Hi Everyone.
My name is Becky Bruney and I am one of four siblings of Chuck's and his youngest sister (that means he is my hero!) Our families wanted to set up a Caring Bridge site for Chuck as a result of so many requests from our families and friends that do not spend much time on Facebook and their desire to stay informed on Chuck's progress as well as ways to help.
Some background:
On October 6, 2019 Chuck and John's lives changed drastically. Chuck woke at 4am with slurred speech and his face drooping. Believing he was having a stroke, Chuck and John hurried to the ER. Within 12 hours, Chuck went from talking, walking and moving on his own to being completely paralyzed, outside of being able to move his eyes and feet. Having lost his ability to control his breathing, Chuck was intubated and put on a ventilator to save his life.
After extensive tests, Chuck was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). This is a rare (1 in 100,000 people are diagnosed in the U.S. each year) neurological disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system—the network of nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord. Although most cases have connection to viral or bacterial infections, a confirmed cause is not known nor is there a cure. A typical case of GBS resolves itself in about four months and is MUCH less severe than what Chuck is experiencing - which, we have been told, could take up to 2 years to see progress. In addition to the severity of his GBS, Chuck has also faced multiple renal, pulmonary and respiratory complications that have made a tough journey even more challenging.
The outpouring of love and support from family and friends has made a tremendous impact on Chuck’s slow and steady recovery. On “good” days, he still gets that sparkle in his eyes when we read him cards and show him pictures sent by friends!
Many have requested that I share the Go Fund Me Link that has been set up for "Chuckie" by our dear friends, Penny Gillhaus and Allison Branen.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-for-chuck-bruney039s-gbs-fightOur Family will update this site as often as possible - again, thank you for the love and support - stay tuned and "Turtle On!"
Thank you,
Becky
