Help Miguel Recover from Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Hi. My name is Scott Rich, owner of Talisman Wines and I am raising funds to help my Cellar Master, Miguel Ramirez, recover from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Guillain-Barre is a rare auto-immune condition in which the myelin sheaths of the peripheral nerve bundles are mistakenly attacked by the immune system. Just prior to our harvest season, Miguel suffered from an infection that resulted in a significant weight loss. After the infection subsided, Miguel continued to experience weakness, but insisted on coming to work regardless. His weakness progressed to the point that he was no longer able to walk without assistance and he developed a facial droop known as Bell's palsy. His family insisted that he go to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre and admitted to the hospital for treatment. The road to recovery from Guillain-Barre can be anywhere from 6 months to more than a year and it is likely that Miguel will not be able to return to work in the near future.

Here's a little background. I first started working with Miguel in 1995 when I was the winemaker at Etude Wines in Napa. We worked together until I left in 2001. Miguel contacted me in 2007 while we were building out our winery in a leased space. He was looking for a new job and the timing could not have been better. He has been a stellar employee and has helped us immensely during his tenure. In the 28 years that I've known Miguel, he's been a great contributor to his community and has been active with youth soccer in Napa Valley where he and his family reside. He and his wife have done a stellar job raising two sons and a daughter, all of whom have grown to become responsible, successful adults.

The funds will be used to help support Miguel and his family by providing a replacement for lost income while he cannot work and to help offset his medical costs, which are likely to be considerable.