Help Zack on his Road to Recovery #ZackStrong

Hello! This fundraiser is being put together for Zack Yeager by his brother, Ryan O’Hara, and myself, Rachel Firster (Ryan’s girlfriend). We are looking to raise funds to help Jen Yeager (Zack’s mom) cover the extensive medical expenses that have come from Zack’s diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Who knew Friday, May 6, 2022, would be the day that changed Zack's life. After spending a week in Miami celebrating our FIU college graduation, something didn't seem right. When Zack got home from Miami and tried to carry his luggage upstairs to his bedroom, he said it felt like his legs couldn't go up the stairs. Zack hadn't been feeling well over the past several weeks, but we all just assumed it was allergies or being run down from school, performing in Sister Act, and the Miami trip, so he went to bed hoping to feel refreshed in the morning. Instead, things progressively got worse; Zack was tired, nauseous, vomiting, had a severe headache, and began to develop increased mobility issues.

By Tuesday, May 10, he had been to the Hamot ER and to his PCP. He had fallen overnight and was unable to get to his feet on his own. Jen decided to take Zack back to Hamot ER because something was not right. While waiting to be seen, they got the notification from his PCP that he had tested positive for mono (that explained a lot of his symptoms, but not the inability to stand up or walk unassisted). Zack was admitted early in the evening, and with his mobility issues spreading, the Neurology Team was called for a consult, and he was sent for a CT scan. Their immediate thought was a rare condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome, and they began IVIG (Intravenous Immunoglobulin) treatments since his immobility was spreading so rapidly. The Neuro Team reached out to their supervisor, and within about 30 minutes, Zack was being taken away to be flown by medevac to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Since May 10, Zack has been in the PICU at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and things have become increasingly worse.

Zack has gone through:

-2 MRI’s (complete brain and spine), each one is about 3 hours long

-Lumbar puncture (aka spinal tap) to rule out any other reason for his symptoms (this confirmed the diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome/GBS)

-Intubated twice

-Partial lung collapse on both sides

-Many IVs (they have had to call the IV team three times because they were running out of places to put an IV; the IV team uses sonogram to find suitable veins)

-2 rounds of IVIG (Intravenous Immunoglobulin)

-Plasmapheresis (aka plasma exchange/PLEX)

-Respiratory therapy/breathing treatments (metaneb/cough assist)

-Small blood clot from an infected IV line

-Many different medications

-Learning how to communicate by writing everything down

-Physical therapy

-Occupational therapy

-Speech therapy

-Music therapy

As of today, Sunday, June 5, Zack still has a long road ahead of him. He is unable to do anything on his own and still cannot move his legs, and is slowly starting to move his arms a little more. Once he is stable enough to move into the intensive inpatient therapy unit, he could spend another 8-12 weeks there, depending on how quickly he gets his movement back and re-learns all of the things we take for granted each and every day.

The medical expenses behind the treatment of such a rare condition like Guillain-Barre will be extensive. Zack and his mother, Jen, have been in the hospital for a month with no exact idea of when they will be able to return home. Jen has remained right by Zack’s side and has not been able to work in over a month. Not only will Jen be solely responsible for the medical bills that come from Zack’s diagnosis, but she is also financially responsible for her two sons at home, Jacob and Jackson, as well as her regular living expenses.

Thank you to everyone that has shown support thus far. We will continue to update this page with Zack’s progress as time goes on!