Hello,

My name is Rolando and I am starting this fundraising effort to help my brother in law, Rui Peres, navigate his journey through Friedreich’ Ataxia, a rare progressive neuromuscular disorder.

I witness through my wife, the challenges he faces.

For those unfamiliar with this serious health condition, it is a rare neurological disease that damages the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and the cerebellum part of the brain.

It also leads to heart problems.

It is, unfortunately , degenerative and has NO CURE.

About 1 in 50.000 in USA and 1 in 40.000 people worldwide, are affected by it.

Rui already experiences the following symptoms:

Vision loss ( his mom noticed it when he was at two years of age and it has significantly deteriorated over the years to almost no vision now)

A loss of feeling in his legs, hands and trunk (also progressed over the years, more so from last to this year)

Loss of reflexes;

Slow speech (this is also very recent)

Diabetes

Brain fog/confusion

Depression

On top of FA, he has OCD and occasional anxiety and panic attacks.

He lives in Brazil and this year, during my wife’s recent visit, she shared with me, how the symptoms have worsened.

It has been a long journey, he is single, living with his 90 years old mom Dona Iraci.

My wife Maristela, Rui and Dona Iraci, are the only three members left from a family of eight. My father in law, whom I never met, and four of my sisters in law, are already in heaven.

We help them as much as we can but his needs are becoming greater and more immediate than our means.

Rui requires assistance for everything and regardless of it, he has great a sense of humor , never complains of his conditions, and is very smart and caring.

At an early stage of his adulthood, before losing the ability to walk and with the little vision he had, my wife was able to get him a job on a car part manufacturing where she used to works until his disability forced him to retire.

His humble pension covers medications, healthcare such as a physiotherapist, a psychologist, and other basic needs. Other expenses such as housing, a caregiver for him and his mom is covered through us (my wife and I).

We also employ a part time female nurse who assists him with daily bathing and taking him to doctor’s appointments (when needed).

He is in great need of a new wheelchair, a transfer chair, a hospital bed and an improvement on the outside corridor of the house, to build a new ramp to facilitate in/out with him on his wheelchair.

Due to his inability to help moving his body, (this has also worsened since I joined my wife on a visit two years ago), we’ve realized that he needs a full time male nurse (due to the need of body strength to move him around) and unfortunately, there is no government or local charity organization to support.

The cost to hire one, on FT basis, is prohibitive for his income. It would need to come from our pockets, we have, sincerely and gladly, been helping as much as we can but unable to cover everything and that is the reason I am reaching out to the goodness of your heart to try to accomplish all above needs.

We understand that there might be economic challenges on your life as well but you can help by just sharing this fundraising.

No contribution is small and it will make a huge difference in his life.

We are trying to make as comfortable as possible for him and those that are caring for him daily, given the uncertainty of his life span, these are truly, urgent, needs.

In God we trust to continue to provide strength on this journey and it is the same God that will triplicate your generosity.

We sincerely thank you in advance for your donation or by spreading this effort.