Sophia Taula-Lieras and Family Recovery

Friends, Family, Community:

The Taula-Lieras family requests your prayer energy and support at this time. On March 31st, Sophia Taula-Lieras, noticed some weird symptoms in her body after her hula practice. Those symptoms brought her and her husband Anthony in and out of the emergency room three times. The family is in crisis mode and is thankful for any energy you can share.

On April 6th, Sophia was seen by a Neurologist who diagnosed her with a rare form of Guillan-Barre Syndrome (GBS). GBS is a rare and random disease that attacks the nervous system. Sophia has been in severe pain and Dr's say her recovery will be long. She has lost her ability to talk clearly, walk independently, or use fine motor skills.

Sophia just transitioned her job from Zero to Three where she Directed the Programmatic Assistance for Tribal Home Visiting (PATH) team to join Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health to expand the Family Spirit curriculum internationally. She is scheduled to start on April 17th and has been so excited to get to work. The timing of this trial has been terrible, adding to the crisis for the family. Sophia has been technically unemployed as of April 7 and a start date of April 17th is unlikely.

The family asks for any support to help Sophia and family recover. Sophia is strong and her body needs time to honor what is needed for recovery. The family was told 75% of people diagnosed with GBS recover in months, years, or never fully recover. In home supportive services, equipment, medical bills, loss of wages, are factors impacting recovery.

Your prayer/thought energy and generosity are greatly appreciated to provide some relief for the family.

Thank you for reading and caring relatives.

-Anthony Taula-Lieras

***Updates***

4.11.23: Sophia has been treated with IVIG, to correct her immune system from attacking her nervous system, causing lots of pain.

It is estimated that direct healthcare costs of patients with GBS in the United States alone amount to $110,000 per person, and costs due to a loss in productivity per patient run close to $360,000 annually. (https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/guillain-barre-syndrome)