Support Don's Fight Against Guillain-Barre Syndrome

My name is Connie and along with a small group, we are raising funds for our dear friends, Marcia and Don.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare illness that suddenly strikes its victim's immune system causing severe nerve damage, and various levels of paralysis. There is no known cause for this syndrome, and there is no known cure. Each victim is stricken differently and with various levels of medical trauma. Treatment options can reduce the pain and symptoms. Sometimes it can take years for a patient to recover from the effects of this highly-serious, debilitating illness.

Don May, husband of Marcia Allen May, was suddenly stricken with Guillain-Barré Syndrome March 31 and has been hospitalized at various facilities ever since. Currently, he is hospitalized at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) in the Texas Medical Center (Houston). The process to advance Don to this outstanding facility has been very long and arduous. The services at TIRR are intense and have proven to be invaluable. But, more time and more treatment is required. Don's opportunity to continue to receive this treatment is crucial to his recovery! Although recovery is possible for Don, it may take several years.

If you've never heard of Medicare's lifetime reserve for hospital stays, you're not alone. Marcia didn't know about it either. Yet, Don is near the end of his 60-day lifetime reserve, which means that Medicare will no longer pay anything toward his hospital care.

Don and Marcia have a supplemental "Medigap" policy, but that does not cover all of his hospital expenses, which (if you can possibly imagine) are monumental.

Once Don is eventually released to return home, the expenses will continue. He will require 24-hour care (three-daily shifts of trained caregivers) and continued rehabilitation therapy. In addition, Don will need a special bed, a wheelchair and a lift to move him in and out of his bed, and a van with lift capabilities to transport him, and more items for his therapy, to make him comfortable and so on.

And, of course, Don is unable to work--and may be unable to continue his highly physical three businesses: lawn mowing, roofing and running his family's small cattle ranch near Estelline, Texas.

Don and Marcia have lived a simple, highly-independent and loving life: together growing their annual supply of fruits and vegetables in their yard (and, of course sharing their rewards with friends and neighbors), maintaining their own home and property, and caring for rescued dogs until they properly train them to release to a new home. They were very hard-working and productive. This kind and loving couple have embraced the world as Team Don and Marcia, sharing their strong faith, helping those in need, exercising together in a competitive spirit, growing their small businesses with the ingenuity of a farmer (with Marcia always by his side), and throwing fun parties for their friends with silly games that provide everyone with a barrel of laughs.

For those who have attended the Richfield High School Class Reunions, Don and Marcia are always the first couple on the dance floor showing their well-honed dance moves and demonstrating their love and respect for each other. And, Don has always been there by Marcia's side to help with the details, to do the heavy lifting, organizing materials, welding a hammer and doing anything needed to support the events.

Now the world has turned upside down for Team Don and Marcia.

There is no dancing, no silly games to play and no small businesses to operate. But, the love and respect for each other continue. They need your help and assistance. Asking and allowing help from this independent couple is extremely hard, so as friends we are initiating this request, as we are very aware of their need.

We expect Don's recovery to be long-term, requiring intense care and expensive support. This fundraiser is to assist Don and Marcia with those expenses and to reduce the burden that this special family is bearing. Any support you give is very appreciated and will be used wisely.

If you are interested in making a donation now, and perhaps pledge more funds at a later date, that is wonderful and we TRULY THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS. Our goal is to get the medical and rehabilitation needs for Team Don and Marcia met, so that together they can rebuild their lives and future, one very difficult and painful step at a time.