Gary Cox- Guillain-Barre Recovery

There comes a time in life when we are faced with the fact that we are in fact not 10 feet tall and bullet proof and despite all our good intent and effort we too are confronted with the realities of life.   One day before we can even open the front door and go out into the world we find that we are the victim we hear about every day in the media, from our friends and from complete strangers.   Today, tragedy is right here staring back at us.  It is terrifying and overwhelming.  It is debilitating.  It incites feelings of hopelessness.  It is in these times we make the call for help.  Right now, it is Gary Cox who needs our help.
       Gary, a US Army Veteran, husband, father and medical professional was admitted Thursday March 22nd, 2018 to University of Tennessee Hospital of Knoxville. With total numbness and weakness in all 4 limbs, he quickly became unable to simply stand unassisted.
       After numerous diagnostic tests and 4 days under inpatient care, he was given the official diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This is a rare auto immune disorder and life-long disease. Guillain-Barre is a disorder in which the body attacks your nerves. The sensations quickly spread, eventually causing paralysis of the whole body. It can be lethal.  There is no known cause or cure for Guillain-Barré, however there is treatment.  It can be lengthy and it is undeniably expensive.  Some of the symptoms and side effects include: difficulty breathing and swallowing, urinary and/or bowel retention, paralysis and pain.  It can also have a lasting impact on the myelin sheath, which transmits signals to your brain, causing weakness, dizziness and numbness.
        Gary has received 3 of his 5 initial immunoglobulin treatments and has begun to show signs of slight improvement in the mobility of his limbs but is also experiencing debilitating pain.  He has a long journey ahead of him and will require 4 to 6 weeks of aggressive inpatient rehabilitation. While this is necessary, the financial burden looms large. It is in this dark and uncertain time we seek light and ask for hope and help in carrying his load so that Gary can focus on the positive and on getting better. The average cost of inpatient rehabilitative care is upwards of $1,800 PER DAY. This does not include the hospital stay, physician’s fees, diagnostic testing and further medication.  

 

In the words of the inspirational George Eliot; “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”

 

Help if you can.  

 

Thank you for taking a moment to learn about Gary’s situation.  Please spread the word.