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Daughter sets up GoFundMe page for mother recovering from a rare autoimmune disease

Jenn Farr Stephens, Vanderhoof resident, has been diagnose with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
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Jenn Farr Stephens has been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, and her daughter Kenya Stephens has set up a GoFundMe account which has raised over half of its goal of $5000. (GoFundMe photo of Jenn Farr Stephens)

A northern B.C. resident is raising money for her mother, who was suddenly diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease.

A GoFundMe page was set up by Kenya Stephens of Vanderhoof on May 29, and she has managed to raise $2,750 of her $5,000 goal to help her mother Jenn Farr Stephens who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) on May 10.

Stephens is raising money to help her mother’s stay at the hospital, travel, medical expenses and more.

In her appeal to the public, Stephens wrote that her mother Jenn Farr (Stephens) who is a Registered Nurse, started to feel ill on March 6. The next day, she felt numbness and tingling in her hands and feet.

Following this on March 8, she fell down “the last couple of steps in her home, and my step-dad, Dave Farr brought her to the Vanderhoof ER.”

After being sent home from the hospital, Stephens said the family started to realize that her mother was getting “worse and worse as time went on.”

The family called for an ambulance, and staff made the decision to take her to the Prince George hospital.

On May 10, Jenn Farr was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

As per the World Health Organization’s definition, GBS is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. Most people recover fully from even the most severe cases of GBS. But it is potentially life-threatening, the W.H.O says.

Currently, Farr is not in the Intensive Care Unit anymore, and was moved to the rehabilitation unit by the end of April.

“She has regained use of her arms and hands and her speech, she is able to fully eat solid foods. She gets physio Monday-Friday,” Stephens wrote in her GoFundMe page.

After a call with doctors on May 21, the family was told the Farr has a chronic version of GBS, meaning her recovery will be very slow. “He said it could take her 1 - 2 years to fully recover,” Stephens wrote.

“She has a long road ahead of her, and really needs the support of family and friends. Any donation that you can give would be greatly appreciated. If you’re unable to donate, we would appreciate you sharing her story. All donations will go towards helping Jenn through her recovery; any needs to help make her stay at the hospital as comfortable and positive as possible, travel expenses, possible adjustments to the house needed to accommodate recovery, and any other medical expenses,” she added.

To support or make a donation, click here.

READ MORE: B.C. cities top the list for most generous in Canada on GoFundMe


Aman Parhar
Editor, Vanderhoof Omineca Express

aman.parhar@ominecaexpress.com

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