Help Ross Fight Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)

UPDATE 2/26/2025

Carla has been hospitalized for the second time. The Varacallis are enduring an incredibly difficult season and have been greatly blessed by so much help and generosity. Through God’s grace, Ross is recovering and gaining his strength back. (Link below) You’ve all been so generous with your resources, prayers, compassion, and friendship. Thank you for all of the support.

Blessings, Stacy

https://winknews.com/2025/02/03/naples-man-recovers-from-rare-medical-condition-guillain-barre-syndrome/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0eGeHg8khbDmthYAWr7hxy3OID7Ny21pkjMtfNsuW834D_w8CW_qSAR3g_aem_WWWa6_RZDJBqETgndo8iNg

**UPDATE 12/14/24

As many of you may know, Carla is currently hospitalized with a flare up of an autoimmune disease that had been in remission. In light of this, Ross has returned home from the skilled nursing center earlier than planned, and will continue his recovery there; he is doing an amazing job but has a long way to go. This family has gone through and is continuing to go through a very difficult time. Your continued love and support is greatly appreciated.

With gratitude, Stacy

The Varacalli Family needs support, prayers, and blessings!! Please read their story here and check out the feature on Wink News, Fort Myers that shared Ross’s journey, link here: WINK NEWS STORY

On August 7th Ross had a little back pain. Over the course of a weekend, he started to get sick and very weak. He was admitted to the hospital. I watched him in disbelief as he deteriorated quickly. It took days, but they diagnosed him with Gullian Barré Syndrome (GBS). This is an auto immune disease that attacks the nerves. They think this was triggered by a mosquito bite, as he now has trace amounts of West Nile in his body.

By the end of the week, Ross could no longer breathe on his own and we made the decision to intubate.

Over the next week, he continued to get weaker. He is now fully paralyzed from the neck down.

Ross has been in critical care for 4 full weeks. They are keeping him comfortable and managing his pain.

Ross was moved to a Long Term Acute Care facility on Monday. They will keep him there until he can learn to breathe on his own again. Then, he will need rehab to learn how to do everything else again.

Ross has a long road ahead of him. The best thing about this disease, it is reversible. He can recover 100%. We just need prayers and faith that he will, and much faster than they are telling us.

We miss him dearly and pray that we will see him running down the field sooner than expected.

*shared from Carla, Ross’s wife