Garrett's Advanced Treatment

From Josh Carpenter, Long Time Family Friend of the Glaus' -

Hi everyone, first I want to tell you about my friend, Garrett.  He is a talented speaker, writer, and musician; and after enduring the loss of his father several years ago, he went through tremendous emotional pain; but that pain led him to do something beautiful. He saw the lack of access to, and the stigma society has placed on, mental health. He saw the challenges many faced when trying to get help, and the difficulty accessing help with mental and emotional pain. He decided he wanted to do something about these things, and he wanted others to have help and hope.
Some pictures from before the health crisis:

 

Garrett spent the years since speaking at colleges around the country about mental health, community, and the importance of caring for each other. He held in-depth talks on the effects of social media, and how it relates to mental health. He is currently in the process of writing a book on these and other topics, and is especially focused on mental health in young people.

Garrett has a heart that beats to help others; whether that be through music, donating his time to non-profits, speaking to a crowd, or meaningful one on one conversations. This is what drives him and guides him with everything he does. 

Health Crisis

Over the past 7 months Garrett  has been going through a scary season of health challenges. After many doctors, ER visits, and unknowns, they have found the cause: a Progressive Autoimmune Disease, on top of Lyme Disease. 

This is a major life change for him and affects a lot of different parts of his life; thankfully, there is treatment to help manage the symptoms over time. Right now, he and his family are taking every step, with a team of doctors, to get on the right medications, the right nutrition, and deal with the other symptoms and infections that pop up from both diseases. These symptoms have sent Garrett to the emergency room
multiple times and are a daily battle until he can get stable with his medications.

His amazing mother has come to Nashville from Charlotte and stayed with him, taken care of him, and made sure he saw the medical professionals he needed to see. When there were no answers as to what was happening, she pressed on and did everything she could to make sure they could get an answer and a diagnosis for what was happening in his body. When Garrett was out of financial options to continue his own care, his supportive family stepped up and made sure that care continued. 

After 7 months of doctors, hospitals, and managing the severe side-effects that happen from having these two diseases at once, they are running out of the finances necessary to stay where Garrett can get the treatment he needs. Without these treatments now, Garrett can suffer permanent damage and his battle to get to a manageable spot can take years longer. 

There are 11 doctors and specialists who are a part of this, each covering an aspect of the side effects, and due to healthcare requirements and this network of doctors required, Garrett has had to stay in Tennessee for his medical care. They have tried figuring out ways for him to come to Charlotte, where his family has their home, but it is not possible with his healthcare and the treatment he needs. 

The medical needs, and all else that is needed, has been a lot for Garrett and his family to try and carry this far.  At this point it is necessary to reach out to our community, our friends and loved ones, and ask if you could walk alongside of Garrett, and those of us who love him so much, and help get him to a place where his body can manage this.

Garrett learning to walk with canes, he's a fighter

Thank you so much for your prayers and your kindness during this time, as it has meant the world to Garrett and his family. Even with everything happening, he has kept  good spirits and faith through it all, even during his hardest moments in the hospital. I ask you to please step up, and be the caring friend Garrett and his family needs right now; let's show him the care and compassion he has shown, and continues to show, to so many. Please give from your heart, every dollar will make a difference in this man's amazing life. 

By Josh Carpenter, friend of the family

More pictures from Garrett's life before: