An employee of Pueblo restaurant in Pacific Beach has been temporarily incapacitated by a rare auto-immune disorder, and the upscale Mexican eatery is holding a fundraiser on Sunday, March 26 from 3-6 p.m. on its rooftop deck to aid with her medical bills and recovery.
The fundraiser is being held for Molly Row, a 32-year-old server, active surfer, hiker, and photographer. She was recently stricken with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
“She came down with the illness two weeks ago,” said Pueblo owner Mark Oliver. “At first she had a tingling, then felt a weakness in her hand on a Thursday. She went to see a doctor on Friday and was placed in intensive care in a hospital on a ventilator.”
Oliver noted Row and her husband, Dylan Edwards, who is with the Coast Guard, live near Pueblo on Hornblend Street. He added Molly is a “very active” person and she and Dylan both enjoy traveling, hiking, and camping out.
GBS is characterized by the rapid onset of numbness, weakness, and often paralysis of the legs, arms, breathing muscles, and face. Paralysis is ascending, meaning it travels up the limbs from fingers and toes toward the torso. Loss of reflexes, such as the knee jerk, is usually found. Most recover from the affliction, though recuperation can take up to three years.
The cause of GBS is unknown. About 50% of cases occur shortly after a microbial infection (viral or bacterial), some as simple and common as the flu or food poisoning. Some theories suggest an autoimmune trigger, in which the patient’s defense system of antibodies and white blood cells is called into action against the body, leading to numbness and weakness.
Edwards, who met Row when they were both in Hawaii, appreciates Pueblo’s efforts to help him and his wife. He added he intends to set up a separate Venmo account to help defray her medical expenses. He said Molly remains upbeat, though obviously has been overwhelmed by the suddenness and gravity of her unexpected medical situation.
“It’s going to be an extensive rehabilitation, both in-patient and out-patient to provide the equipment she’ll need to make her full recovery,” said Edwards adding she’ll probably need a walker and possibly a wheelchair.
“Her case is severe. She had to be ventilated. She can still feel, but cannot move. Every case is different. We are hoping, with her health and youth, that she is going to bounce back from it fully, and not have lasting side effects,” he said.
One of Dylan and Molly’s best friends, Carla Russo, is in town from the East Coast to help bolster the couple’s spirits. “This is the last thing we thought would happen,” said Russo. “A lot of our friends from Oahu and all over the country are coming and visiting and supporting her.
“It really makes you think about how people with disabilities have to adapt to a lot of things.” Russo added, “Molly is doing her best to keep her spirits up. She has been sad and depressed. When she makes a full recovery, I believe she is going to be an example for a lot of people. She is really determined and has a strong will. She has a lot of talent that she can share with the community when she recovers.”
There will be a donation box on Pueblo’s rooftop deck on March 26 for Molly’s fundraiser. “We’re still putting it together,” Oliver said adding, “I have staff volunteering to work that day. Pueblo will be serving finger foods. All of the proceeds, including tips, from the beverages sold, will go to Molly. We’re hoping people will be generous.”
Edwards said the hospital has offered to bring in someone who has recovered from GBS to speak with Molly, adding he’s hopeful she will be willing to talk with them soon. “There is a national GBS support group and we know a couple of people across town who have recovered from it,” he said.
WANT TO HELP?
A fundraiser for Molly Row will take place at Pueblo restaurant, 877 Hornblend St., on Sunday, March 26 from 3-6 p.m.
