Help us get Suyen back on her feet!

In September of 2011, my wife Suyen was involved in a car accident that triggered a series of illnesses that would forever change her life and that of our three little girls. She was pregnant with our now 5 year old daughter when she was hit from behind by a speeding driver that was texting. After successfully giving birth to our little Sabrina, the doctors discovered that the impact from the accident fractured vertabrae in her spine, ruptured discs and would require immediate surgery. The surgery was unsuccessful, and she developed a pseudomonas infection that required 2 additional surgeries that same month. The doctors believe this triggered the onset of Multiple Sclerosis and unfortunately a severe version of it called Transverse Myelitis, a neurological condition that may ultimately leave her paraplegic, quadriplegic and possibly completely immobilized. Since then she has had 2 more spine surgeries, a pulmonary embolism, and 3 strokes, one of which resulted in a retinal arterial occlusion that limits eyesight in her left eye. Last year, she went into septic shock from an kidney infection that spread due to neurogenic bladder problems from the surgery. I came home from work and found her on the floor unresponsive. Our girls have seen their mom taken away in an ambulance and on several occasions did not know if she would be coming back. This disease is moving fast. Since her last MRI a few months ago, she has developed over 10 new lesions on her brain and spinal chord. A few weeks ago she suffered an MS relapse with 2 more active lesions in her spine. This most recent attack caused her to lose her ability to walk unassisted without falling which has led to her being admitted to UCI for intense treatment and physical therapy to hopefully regain some use in her legs. My wife Suyen is an incredible mother, a beautiful selfless person inside and out that used to train and ride horses. She was also a dancer in her younger years and it brings me to tears that she's going though this incurable disease that has limited her in so many ways. Our family life is struggling so badly and yet she goes through all of this with a smile and an optimistic attitude that is truly amazing. I'm asking for your help because after years of fighting this disease, it's unfortunately become a financial struggle as well. She hasn't been able to work for nearly five years and after this relapse I have to stay home from work often to care for her and our three daughters. With your help, I will hopefully be able to put our two youngest daughters in after school daycare so that I can get to work and cover the days that I have to miss for her weekly doctors visits. I'm also hoping to raise enough money to pay for weekly physical therapy since our insurance only covers two weeks at a time and only after a severe attack that leaves her more and more debilitated. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am the last person that will ever ask for help but I've reached a point where I've become desperate. I want to see my wife walk on her own again and be able to pick up and hug our little girls before they get too big. I'm embarrassed that I can't solve this problem on my own, but I now am realizing that my pride is not more important than my family. Thank you for reading this and thank you for any help you might give. -Javier Gardeazabal


Funds raised will go towards hyperbaric chamber treatments, an easier to use wheelchair that is fitted to her,MS specific physical therapy at Kessler family wellness center, and any costs related to helping my wife overcome this disease.