Jimmy’s Fight with Autoimmune Encephalitis
Hello All,
If you’re viewing this, you’ve probably been following the “Jimmy’s Fight” Facebook page or heard about the current state of his health. Before providing more background information I would like to reach out to anyone reading this for donations that would be used to help his family during this difficult time. The disease he is now living with has consumed and shaken his family; even so, his wife Delia, has been by his side since day one. This includes, driving between the hospital, rehabilitation sessions, and school drop off/pick up for the kids. (Jimmy is a father of four and grandfather to one.)
Unfortunately, having never missed any of Jimmy’s appointments Delia’s employment status has changed and transformed their family into a single income household. However, the days of a single-income household are numbered with Jimmy’s medical retirement from the Navy approaching at the young age of 42.
Jimmy, or AS1(AW/SW) James Gutierrez, has served in the Navy for 13 ½ years and is an outstanding Sailor. He has endured four deployments, earned Navy Achievement Medals, a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for his contribution to his community, and until recently was an instructor at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training in San Diego. Before his body began to fail him Jimmy was a devoted Navy Sailor and even earned Sailor of the Year while stationed at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest.
Jimmy and Delia could use our help in the form of financial assistance. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated. So here is the run-down on his condition:
Background story.
Diagnosis - Autoimmune encephalitis is a
serious medical condition in which the immune system attacks the brain, impairing function. While AE may be triggered by an infection, many cases have an unknown cause. People with autoimmune encephalitis may have various neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms.
History - Began in November 2018 when Jimmy began to experience headaches, neck pain, numbness of face and hands, twitching of the body, and spotted vision. The symptoms strongly resembled that of a stroke patient resulting in multiple trips to the ER, MRIs, and eventually spinal taps. Jimmy's head pain became unbearable, he had lost a significant amount of weight, and he was suffering from memory loss. In June 2019 he was finally admitted to the hospital. During his second week at the hospital they were able to officially diagnose him, place him on steroids, and begin plasmapheresis. At this point symptoms included hallucinations, memory loss, inability to process conversations, and limited mobility. (The hallucinations were silly. For example, seeing chucky, water dripping from the ceiling, seeing ghosts in the hallway, kids running around, etc).
He was discharged from the Naval hospital after three treatments of plasmapheresis. However, no more than a week later he relapsed. His headaches were worse, he could not walk, and could barely communicate. A feeding tube was placed and he was now incoherent and incontinent. The doctors started him on IVIG but no progress was visible. Jimmy was now having seizures so his steroids were increased and he began Rituximab. The hallucinations came back but this time they were very dark and were accompanied with bouts of psychosis, paranoia, and hostility.
With all the ups and downs and no significant progress or answers we opted for a brain biopsy (July 2019). Jimmy spent a few days in the ICU unresponsive and enduring countless seizures. We were all really scared and looking back it was a really tough couple of days for our whole family.
Since then we have been in a cycle of progression and regression. Delia was able to reach out to the local congresswoman to assist her in fighting to keep Jimmy in San Diego. In September he was moved to a neuro rehabilitation facility and that is where he currently resides. For updates follow his story on Facebook. Delia does a great job in keeping us up to date on all things Jimmy.
