Help Tony In His Recovery From Guillain-Barr
Donation protected
[Photo provided by Diane Silvestri, Tony’s mom]
Tony Silvestri is as a great many things: beloved teacher, world-renowned choral lyricist, singer, poet, Irish music aficionado and concertina player. If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Tony, you know what an inspirational, upbeat, and loving man he is to the people in his community.
After losing his young wife to cancer, he raised two lovely children to adulthood by himself, all while forging his own career and fostering the talents of our next generation of musicians, writers, and teachers.
Tony has always given freely of his time to help others, whether that means in the classroom, at his church, in global choir communities, or among his closest friends and relatives.
After a lifetime taking care of others, this time it is “our Tony” who needs help!
In November 2023, Tony began to experience numbness in his mouth, hands, and feet, coupled with a bone-crushing fatigue. In a matter of days, his family and friends looked on as he quickly lost his capacity to stand or walk unaided. The seriousness of his condition became clear as his mystery condition evolved into wide-spread paralysis. This swift decline in an otherwise healthy man caused a great deal of terror for Tony and his family as his worsening condition landed him in the ICU at the University of Kansas hospital, an hour from his home. After grueling testing, including a spinal tap, doctors diagnosed him with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a disorder of the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord and the road to recovery is long.
Even as he remains in the neuro ICU, Tony’s condition has slowly improved with treatment. The doctors assure us he is turning the corner towards recovery. Tony is still largely bed ridden as he continues to use a feeding tube for nourishment. With his loving partner, Jack, by his side, Tony’s family rejoiced when he regained the ability to communicate. Soon Tony will be transferred via ambulance back to a rehabilitation facility in his hometown to begin the grueling process of recovery. There is a long road ahead. Over the next few months, Tony must re-learn how to walk. As around-the-clock rehabilitation takes place, he must build back the strength his muscles need to sustain his body in every facet of his life so he can feed and care for himself.
This is where you come in!
Tony’s recovery will be costly. He has already accrued hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Even with insurance his portion will be substantial. Additionally, his household expenses did not cease while he has been incapacitated. One thing is clear: he will not be able to work for an unforeseeable amount of time into the future.
Please take a moment to contribute to Tony’s GoFundMe!
Our goal is to allow Tony to focus solely on the critical work of regaining his health without the added worry of financial woes dragging him down.
Note that even a modest donation to Tony’s GoFundMe will be a significant help!
Tony’s parents are the sole administrators of all funds raised through this campaign and 100% will be used to pay medical bills and fund his recovery.
Know, too, that if you are unable to contribute, sharing this campaign across all your social media channels has shown to aid these types of fundraisers significantly.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide! We will be sharing health updates as Tony’s health journey progresses.
Tony Silvestri is as a great many things: beloved teacher, world-renowned choral lyricist, singer, poet, Irish music aficionado and concertina player. If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Tony, you know what an inspirational, upbeat, and loving man he is to the people in his community.
After losing his young wife to cancer, he raised two lovely children to adulthood by himself, all while forging his own career and fostering the talents of our next generation of musicians, writers, and teachers.
Tony has always given freely of his time to help others, whether that means in the classroom, at his church, in global choir communities, or among his closest friends and relatives.
After a lifetime taking care of others, this time it is “our Tony” who needs help!
In November 2023, Tony began to experience numbness in his mouth, hands, and feet, coupled with a bone-crushing fatigue. In a matter of days, his family and friends looked on as he quickly lost his capacity to stand or walk unaided. The seriousness of his condition became clear as his mystery condition evolved into wide-spread paralysis. This swift decline in an otherwise healthy man caused a great deal of terror for Tony and his family as his worsening condition landed him in the ICU at the University of Kansas hospital, an hour from his home. After grueling testing, including a spinal tap, doctors diagnosed him with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a disorder of the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord and the road to recovery is long.
Even as he remains in the neuro ICU, Tony’s condition has slowly improved with treatment. The doctors assure us he is turning the corner towards recovery. Tony is still largely bed ridden as he continues to use a feeding tube for nourishment. With his loving partner, Jack, by his side, Tony’s family rejoiced when he regained the ability to communicate. Soon Tony will be transferred via ambulance back to a rehabilitation facility in his hometown to begin the grueling process of recovery. There is a long road ahead. Over the next few months, Tony must re-learn how to walk. As around-the-clock rehabilitation takes place, he must build back the strength his muscles need to sustain his body in every facet of his life so he can feed and care for himself.
This is where you come in!
Tony’s recovery will be costly. He has already accrued hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Even with insurance his portion will be substantial. Additionally, his household expenses did not cease while he has been incapacitated. One thing is clear: he will not be able to work for an unforeseeable amount of time into the future.
Please take a moment to contribute to Tony’s GoFundMe!
Our goal is to allow Tony to focus solely on the critical work of regaining his health without the added worry of financial woes dragging him down.
Note that even a modest donation to Tony’s GoFundMe will be a significant help!
Tony’s parents are the sole administrators of all funds raised through this campaign and 100% will be used to pay medical bills and fund his recovery.
Know, too, that if you are unable to contribute, sharing this campaign across all your social media channels has shown to aid these types of fundraisers significantly.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide! We will be sharing health updates as Tony’s health journey progresses.
Co-organizers (3)
Andrea Hoag
Organizer
Lawrence, KS
Henry Silvestri
Beneficiary
Diane Silvestri
Co-organizer