Help Support My Daughter’s Fight with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

My name is Sandra Barnes, and I’m reaching out with a mother’s heart full of love, concern, and hope. My daughter, Mitzi, age 53, lives in Ohio and was recently diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)—a rare, degenerative brain disorder that affects movement, balance, speech, and cognition. This condition often progresses rapidly, with significant changes over time. It’s known to shorten lifespan and deeply affect quality of life. It can be unpredictable but often devastating, and our lives have changed overnight. Her condition is progressive and unforgiving, affecting both her body and mind. She is in a nursing home at this time and is almost paralyzed from the waist down, in a wheelchair and has to be supervised 24 hours a day.

The first photo I have attached was taken last week on 9/6/2025. The second photo was taken in May 2025 and the last photo was taken 3 years ago in August 2022, all photos showing her decline.

She has been out of work for over a year due to her symptoms, and the financial strain is growing. Medical bills, daily care needs, and basic living expenses are mounting. As her condition progresses, she will need more specialized support, and I want to ensure she receives the dignity and care she deserves.

I live in Birmingham, Alabama, and I’m doing everything I can to be there for her—emotionally, medically, and physically. But travel costs, lodging, and time away from my own responsibilities make it difficult to visit her as often as I’d like. Every trip is a lifeline—for both of us.

This GoFundMe is to help cover:

- Her ongoing medical bills and care needs

- Transportation and lodging for me to visit and support her

- Essential living expenses as she navigates life with PSP

If you’ve ever watched someone you love face a diagnosis like this, you know how overwhelming it can be. I’m not just asking for help—I’m asking for community, compassion, and a little light in a very difficult time.

Every donation, share, and kind word means the world to us. Thank you for standing with my daughter and me.

With gratitude,

Sandra