- B
Today marks 40 days that Heather’s Dad, Bill has been at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California fighting through the difficult complications that are associated with Guillian-Barré Syndrome (Ghee-Yan Bah-RAY).
On January 10th of this year, Bill and Darla were at our home in Northern California taking care of their grandkids as Heather and I were away at a work conference. Bill woke up that morning and found that his legs and arms were incredibly weak and he had difficulty walking. The extreme weakness was similar to what he experienced 19 years ago when he came down with Guillian-Barré (GBS). Getting GBS twice in a lifetime happens in only two out of 100 GBS patients.
After getting advice from our local Emergency Department physician by phone, Darla dropped the kids off with friends before the sun was up and drove Bill three hours to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. By the time they arrived, Bill had completely lost the ability to walk. Within 24 hours of his arrival at the hospital, all movement of hands, arms, feet and legs was gone. Bill was now a complete quadriplegic with only the ability to turn his head.
Guillian-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder where the immune system attacks the nerves of the body in response to fighting the flu virus. We can all get GBS, yet thankfully only about 2,700 people a year in the United States experience this horrific condition which can leave patients paralyzed for many weeks, even months. Globally, 92% of patients with GBS survive the condition and 33% will have lasting permanent weakness.
The last forty days have been a major trial for Bill and Darla. There have been very dark days where Bill shared that he wasn’t sure he could power through as he was in significant pain, trapped in a lifeless body.
Bill has been at U.C. Davis since January 10th and he continues to need complete 24/7 care. He has been through five intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments and after not seeing improvement, he had a central line placed and underwent seven plasmapheresis treatments. These are the only known treatments to have the ability to stop this rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves and their myelin insulation.
Bill’s recent electromyography (EMG) test showed that he had severe damage to both the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves as well as the axons themselves. This is the rarer form of Guillian-Barré and requires a far longer recovery time as the nerves begin to regenerate once the body has stopped the attack.
Darla has been Bill’s chief-care giver which includes feeding him, adjusting him in bed as he feels itches, pain and discomfort, and can’t move his muscles to reposition in bed. We have been spending our weekends as a family helping relieve Darla and work to boost Bill’s spirits as the stress of this crisis has been extreme on both Bill and Darla. Nathan and Jillian have also traveled down from Oregon to multiple times to support and provide additional love.
Bill has continued to pay his dental office staff throughout the crisis as six families depend on this local practice. Five different dentists have come to Fall River over the past few weeks to step in to keep some care available for the community as this is the only dental practice in the Fall River Valley.
Thank you for your prayers and support of Bill and Darla and his entire office staff. Those who know Bill will know of his incredible generosity. He served in Taipei, Taiwan for six years at a mission hospital providing dental care to those in need. He brought his young family back to Fall River Mills in 1985 and started his dental practice in the Fall River Valley, a beautiful area of 3,000 people. Bill and Darla chose to live in a rural setting and deeply love their community.
Many people have graciously asked what they can do to help Bill and Darla through this crisis. The cards with special notes of support have been a blessing and for those who are able, we set this site up as an additional way to bless Bill and Darla. They have no disability insurance to carry the practice through this time and the physicians have shared it will take many months for Bill to regain his strength to return to Fall River and his patients.
Thank you for your love and support.
Jason and Heather
On January 10th of this year, Bill and Darla were at our home in Northern California taking care of their grandkids as Heather and I were away at a work conference. Bill woke up that morning and found that his legs and arms were incredibly weak and he had difficulty walking. The extreme weakness was similar to what he experienced 19 years ago when he came down with Guillian-Barré (GBS). Getting GBS twice in a lifetime happens in only two out of 100 GBS patients.
After getting advice from our local Emergency Department physician by phone, Darla dropped the kids off with friends before the sun was up and drove Bill three hours to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. By the time they arrived, Bill had completely lost the ability to walk. Within 24 hours of his arrival at the hospital, all movement of hands, arms, feet and legs was gone. Bill was now a complete quadriplegic with only the ability to turn his head.
Guillian-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder where the immune system attacks the nerves of the body in response to fighting the flu virus. We can all get GBS, yet thankfully only about 2,700 people a year in the United States experience this horrific condition which can leave patients paralyzed for many weeks, even months. Globally, 92% of patients with GBS survive the condition and 33% will have lasting permanent weakness.
The last forty days have been a major trial for Bill and Darla. There have been very dark days where Bill shared that he wasn’t sure he could power through as he was in significant pain, trapped in a lifeless body.
Bill has been at U.C. Davis since January 10th and he continues to need complete 24/7 care. He has been through five intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments and after not seeing improvement, he had a central line placed and underwent seven plasmapheresis treatments. These are the only known treatments to have the ability to stop this rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves and their myelin insulation.
Bill’s recent electromyography (EMG) test showed that he had severe damage to both the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves as well as the axons themselves. This is the rarer form of Guillian-Barré and requires a far longer recovery time as the nerves begin to regenerate once the body has stopped the attack.
Darla has been Bill’s chief-care giver which includes feeding him, adjusting him in bed as he feels itches, pain and discomfort, and can’t move his muscles to reposition in bed. We have been spending our weekends as a family helping relieve Darla and work to boost Bill’s spirits as the stress of this crisis has been extreme on both Bill and Darla. Nathan and Jillian have also traveled down from Oregon to multiple times to support and provide additional love.
Bill has continued to pay his dental office staff throughout the crisis as six families depend on this local practice. Five different dentists have come to Fall River over the past few weeks to step in to keep some care available for the community as this is the only dental practice in the Fall River Valley.
Thank you for your prayers and support of Bill and Darla and his entire office staff. Those who know Bill will know of his incredible generosity. He served in Taipei, Taiwan for six years at a mission hospital providing dental care to those in need. He brought his young family back to Fall River Mills in 1985 and started his dental practice in the Fall River Valley, a beautiful area of 3,000 people. Bill and Darla chose to live in a rural setting and deeply love their community.
Many people have graciously asked what they can do to help Bill and Darla through this crisis. The cards with special notes of support have been a blessing and for those who are able, we set this site up as an additional way to bless Bill and Darla. They have no disability insurance to carry the practice through this time and the physicians have shared it will take many months for Bill to regain his strength to return to Fall River and his patients.
Thank you for your love and support.
Jason and Heather
Organizer and beneficiary
Darla Schmunk
Beneficiary