Josh Gurka's Battle with PPMS

If you know my brother-in-law, Josh Gurka, you know he is a hard working man who always puts his family and friends first. He’s a man who goes out of his way to help others without hesitation and never expects anything in return. He’s not one to sleep in late or sit at home on a weekend either. If the sun is up then so is Josh and he’s out the door. Josh is always on the go yet continues to make time for his family. He is an amazing father and husband to my sister, Shannon. He’s a dad who lives at the softball fields with his daughter regularly and supports his son in ROTC after working 10+ hours a day. Not to mention he has stepped up countless times when my sister has had severe flare ups with her ulcerative colitis or is down and out after a Remicade treatment. Josh has always lived a busy and active lifestyle for as long as I’ve known him and he doesn’t want that to stop.

However, his lifestyle has had to change over the last few years after being diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS). In 2019, Josh began experiencing blurry vision and feeling off balance for a few months and finally broke down and went to a local ophthalmologist thinking he might need new glasses. After seeing the local doctor Josh was referred to an ophthalmologist in Temple, TX. Multiple vision tests were performed and the doctor in Temple had further concerns and ordered an MRI of Josh’s brain stem STAT. Josh was able to have an MRI performed on the same day. When the test results came in Josh received a personal call from the ophthalmologist himself because he suspected Josh had a form of Multiple Sclerosis. He informed Josh he wasn’t a neurologist but could see lesions on his brain and he would immediately be referring him to a neurologist for more extensive testing.

In July 2019, Josh (age 37) was officially diagnosed with PPMS and began treatment. PPMS is a form of Multiple Sclerosis characterized from the beginning of the disease as a progressively worsening condition. MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks itself by mistake. MS is unpredictable and affects people differently and can lead to the loss of one's ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk when communication between the brain and other parts of the body become disrupted. Over time it can lead to partial or full paralysis, tremors, memory issues, and many more life-altering side effects. Within months of Josh’s diagnosis, he continued to struggle with blurred vision, began to experience severe numbness in his fingers and he also developed foot drop which contributed to him losing his balance and falling. He also suffered from constant muscle fatigue and pain and was hospitalized for 5 days.

Fast forward to 2023, Josh still struggles with PPMS and his symptoms have only worsened. Throughout his battle, he has seen several neurologists, has tried 5 different treatment plans and is currently attending physical therapy twice a week. Josh has been unable to find something to help him feel better and stop the progression of his disease. He has spent multiple hours researching with little luck but recently found a seminar on HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplant) offered in Houston, TX. After attending the seminar in early February 2023, Josh and Shannon saw a glimmer of hope and a possible treatment plan to halt the progression of Josh’s PPMS. While attending the seminar, Josh and Shannon were able to meet the doctors, learn more about their research, hear the success rates and speak to patients who have had the HSCT procedure performed.

Josh isn’t one to ask for help or show his pain to others but a time has come when he needs our help. Josh is scheduled to have a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) procedure done in July 2023 in Monterrey, Mexico. The procedure is very invasive and expensive and unfortunately is not covered by insurance. Josh and his caregiver (Shannon) will travel to Mexico and remain there throughout the treatment process for 28 days. While there they will stay confined to a small area of the treatment facility due to the extreme weakness of Josh’s immune system until he is healthy enough to return home.

We are asking for LOTS of prayers and to please find it in your hearts to donate whatever you can so Josh can become an HSCT warrior and halt the progression of his PPMS and continue to live an active lifestyle.