When Dewey Barber boarded a flight to Ann Arbor to watch the University of Oklahoma face Michigan, he expected a weekend of football excitement. Instead, he awoke on the morning of the game unable to move his legs, and within days was diagnosed with Guillain‑Barré Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that can cause rapid muscle weakness and paralysis.
Hospitalization and treatment in Michigan
Barber was admitted to a Michigan hospital on September 12, where doctors placed him on a ventilator and began immediate treatment for Guillain‑Barré. While he remains conscious and can communicate by nodding his head, he suffers partial facial paralysis and requires intensive care. “He has partial paralysis on one side of his face, but he is able to communicate when he’s awake—head nods and head shakes,” his daughter Tosha Inman explained.
Family’s push to bring him home
Inman says the family’s priority is to return Barber to Oklahoma as soon as a medical‑flight can be arranged. “We’re just waiting for that referral to go through, which should be in the next couple of hours. Once we get that, we have Angel Med‑Flight on standby, just waiting,” she said.
The proposed flight would be a private aircraft equipped as a full intensive‑care unit, with medical staff on board. Inman hopes her mother can accompany Barber during the journey. However, the cost of such a specialized transport is not covered by the family’s insurance.
GoFundMe launched to cover costs
To bridge the financial gap, Inman created a GoFundMe campaign asking for donations to pay for the medical flight. “A lot of the medical staff here asked for a GoFundMe because they really wanted to help get us home. They feel so bad seeing me and my mom in the room every day,” she said.
The campaign details the urgent need for funds and provides a link for supporters to contribute. The family emphasizes that the goal is simply to bring Barber back to Oklahoma where he can continue his treatment closer to home.
Community response
Local Oklahoma residents, especially fellow Sooners fans, have expressed sympathy and offered assistance. Social‑media posts from Oklahoma cities have highlighted the family’s plight, encouraging donations and prayers. The story underscores the challenges families face when serious health emergencies occur far from home, and the importance of community support in navigating costly medical logistics.
What Guillain‑Barré Syndrome means
Guillain‑Barré Syndrome is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness that can progress to paralysis. Early diagnosis and treatment, often involving plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin, are critical for recovery. While many patients improve over weeks to months, some require long‑term rehabilitation.
Barber’s medical team continues to monitor his progress, adjusting treatment as needed. The family remains hopeful that the referral for the medical flight will be approved soon, allowing Dewey to return to Oklahoma for continued care and, eventually, a full recovery.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
