Kim Estes is a dear friend and 9 year employee of Bud & Alley's. Kim started out as a bartender and has been our Special Event's and wedding coordinator for the past 2 years. 4 days ago she was admitted to Sacred Heart in Sandestin complaining of numbness in her feet and arms.

I just spoke with Kim's mother, Kim has been transferred to Pensacola Sacred Heart Hospital because her condition has worsened. Tragically she has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/gbs.htm

The Syndrome has progressed to the point that she is completely paralyzed from the neck down. She is on a breathing ventilator and feeding tube. She is alert enough to know what is going on but she is having a hard time speaking as well. Most people with this condition almost fully recover but it could take up to a year or longer. Kim's mom has asked that flowers not be sent at this time.

I am going to start an account at Wachovia bank in Seaside on Monday for financial donations to help her mother with expenses and helping with Kim's care. Fortunately, Kim's health insurance should cover most of this. In the near future, I will be organizing a fund raiser for Kim at Bud & Alley's. In the short term I will start a posting on this forum to keep everyone updated on her condition and the fund raiser.

(Kirt, please forward this posting to the appropriated place in your forum)

Please keep Kim in your prayers to keep her strong and bring her through these difficult first weeks and ultimately fully heal her. Thank you.

Dave

--
Dave Rauschkolb
Owner/Operator
S.W.D.R Grill Inc. DBA
Bud & Alley's Restaurant
TACO BAR
PIZZA BAR

Bud and Alley's Waterfront Restaurant and Rooftop Bar, Seaside, Florida, South Walton County, Reservations, Cuisine, Relaxed Atmosphere, 30A

Mail:
P.O. BOX 611602
Rosemary Beach
Florida 32461

Call:
Direct Cellular 850-865-1061

Thanks for putting this up, Dave. Ed had just forwarded me your email.

Kim is so strong and determined I have no doubt that she is going to turn around. When we saw her on Thursday she was really angry about the whole thing. I know she will use that energy to fight back. All of our energy and prayer is going out to her right now.

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Quit whining and RUN!!

GB is crazy stuff. Kim is awesome and she is in our thoughts and prayers. I have known 2 people affected like Kim, and both made a full, but drawn out, recovery. Support is needed for her and her family!

Thanks Dave for letting us know.

Wow. I've heard of GB disease but never knew the details. I wish Kim the best with her recovery and, given what people have said about her on this board, I believe she will be one of those who makes a full recovery. Sending healing thoughts and prayers Kim's way.

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Paula

My gosh.
Sending prayers to Kim and her family.
Please keep us updated.

Best to Kim. Have a friend who had this some time ago, and he made a full recovery. Thanks for sharing. Our prayers to her and her family as they travel the road of healing.

Having spent several wonderful eveining at BA, I will keep Kim in my prayers.

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Sic 'Em Woo Pig Sooie

Spoke to one of the managers at Bud's tonight who had heard that Kim squeezed the doctor's hand today. This could be very good news. Hope to get more concrete information in the morning on her condition.

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Quit whining and RUN!!

All I can offer are prayers for Kim and family. Dave, please keep us posted on her progress. I know it will be a hard time for the family but the love and support from this bunch means a lot.

thanks for sharing this with the community Dave. I do not know Kim personally, but I do know we'll all be pulling for her in the weeks to come, hoping for a full and speedy recovery, and I know this community will be there to provide financial and other support as needed.

Love and strength to Kim and family.

I just spoke with Kim's Mom and Kim is improving. She has movement in her arms and one leg. While she can't talk, she is alert and can communicate with nods. She is off the Morphine as well which is good. Her Mom is with her now and hopefully she will improve to the point when we can visit her. She is in Pensacola at Sacred Heart and just underwent a procedure called plamapheresis. She is not taking visitors yet but hopefully can in the next few days. Kim has been very brave and cooperative through all this. Most people do recover fully but it takes a long time. Tami Kerr's sister had it and fully recovered which is very heartening news.

Good vibes and prayers for Kim and hopes for her speedy recovery.

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More prayers for Kim and her family. Keep us posted Dave.

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Proud to practice indoctrination
at least when it comes to the GATOR NATION

OMG I just saw this Kim is my favorite old school bartender of all time
thanks for letting us know Dave

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"Nice parking. I guess they didn't have you in mind when they painted these lines." note left on Whiteyfunn's car
www.30afunn.com
30A Funn Facebook

That is amazing Dave. I'm shocked at the quickness of the progression. We'll put something in the next edition of the paper too. Maybe that will help. Everyone who goes to B&A knows Kim's smile.

I've set up an account at Wachovia Bank in Seaside for anyone who would like to make a donation to Kim's Assistance fund. She will have a long recovery at home once she is released from the hospital.

We are planning a large fund raiser in mid September with several live bands and a silent auction at Bud & Alley's

Checks may be made out to:

Kim Estes Assistance Fund
P.O. Box 4898 - Seaside Branch
Santa Rosa Beach
32459

Here is an update on Kim's condition

Kim is still is breathing on a respirator and feeding tube. She has been able to squeeze her Mom's hand and move one of her legs. She has undergone 4 plasma replacement therapies in an effort to slow the progression of the Syndrome. She is still on morphine due to the pain related to the breathing tube. The Dr.s are trying to encourage her to try breath on her own. Being on the breathing machine for more than 10 days has a danger of Pneumonia.

Thank you for all your continued concern and prayers for Kim.

I knew someone who had this disease a number of years ago. At first, everybody who knew him was just as scared as y'all must be right now, and yes, it took awhile, but he did recover. Best wishes to Kim and her family.

A good day for Kim yesterday!! She is beginning to breath on her own so hopefully she will be off the respirator and morphine soon. Even though she can't communicate verbally she is showing signs of strength and determination to get through this. She is aware of her situation and realizes she will recover in time. Please keep the good wishes and prayers coming!!

Dave

Dave, Balder and I will play at the fundraiser if you need us. We love Kim and want to do anything we can to help. Let us know.

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"If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." - Longfellow

She is in my prayers. Please post on her progress, Dave!! Thank you!!

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Who is Lynnie?? ~~~~~~~Signed, All Y'all

We are planning it on a Sunday in Mid September, either the week after labor day or the one after.

Any updates on how Kim is doing? thx!

Avalon Photography is happy to donate a portrait session or two. Can we put a silent auction together? I know plenty of businesses that would "pony up" for Kim. I have plenty of time (unfortunately) now that season is pretty much over, and I am not shy to call on the locals for a donation of product/service.

The latest that I got from Dave is that Kim's condition remains about the same. She is being moved so that the ventilator can be removed and a trach put in. Hopefully this will give her some relief and allow her to focus her energy on recovering.
The fundraiser is being planned for the 3rd Sunday in September.
I'm willing to do odd jobs between now and then for anyone so I can raise money to spend at the dunking booth!!!!
I believe ChefEd said he is being auctioned off. He'll dance for bucks and bucks and bucks alone.
Keep Kim in your prayers and make plans now to come out and help raise funds which she and her family will need to beat this thing.

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Quit whining and RUN!!

Kim has been moved to a very specialized facility in Pensacola to begin her recovery. She underwent a Tracheotomy yesterday morning and has been sedated pretty heavily since Sunday due to the extreme discomfort due to the breathing and feeding tube down her throat. She has some strength and movement in her shoulders and left arm and she can move her neck. She has been unable to speak for the past three weeks because of the breathing tube; it is our hope she can begin to speak post Trache.

I am going to visit her tomorrow and will send well wishes. She will be there for 3 weeks or more and then, when she is strong enough, she will be moved to a rehab facility to get her limbs working again. Her mom and James are looking into a place in FWB.

Hopefully she will be comfortable enough after the Trache so she won't have to be sedated with Morphine and other narcotics.

I know Kim will hit this head on once she can begin to assert her WILL over this Syndrome. Anyone who knows Kim knows Kim's WILL is very strong and I am certain she will conquer this very forcefully and with grace as only Kim can.

Thanks for keeping us updated, Dave. I cannot wait for Kim to be back with us. You are so right about her strong will. Just wait until she can speak again... I'm sure she is going to voice her displeasure in ways we can't even imagine yet. I look forward to hearing her do just that.

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Quit whining and RUN!!

I am happy to do a beach portrait session for 100.00 and donate all of the money to the "Kim" fund. Any takers?

I am currently working on donations for our Silent Auction for Kim's Benefit. Anyone interested in donating anything can get in touch with me at Bud and Alley's. My contact information:

heather@budandalleys.com
850-231-0008.

I have no updates but I do have this:
Kim Estes is a dear friend and a 9 year employee of Bud & Alley's (currently Special Event’s and Wedding Coordinator). Recently, Kim was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome Guillain-Barré Syndrome Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). It is a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Kim is currently paralyzed and at a specialty hospital in Pensacola. While many patients make a full recovery, it can be a very slow and difficult process possibly lasting up to a year or longer. Hopes are high and prayers are strong. With that said, Bud & Alley’s is hosting a benefit to help relieve the financial burdens involved with Kim’s medical needs. We ask that you please join us for a . . .
Party with a Purpose
at Bud & Alley’s on Sunday, September 20th
3 – 8 pm

$10 cover at the door (all proceeds going to the Kim Estes Assistance Fund)
** Free Food, Silent Auction and Live Bands including Cadillac Willie & Dread Clampitt **

Also, an account has been established in Kim’s name at the Wachovia Bank in Seaside for financial donations. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Donations can also be sent to:
Kim Estes Assistance Fund
P.O. Box 4898
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Thank you for your help and for the continued prayers and support for Kim and her family.

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Quit whining and RUN!!

We keep missing each other by phone... Please include a portrait session with a set of 4x6 preview prints in the silent auction. I will send a gift certificate and display piece. Best wishes to Kim and family.

Please don't forget to come out and join us Party with a Purpose
at Bud & Alley’s on Sunday, September 20th
3 – 8 pm

$10 cover at the door (all proceeds going to the Kim Estes Assistance Fund)
** Free Food, Silent Auction and Live Bands including Cadillac Willie & Dread Clampitt **

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Quit whining and RUN!!

Cadillac Willie & Dread Clampitt play at Bud & Alley's for A Party with a Purpose!
Benefiting Kim Estes and family
Sunday Sept 20
3-8pm


please see this thread for more about Kim's diagnosis as well as an address for donations: All About SoWal | Kim Estes

Bump

Sounds like a great event to help Kim - thanks B & A's!

Good music, good food......And a Dunking Booth...dunk your "favorite" owner, manager or chef!!!!! I've been saving for a month for this one!

Come out and enjoy while helping out our dear friend, Kim.

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Quit whining and RUN!!

Silent Auction! I love silent auctions. I'd place a bid if I knew what was being offered. Any possibility of placing the items (or some of them) here?

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Sic 'Em Woo Pig Sooie

bumping!

Dave got an update on Kim and passed on to us that she has been able to move her arm, touch her face and to speak in a whisper. This was amazing news considering that she has been ill since mid July and unable to move at all for most of that time. It has been so long and we have been, and remain, very concerned. Now we can be more optimistic too.

This event was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came out in support of Kim. I'm sure she could feel the collective spirit from Pensacola. I believe 600 people came out throughout the day and evening. I know we left there exhausted. This community came together and supported Kim and her family in a way that has deeply humbled me. I was in the presence of grace all day long and I want to thank all of you for that.

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Quit whining and RUN!!

I was very proud to be a part of the event. Sometimes you feel like you could do more but everyone contributing was very inspiring. I just want to say thank you for all of the people who put the event together. It was a huge success.

I visited with Kim on Wednesday and I am pleased to report that Kim's condition is improving!! Her facial muscles have come back so she can communicate by mouthing words and her movement in her hands and arms is improved as well. She really looked great!! I showed her a video of the fund raiser Willie and Leah Mason produced. Her attitude is really positive. Kim wanted to thank all who came to and contributed to the fund raiser. To date we have raised close to $26,000 on Kim's behalf.

Hi all...I am a good friend of Kim's and visit every week.
Kim is back at Sacred Heart in Pensacola for another round of Plasma exchanges. She will be there for 10 days of treatment. Her first was tonight (Tuesday)..it was really hard on her physically and mentally, but I saw her fighting spirit the whole time.
Her visiting hours are 9am-9pm.. ..she wants to thank everyone for the love and support during this rough patch in her life! You will all see her beautiful smile when she returns home...I look forward to my "Tuesdays With Kim".
Will keep you all posted weekly. Thanks...Cindy

I am so pleased to report that I actually got to speak to Kim Estes on the phone today! Starting on Sunday she regained her ability to use her arms and she can brush her teeth and move her arms and hands with dexterity. She can also feed herself, breath on her own and talk!! This is a huge improvement! Her legs are next as this syndrome heals from the neck down. She will continue to be at Sacred Heart doing the Plasma therapy for another month but it seems as though she is turning the corner. She sounded wonderful and excited to be able to communicate and move!

Dave

Thanks Dave, I was thinking about her today! Pass along good wishes and prayers.