Help the Diggins Family Recover From Medical Crisis

In April of 2024 John went to the ER after experiencing a variety of increasingly strange symptoms (including difficulty walking and using his hands, which turned out to be the beginnings of paralysis). After being initially sent home, John returned as his condition worsened and was finally admitted to OHSU where he was eventually diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, an autoimmune condition that attacks the nervous system. Over the next week, he became almost completely paralyzed from the neck down, including loss of respiratory and digestive function, which required him to be put on a ventilator and feeding tube for several months. The initial prognosis was that John could regain full functionality in 12-18 months, but since then he has been diagnosed with the more severe AMAN variant which means his recovery will be much slower and there will almost certainly be permanent nerve damage limiting the use of his hands and feet.

This sudden medical crisis occurred as John and Emmi were preparing to welcome their first child in October of 2024.

The ongoing recovery process has involved many hospital transfers, culminating in admission to a specialty rehab facility in Chicago that specializes in GBS cases. After nearly half a year in various hospitals John was able to return in time to be present for the successful birth of their daughter Lulu and is continuing his recovery at home with his wonderful, healthy family. He is leveraging adaptive technology as best as he can to continue his work in software development.

The continued support of our amazing community has been instrumental in John’s recovery thus far. Your much-appreciated donation will go toward medical bills accrued over the last 10 months, recovering income lost during the crisis, the mounting costs associated with ongoing rehabilitation and accessibility solutions, and supporting Emmi, John and Lulu as they adjust to their new circumstances.