Helping the Bilton's with their new way of life
Donation protected
My sister, Nikki and her family are hoping for a Christmas Miracle. Two weeks ago her husband Ryan's health took a serious decline. Ryan has had a life of fun, adventure, and travel but he has also walked a path of darkness, and depression.
Ryan and my sister met in Mexico 8 years ago and since then they have built a beautiful life together in Calgary, Canada. They rescued Ryan's daughter Hennessey from a hard life in Mexico a few years ago and they just welcomed baby Mckinnley into this world in June.
This past year has had its up's and downs for everyone, but it has been particularly hard for the Bilton's. Ryan contracted COVID-19 in March and that led to pneumonia and it has been a downward spiral since then. Ryan has lost over 50 pounds and his strength has been slowly deteriorating. He was diagnosed with clinical depression and is regularly seeing a therapist. Two weeks ago they were on their daily family walk and Ryan asked to push the stroller for stability. As they continued their walk, Nikki noticed Ryan losing color in his face so they immediately turned around to go home. When they got home, Ryan could not walk up the stairs. He said he his brain was telling his feet to move, and they wouldn't. Ryan was taken to the Emergency Room the next day. After 48 hours alone in the ER, they did every test possible to try and figure out what was happening. They drew countless vials of blood, did numerous X-rays, MRI's, spinal taps, stool samples, rectal exams, everything the team of Neurologist could think of. They sent him home the second day saying he had Gait Disorder. The next morning I got a call from my sister at 9am saying she just had to call 911 and watched her husband be taken away in a stretcher because he had a bad seizure. She held him in her arms as he pleaded for help and for his life. They took him away without even socks on.
He spent the next 24 hours at a different hospital, with a new team of Neurologists trying to figure out what was happening. They have now diagnosed him with Functional Neurological Disorder. Basically he is experiencing symptoms from a variety of diseases such as Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis, Paralysis and can expect to continue having seizures. Over the past week they have adjusted to a new way of life where Ryan can not walk on his own, or control his physical body. Last night he 100% lost his speech. If anyone knows Ryan, they know how funny and witty he is. Losing his speech and his ability to communicate has been very difficult for him.
I am setting up this Go-Fund me to try and bring some happiness and hope to the Bilton Family. Their new way of life is going to be a very long, hard road of constant changes and new challenges. I am trying to give the gift of some sort of relief. My sister is on Maternity leave and Ryan can not work in this condition. Their future is going to look very different starting with the way Ryan can move from their bed to the bathroom, or up and down the stairs. They may be looking into moving to a single level home, they will need help with reconstructing their bathroom so he can bathe, and assistance getting out of bed. They will be looking into many types of therapy such as physiotherapy for motor symptoms and a type of psychological therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for attacks or seizures. Specialized types of physiotherapy and CBT have been developed for FND. Other therapies such as speech therapy and occupational therapy may also have a role depending on the symptoms.
We do not know what the future holds for them but I do know that a little relief financially will help. Please keep the Bilton's in your thoughts as they navigate through these trying times. I know timing is poor for many people but even a social media share or if you're local, a hot meal delivered to them would mean so much, everything helps. Thank you.
Functional Neurological Disorder
Ryan and my sister met in Mexico 8 years ago and since then they have built a beautiful life together in Calgary, Canada. They rescued Ryan's daughter Hennessey from a hard life in Mexico a few years ago and they just welcomed baby Mckinnley into this world in June.
This past year has had its up's and downs for everyone, but it has been particularly hard for the Bilton's. Ryan contracted COVID-19 in March and that led to pneumonia and it has been a downward spiral since then. Ryan has lost over 50 pounds and his strength has been slowly deteriorating. He was diagnosed with clinical depression and is regularly seeing a therapist. Two weeks ago they were on their daily family walk and Ryan asked to push the stroller for stability. As they continued their walk, Nikki noticed Ryan losing color in his face so they immediately turned around to go home. When they got home, Ryan could not walk up the stairs. He said he his brain was telling his feet to move, and they wouldn't. Ryan was taken to the Emergency Room the next day. After 48 hours alone in the ER, they did every test possible to try and figure out what was happening. They drew countless vials of blood, did numerous X-rays, MRI's, spinal taps, stool samples, rectal exams, everything the team of Neurologist could think of. They sent him home the second day saying he had Gait Disorder. The next morning I got a call from my sister at 9am saying she just had to call 911 and watched her husband be taken away in a stretcher because he had a bad seizure. She held him in her arms as he pleaded for help and for his life. They took him away without even socks on.
He spent the next 24 hours at a different hospital, with a new team of Neurologists trying to figure out what was happening. They have now diagnosed him with Functional Neurological Disorder. Basically he is experiencing symptoms from a variety of diseases such as Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis, Paralysis and can expect to continue having seizures. Over the past week they have adjusted to a new way of life where Ryan can not walk on his own, or control his physical body. Last night he 100% lost his speech. If anyone knows Ryan, they know how funny and witty he is. Losing his speech and his ability to communicate has been very difficult for him.
I am setting up this Go-Fund me to try and bring some happiness and hope to the Bilton Family. Their new way of life is going to be a very long, hard road of constant changes and new challenges. I am trying to give the gift of some sort of relief. My sister is on Maternity leave and Ryan can not work in this condition. Their future is going to look very different starting with the way Ryan can move from their bed to the bathroom, or up and down the stairs. They may be looking into moving to a single level home, they will need help with reconstructing their bathroom so he can bathe, and assistance getting out of bed. They will be looking into many types of therapy such as physiotherapy for motor symptoms and a type of psychological therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for attacks or seizures. Specialized types of physiotherapy and CBT have been developed for FND. Other therapies such as speech therapy and occupational therapy may also have a role depending on the symptoms.
We do not know what the future holds for them but I do know that a little relief financially will help. Please keep the Bilton's in your thoughts as they navigate through these trying times. I know timing is poor for many people but even a social media share or if you're local, a hot meal delivered to them would mean so much, everything helps. Thank you.
Functional Neurological Disorder
Co-organizers (2)
Tawnya McKenney
Organizer
Denver, CO
Nikki Bilton
Co-organizer