Help Rick 'Bear' Porter Through His Final Year

Please help our good friend Rick "Bear" Porter who has fallen on hard times. Bear was just diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and has been given a year to live. GBS is a serious neurological disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system. This network of nerves extends from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.

Symptoms start as weakness and tingling in the feet and legs that spread to the upper body. Other symptoms may include difficulty breathing, problems with facial muscles, vision, swallowing, and speaking. Muscle weakness is the key symptom of GBS and can lead to paralysis.

Typically GBS can be controlled and treated, but Bear's condition has gone past that. He will have to get plasma transfusions and physical therapy to help control the symptoms during his last year of life. Because of having to do get transfusions and the symptoms of weakness, he will likely be unable to work full time.

Bear is an icon to the Roaring Fork Valley and has long been a good friend to many of us. If you can find it in your heart, please donate or share this GoFundMe to help him. Any dollar amount will help and it will all go to supporting him during this challenging time.