Help Miguel Keep Walking

This GoFund Me account is being set up to help my good friend Miguel Loera raise money to buy his leg braces that he so desperately needs to keep walking.  I have known Miguel for the last 17 years and he is the most kind, giving person, and never asks for himself. So I'm ask for him and his family.

This is Miguel's story...

 I was diagnosed with Charcott Marie Tooth Disease  in 1997 at 23 years of age, I started having symptoms since I was 20. CMT is an  inherited neurological disorder that affects both motor and sensory nerves. This damage  mostly affects your arms and legs (peripheral nerves) resulting in weakness of the foot and lower leg muscles, which leads to foot drop and a high-stepped gait with frequent tripping or falls. I have always lived an active lifestyle, playing sports, snow skiing which I had to give up just recently, camping and fishing. Over the years My CMT has progressed, making things challenging for me. The muscles in my legs are severely atrophied, my calves (Gastrock and Soleus) are pretty much gone so I can't stand on my toes, I can't feel my feet or move my toes.  I’ve ended up in the ER a number of times from falling, twisted ankles hurt my knees but I refuse to let it win. I exercise 5 days a week working on strength and balance, to be safe I started to use  different kinds of wraps and braces in order to stay active . It would be impossible for me  to do any of the things I enjoy to do without some kind of bracing . The braces and wraps I use I’m continually breaking and wearing out  because they only make them for sedentary people this is why I’m always looking for new stuff. I came across the Hanger Clinic website and discovered the “Exosym” which is a leg brace originally designed for the military and saw what people were able to do with these braces and how durable they were. I was amazed and said to myself that's what I’ve been looking for! These braces were designed for people who want to live an active lifestyle. Without any braces my balance is terrible, I have a hard time walking, even just standing in a line is extremely difficult. It also affects my social life because if I’m standing and talking with someone I'm constantly focused on trying to stay balanced, it’s very distracting. With the Exosym braces I would be able to keep on doing the things I love to do! The braces start at $9,000 and since my CMT affects both my legs I would need 2 of them which will be $18,000.00 total. I’m trying to raise money to help offset the cost since insurance doesn’t cover them at all.

#HELPKEEPMIGUELWALKING