Help Luisa Recover from Paralysis Caused by Guillain-Barré

Our mother, Luisa Martinez Miguez, is a dedicated and beloved Spanish teacher at Culver City Middle School and a cherished member of her community. She has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

Early symptoms include weakness, numbness, and tingling, which can rapidly progress to severe pain, complete loss of sensation, and paralysis.

Luisa first fought Guillain-Barré in the summer of 2022, spending three weeks in the hospital and enduring 6+ months of rehabilitation to regain her mobility and relearn how to walk.

Unfortunately, she is among the 2-3% of patients who experience a recurrence of this condition. This time, it progressed much more quickly and severely. On Friday, she was teaching in her classroom. By Saturday, she was in a hospital bed, paralyzed and unable to move or feel her limbs.

Thanks to IVIG treatment, we were able to stop the disease from spreading to her lungs, but the road ahead is long and uncertain. Guillain-Barré syndrome has no cure, and recovery requires months—if not years—of rebuilding nerve function. Luisa is now at home after spending eight days in the hospital. She is completely immobile and will require 24/7 care for the foreseeable future, which is not covered by insurance.

We are raising funds to help cover:

For decades, our mom has poured her heart into her students and the community and has had a major impact on the thousands of students that have walked through her doors. We're now asking for support to ensure she gets the care she needs to recover.

With gratitude,

Luisa, Ines, Pedro, Lena, and JP