Hello Everyone! I am Oliver's Grandmother. My name is Teresa. Just when I thought my heart could never be broken again, my beautiful Grandson has developed a rare disease called Rasmussen Encephalitis.

In the fall of 2019 my Olly was healthy and happy and growing like most children do. He could talk to me and tell me anything. During that winter he had started what we believe to be silent seizures. He would hold his stomach and feel nauseated and stare for a few moments. There were no explanations as to why he was feeling sick. His parents took him to the doctors and nothing came of it. It wasn't until his eye started to twitch and he was not responding to his parents that they became very alarmed. They took him to the ER and were told he was not having seizures and they sent them home. The next day his parents new something was wrong and he was taken to Strong Hospital and admitted.

If you research the disease, it's considered an auto immune disease. Oliver's right side of his brain had swelling, and he has epilepsy from this disease. The progression Of RE has left Oliver's speech impacted, and his left side of his body. His Seizures can not be controlled by medicine and the most effective treatment for him is brain surgery. The past 2 years have been consistent hospital stays for Olly and his mother. She was unable to continue to work because of COVID restrictions for every time Oliver was in the hospital he had to quarantine for 2 weeks. He was there often.

A year ago my Grandson could still talk to me and walk normally. Today he can not. His mother and I have researched this disease extensively and we knew that surgery would be inevitable.

They tried everything possible with Oliver, steroids, infusion's different medicines. Nothing, we were no closer to helping him now than a year ago. My daughter saught out a different Doctor for Oliver because we knew there is a specific time frame for this surgery to have the best outcome. His current Nearological team were not living up to the standards that my Grandson deserves. She found a doctor that has studied this disease extensively. This doctor has gone to third world countries and performed surgeries for children that would never have gotten the help they deserved. That's the kind of doctor my Grandson deserves.

Oliver was accepted by this amazing team of Doctors, and he was admitted to their hospital in Manhattan on last Tuesday for extensive testing. Oliver will have the surgery on Tuesday September 21, 2021.

My daughter has recently exhausted her Pandemic Unemployment. She is currently in NYC with Oliver and they have a ruff few months coming up. I raised her to be strong and independent, and proud. She has not wanted to ask anyone for help and we have done very well so far. The time has come to put aside our pride and ask for help for Oliver. We need help for the expenses of Providing for Oliver's big trip to NYC. Expenses not covered by insurance. And everyday brings new challenges. He has to have extensive rehabilitation.

As of today September 18, 2021, we are praying and believing the outcome of this surgery will give Oliver back his ability to speak to us, and be seizure free. The effect of this disease has been devistating for my Grandson with permanent life long disabilities.

He has been the most amazing strong child through this whole situation. He is our Hero. While all the kids his age recently started school, he was in the hospital again.

Please pray for Oliver and his Mom Ally to have the strength to continue on with Love and gratitude every single day. If you are able to help us we greatly appreciate your help. Please everyone pray for our family. Any funds donated to us that are not used for Oliver will be forwarded to the Epilepsy Foundation, and the Rasmussen Encephalitis Foundation.