Help get Larry back on his feet!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m starting this Go Fund Me on behalf of a very special couple, my sister and brother-in-law, Florence and Larry Sanford. They have been there for so many of us over the years - from watching our kids or pets, to helping with a few bucks when we were down on our luck, to being a listening ear, to making meals or driving to a doctor’s appt, to taking kids on vacations that we couldn’t, to simply being there and so much more. I know they’ve helped me more times than I can count and I've seen them help others. Now we have the opportunity to give back!!

As many of you know, Larry has been dealt several crappy hands in life but has met each challenge with positivity, strength and resolve. He’s been an inspiration to anyone who has had the honor of meeting him. In November 2022, he got dealt another crappy hand, which landed him in Albany Medical Center for 44 days. In all that time, with all the tests and blood work they did, there were no answers. He had encephalitis, due to what - we still don’t know for sure but most likely it was the result of a tick bite. He lost his ability to walk, to move his arms or legs, to talk, to swallow and became very, very weak. He slowly regained his ability to swallow, talk and move his left arm and legs, but still had no use of his right arm and was not able to walk or move enough to get comfortable. They discharged him but there was no home nursing care available, even though he qualified for the care. Medicare had no one to send to him. This left Flo as his primary 24/7 caretaker. Fortunately, family and friends stepped up to help where they could, but essentially Flo was alone in caring for him the majority of the time. Fast forward one week after discharge - Larry was urgently transported to New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell hospital in NYC. This is where he had his kidney transplant in 2020. He had a severe E.coli infection in his blood and urine. This was on top of his existing neurological issues from the encephalitis. The good news is that the infection resolved. The bad news is that based on the tests and such done at Albany Med and the tests from Weill Cornell, they still had no solid idea what is going on neurologically. They’ve determined that he has significant inflammation at his C-spine (nerves in his neck), in his brachial plexus (nerves that work his right arm) and in his lumbar spine (nerves that control legs, bladder and bowels). They believe this is all an autoimmune response due to the tick bite and a double dose of flu vaccine given on 10/26/22 which caused Gillian Barre-like symptoms, also contributing to his paralysis. He has undergone two rounds of IV-IG gamma globulins to try to get his body to stop attacking its own nerves. Then on January 2, while in the hospital, Larry had a brain bleed. Thank God it caused no permanent damage. They discharged him on January 12 from Weill Cornell, which was fantastic… but, less than two weeks later, severe anemia landed him back in Albany Medical center for a blood transfusion.

That brings me to the reason for this Go Fund Me. While Larry qualifies for 24/7 home nursing care, we can’t get it. It’s not covered by their medical insurances and staffing is scarce. Visiting nurses are now sending PT, OT and a nurse a couple of times a week. Which is great but more assistance is needed. Flo has no one to provide day or night-long assistance or to provide respite care so she can get a break or simply go for a walk or to her own doctor appointments. Family and friends try hard to help, but between full-time jobs, children and other commitments, none of us can be there as much as we want to be nor as much as is truly needed. Not to mention, most of us don’t have the skills needed to provide nursing care.

Flo hasn’t had a full, restful night’s sleep in who knows how long. She has had to stay at the hospital 24/7 (65 nights total) because otherwise the hospital would remove Larry’s insulin pump and sensors since he couldn’t control the pump himself. She was forced to sleep in a hospital bed-chair for months, which aggravated her neck and back issues. We all know that she is a very strong and independent woman, but this long-duration, non-stop stress is having a really negative impact and I fear for her health along with Larry’s. The stress of the last three months, the medical battles they continue to fight and the lack of help with the 24/7 at-home medical needs have taken their toll on both of them. I know Larry will feel better when Flo gets some help.

There are some things needed that aren’t provided by insurance. The biggest need is a wheelchair van to help get Larry to his many appointments. Flo expects to sell her car but will need another $25,000 to get a handicap-accessible van. This is not for a new van but for one that is five or six years old with 60-70k miles on it. Reliable handicap-accessible vans are very expensive! Having a van would decrease the stress on both of them. There have been instances when arrangements with a transport company were made only to have the company say they can't make it on the day of the appointment! Thank God they found a wonderful person in the community who has graciously transported them, but that isn’t a forever solution. Of course, there are also medical bills that are starting to roll in. Medicare and private Insurance covers a lot, but not everything! Finally, since we don’t know how long the road will be before Larry is back on his feet, there is a need for a ramp to enter their house, (they are presently living in the finished basement) and a walk-in shower so Larry can bathe with assistance and other modifications that will help facilitate Larry’s recovery and help ease the burden on Flo.

If you have read this far - thank you!! My ask is, if you can, please consider donating to this Go Fund Me to benefit Flo and Larry. All monies will be used for a handicapped van and to cover the other expenses mentioned above. Even $5 will help!! If you can’t help financially, I completely understand, please consider sharing this post and adding Flo and Larry to whatever healing prayers or positive energy-sending that suits your nature. The more people we can reach, the more likely we are to reach our goal. On behalf of Flo and Larry, THANK YOU!! Much love to you all and be sure to check for ticks!! Tick diseases are no joke!!!