed as “dizzy”, but following over 8 MRI’s at 10 healthcare systems, plus under the guidance of over 90 specialist visits in 7 states and 2 countries since ‘22.

Leo needs a break to collect his wits, but they must pay his mounting bills.

Leo’s wife and two most significant physicians plus his Cardiologist are 650 miles away. He needs go with his wife to back for two follow-ups in October.

Please note: it took nearly 8-10 months to find these physicians among multiple medical facilities. He needs help to go back to see his physicians. Leo traveled this far because he’s staying with me, his only family.

Another thing, Leo, his wife, and son moved out of their home on 8.7.25. Hence, they had to put ALL their belongings in storage in Charleston and do not want to lose anything else beyond anymore of the pride and dignity he has manifested .

On top of everything else they have going on in thier life with hospital and healthcare bills , they don't have anywhere to keep ALL their belongings so they had to put everything they own for the last 30 years in two large storage units, the rent is due at the first of every month so Leo/family need help for a few months, which is part of the motivation for this GoFundMe.

Here’s how you can help (please):

* Donate: Any amount directly supports temporary housing, hotels, our storage, healthcare, and daily needs during this crisis.

* Share: Spreading his story increases the chances of reaching those who can help.

* Offer Guidance: If you have experience with disability services, financial aid, or housing support, your advice would mean a lot.

We deeply appreciate any support you can give; Leo’s family’s overall well-being depends on it.

Dean Lance Maxson