Las Vegas real estate agent, and friend to many in the real estate community has been diagnosed with Guillian-Barre Syndrome and is in the ICU at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. It is a very rare neurological condition that causes paralysis and muscle weakness. The good news is that it is usually a temporary condition with a 95% full recovery rate, but the recovery and rehab can be a very long process.

Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is something that me and my husband’s family is all too familiar with.  In the beginning of last March 2007, my Father-in-law noticed some tingling and numbness starting in his hands and feet. That tingling and numbness traveled up is limbs and withing 5 days, he went from walking normally, to barely being able to crawl on the ground unable to walk.  He was then diagnosed with GBS and hospitalized for weeks. He spent about 2 months in hospitals/rehab facilities, and then spent many months more in physical therapy and undergoing 2 more treatments until they found something that worked. It was a very difficult recovery process not only for him, but it tool a great toll on my mother-in-law.

Like Charles Richey, my father-in-law is self employed and was unable to work for many months. Unlike Charles, my father-in-law was fortunate enough to have health insurance to help cover the incredibly high medical bills. This is where Mr. Richey and his wife really need our help. He not only will be out of work for several months to come (as well as his Realtor wife who will need to be at his side), they do not have medical insurance. There is a fundraising effort set up for Charles and his wife to be able to help them cover costs, and the need is high. You can go here: http://www.ibsteam.net/blog/blogging/charles-richey-fundraise to find more information about donation, and a way to add a button to your websites, blogs, etc to request donations.

There is a light at the end of the GBS tunnel. The good news with my father-in-law is by last August, they had found a treatment that helped reverse his GBS. And in October he was able to take their yearly vacation to Cancun, walking mostly though sometimes using a wheelchair. And today, my Father-in-law is almost completely recovered and back to his regular jogging and humorous self.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Richey family.

Donate to the Charles Richey Fund

Friend, husband and fellow REALTOR® was unexpectedly hospitalized read more

Megan Barber is a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, owner of Barber Virtual Assisting Solutions, and publisher of The REAL Advantage E-Zine. Megan has spent 9+ years doing the “behind-the-scenes” work in the real estate industry assisting agents with their real estate marketing and transaction needs.

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