Welcome to my brother's story!
Dana Styk
Dana Styk
Thank you for visiting my brother's page!
As you might know, the fight against sarcoidosis is a cause that is important to me, raising this awareness on what this disease can do...
I am fighting for this cause to help find a cure for those suffering from sarcoidosis—a disease that took my brother’s life after 30 years of relentless struggle. I couldn't be there for him in the way I wish I had, but I can be here now, fighting for others who are still battling this devastating illness.
For my brother, sarcoidosis was more than just a diagnosis—it was a thief that slowly stripped away his health, his energy, and his quality of life. It began with a simple rash under his armpit, then spread to his lungs, his spleen (which had to be removed), and eventually his liver. He endured high doses of prednisone just to slow its progression.
At 42, just before he was hospitalized, he was a proud new father, welcoming his first and only child into the world. He should have been enjoying the joy of fatherhood, but instead, his body was failing him. The disease soon reached his brain, paralyzing one side of his body caused by two cysts in his hypothalamus—the part of the brain that regulates vital functions like heart rate, temperature, and sleep. He spent three months in the hospital, uncertain if he would make it out.
Though he survived, the battle was far from over. Within a year, he lost three inches of height due to deteriorating vertebrae caused by height dosage of prednisone, leaving him with chronic pain for the rest of his life. Simple tasks became monumental challenges, and returning to work was impossible. His body never fully recovered, and neither did his spirit. The life he had imagined for himself and his child was forever changed.
This is why I fight—for those still suffering, for those who feel unseen, and for those who need hope. Sarcoidosis research is severely underfunded, and without more support, too many people will continue to suffer in silence. If my brother's story moves you, please consider contributing to this cause. Your donation can help fund research, improve treatments, and bring us closer to a cure.
Together, we can make a difference.
- Dana
As you might know, the fight against sarcoidosis is a cause that is important to me, raising this awareness on what this disease can do...
I am fighting for this cause to help find a cure for those suffering from sarcoidosis—a disease that took my brother’s life after 30 years of relentless struggle. I couldn't be there for him in the way I wish I had, but I can be here now, fighting for others who are still battling this devastating illness.
For my brother, sarcoidosis was more than just a diagnosis—it was a thief that slowly stripped away his health, his energy, and his quality of life. It began with a simple rash under his armpit, then spread to his lungs, his spleen (which had to be removed), and eventually his liver. He endured high doses of prednisone just to slow its progression.
At 42, just before he was hospitalized, he was a proud new father, welcoming his first and only child into the world. He should have been enjoying the joy of fatherhood, but instead, his body was failing him. The disease soon reached his brain, paralyzing one side of his body caused by two cysts in his hypothalamus—the part of the brain that regulates vital functions like heart rate, temperature, and sleep. He spent three months in the hospital, uncertain if he would make it out.
Though he survived, the battle was far from over. Within a year, he lost three inches of height due to deteriorating vertebrae caused by height dosage of prednisone, leaving him with chronic pain for the rest of his life. Simple tasks became monumental challenges, and returning to work was impossible. His body never fully recovered, and neither did his spirit. The life he had imagined for himself and his child was forever changed.
This is why I fight—for those still suffering, for those who feel unseen, and for those who need hope. Sarcoidosis research is severely underfunded, and without more support, too many people will continue to suffer in silence. If my brother's story moves you, please consider contributing to this cause. Your donation can help fund research, improve treatments, and bring us closer to a cure.
Together, we can make a difference.
- Dana
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