Help Rommel Walk Again: Urgent Medical Treatment Needed

My name is Doremel.

My youngest brother, Rommel, is 38 years old and woke up one morning with a tingling sensation throughout his body that progressed to the inability to walk. He was recently diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). It is a rare neurological disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Symptoms often begin with tingling or weakness in the legs, which can progress rapidly, affecting the arms and breathing muscles. This can lead to difficulty walking, swallowing, and even respiratory failure in severe cases. The exact cause is often unknown, but GBS is frequently preceded by an infection, such as a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. Unfortunately, there is no cure, only treatment. My brother is back home in the Philippines with our 83-year-old father, who is unable to care for or provide for him.

His treatment includes intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy and plasmapheresis. The vials alone are $550 each, and he requires 20 ($11,000) vials ASAP, as well as the cost for the hospital stay.

In addition, my brother can no longer walk or care for himself, let alone work to provide for daily living expenses. He is receiving physical therapy daily that needs to continue.

I now have to provide a home caretaker as well as take on his living expenses for not only him but my elderly father, whom he cared for prior to his illness. Early intervention is imperative for his recovery.

I understand that everyone is going through their own challenges, and I never imagined I would find myself in this situation, asking for help. However, I'm truly struggling right now. I've taken on extra shifts and exhausted all my loan options, but I'm still falling short. If you can offer any support, I would be incredibly grateful and forever indebted to you.