GoFundMe launched for Queensland man suddenly paralysed by rare disease

A GoFundMe has been launched for an Ipswich man who is having to learn to walk again after suddenly becoming paralysed by a disease so rare doctors had trouble diagnosing it.

Ipswich man Brendan O‘Reilly has been in hospital for three and a half months with a rare disease called Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. Picture: Supplied

An Ipswich truck driver has been fighting back from an incredibly rare disease which only one other person in the area has been diagnosed with, inspiring both his family and the community.

Father-of-two Brendan O’Reilly is learning to walk again after being diagnosed with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in February, just days before he and his twin brother, Jordan, turned 30.

Initially, doctors thought Mr O’Reillys’ symptoms indicated he could have had a stroke or that he possibly had cancer or multiple sclerosis, according to family members.

The former Swifts Rugby League Club player, who has now been hospitalised for 14 weeks, lost all feeling in his legs and was paralysed with stroke-like symptoms, with doctors at first unable to provide answers.

ADEM is a neurological disorder characterised by brief but widespread attacks of swelling in the brain and spinal cord that damages myelin, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Brendan O'Reilly has been in hospital for three and a half months after being diagnosed with a rare disease called Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. Picture: Supplied

Marie O’Reilly, 64, of Ipswich, said getting her son’s illness diagnosed had been a rollercoaster ordeal.

She said she was left baffled and looking for answers when he was first transferred to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba.

“When he got admitted, the disease was so rare some doctors had never heard of it before,” she said.

“He couldn’t walk and had stroke-like symptoms, losing mobility in his left side and feeling in his hand.

“The second day we went to see him he couldn’t even use his fingers and has had 10 lesions on his brain.

“They said it could be MS (multiple sclerosis), a brain tumour, it could be cancer — we were expecting the worst.”

Marie O’Reilly said getting her son’s illness diagnosed had been a “rollercoaster ordeal”. Picture: Supplied

Mrs O’Reilly said her son’s treatment, including physiotherapy, had been positive but there was still no clear way to handle the disease.

“Blood plasma exchange treatment worked wonders for him,’’ she said.

“I couldn’t believe how that turned him around, but it is a long road ahead in terms of treatment.

“At one point we thought we were going to lose him but we hope he can return home soon.”

The Ipswich community has rallied behind the family, with the rugby league club holding a raffle to raise money to help support the truckie and his 7-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

Dan O’Reilly has also created a GoFundMe fundraising account to try to help his brother.
“As a family we are asking if anyone has anything spare to donate to Brendan as he will not be able to return to work or drive a car for the foreseeable future when he is eventually allowed to leave hospital. Anything would be greatly appreciated at this time as we try to help Brendan get back on his feet physically and financially, Thanks,” Dan O’Reilly wrote.

The GoFundMe, titled ‘Fundraiser for Brendan O’Reilly’ had raised $12,297 of a $30,000 goal by Tuesday morning.