Joe's Medical Mystery Tour

Our journey started in January of 2019, while Joe was playing racquetball with his brother, Jon.  He took a step and his leg just gave out from underneath him. We didn't think much of it at the time. As the months went by, Joe had been experiencing this, some pain and muscle spasms throughout his lower abdomen and extremities.  Finally, in June we decided that it was time to seek medical advice. During this time, a doctor put a name to the strange walking Joe was experiencing. Foot drop. Since June, Joe has had a total of 5 MRIS, numerous blood tests, a stress test, a spinal tap, an EMG test, X-Rays, 3 CT scans, a sonogram and a PET scan. During this time, Joe has been working with a team of doctors at the Mayo Clinic and are in the process  of working on a diagnosis. We have been given a vague diagnosis of Lumbar Myelopathy or possibly Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).  Whatever Joe has, it is progressive and rare.  So we still have no diagnosis which has also made the treatment hard to pinpoint.  


This journey has been incredibly difficult for Joe and our family.  The simple things that most take for granted every day, like getting dressed, walking, tying your shoes, has become a major everyday struggle for Joe. Because of theses everyday struggles, Joe has had to give up the career he loves as an IBEW electrician and has not been able to work since June.  We are in a transition where we are trying to reinvent our family so we can survive and the three of us are still barely starting out as a family.  


Joe, Me (his wife), and our 9 year old daughter, Maeve, do our best to stay positive and rely on God.  We are fortunate to have an amazing family that has been unbelievably supportive. Friends that help lift our spirits.  All have loved us fiercely. We are a family that loves to laugh and make fun of ourselves. While that keeps our spirits up, some days seem unbearable.


Through this journey, the Stoller's are already so grateful for all of the prayers and support they  have received. However, The cost of finding out the diagnosis and the treatment plan is now and will be in the future extremely costly. By donating you can help us with medical expenses and the costs of everyday living.  Anything you can contribute is appreciated more than we can say and please share and pass this along to everyone you know. Thank you.