Fundraisers planned for Havreite battling rare disorder

Fundraisers have been planned to help raise money for Havreite Melissa Ruby who is now in a Billings hospital, on a respirator, fighting the rare disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Friend, church member and co-fundraiser organizer Nancy Marshall said Ruby has a long struggle ahead in her battle with the rare disorder.

“She has run into some complications. … But we’re still praying everything will turn out OK,” Marshall said.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder in which a person’s immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. In very rare cases, people have died of the disease, usually from difficulty breathing.

Melissa Ruby and her husband, Kevin Ruby, need help defraying some of the expenses that come with prolonged periods of time in the hospital, Marshall said.

Typical recovery time for patients with Guillain-Barré can be anywhere between six months to three years.

The first fundraiser will be hosted by Pizza Hut. The local restaurant has pledged to donate 20 percentage of each purchase, dine-in, carry-out and delivery, from its sales Thursday to the Rubys if purchasers say they are donating to the fundraiser.

The local Domino's pizza will donate 20 percent of all of its sales Oct. 19.

Nov. 12, friends have organized a chili versus spaghetti cook-off fundraiser in the Montana State University-Northern ballroom.

“We tried to do something a little different,” Marshall said.

During the event, there will be a silent auction, a live auction, a 50/50 raffle drawing and activities for children.

Marshall said people are still needed to sign up for the cookoff. Marshall can be contacted at 262-3124. Melissa Holsinger can also be contacted regarding the fundraiser.