Together For Andy: Concert Will Support NJ Resident’s Recovery From Rare Neurological Disorder

RED BANK, NJ — The New Jersey community will come together this Halloween to support a local family as their son continues his recovery journey from a rare neurological disorder.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m., “Together For Andy: A Halloween Benefit Concert” will be held at Triumph Restaurant & Brewery on Bridge Avenue in Red Bank.

The fundraising event will be held in support of Monmouth County resident Andy Josselyn, who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in May.

Guillain-Barré is a rare neurological disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Within days, Andy became completely paralyzed; he could no longer walk and, eventually, could not breathe on his own.

It was Saturday, May 16, that the disease first struck and the Josselyn family’s world changed overnight.

“That day, he [Andy] called me and said, ‘Dad, I don’t feel right. Meet me at the emergency room,’” his father, Jim Josselyn, told Patch.

While Andy was able to begin rehab after receiving his first round of treatment for GBS at Monmouth Medical Center, he suffered a setback that later readmitted him to the hospital.

After suffering a second setback, his symptoms “just got worse and worse and worse,” Jim said.

“This thing [the disease] attacks your nerves to the point where you’re not strong enough to breathe,” Jim said. “And that’s where Andy was.”

Following his second setback, Andy was transferred to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where specialists could provide him with advanced care.

Over the summer, his parents drove to and from the hospital to take care of him as he received treatment. Though their son is now in recovery, the family said it was a long journey to get there.

“There was a day in August where we almost lost Andy,” Jim said. “His blood pressure dropped to a point where nine out of ten people don’t survive. They saved him…but he was completely paralyzed – no movement, getting help breathing. He can’t talk, he can’t eat, he’s on a feeding tube.”

“You just don’t know if it’s going to get any better,” he continued. “And at one point, one of the doctors said to us, ‘It might not get better.’ That’s kind of where we were.”

Despite the setbacks that Andy suffered, he was eventually able to begin his recovery journey after receiving treatment in Philadelphia, Jim said.

In early fall, he came home and is now speaking and walking with the help of a walker. As he continues to rehab, doctors are predicting a full recovery.

“To see him now recovering, recuperating, doing physical therapy…it just feels like a miracle, you know?” Jim said.

On Halloween, the local community will come together to celebrate Andy and to support him and his family on this recovery journey.

At the event, attendees will be able to enjoy student performances from Jazz Arts Academy and the School of Music & Drama (where Jim works as the director), a costume contest, and more.

Tickets are $30 each, with proceeds going directly toward Andy’s recovery process, including living expenses until he's able to return to work, residual hospital and doctor bills, and in-home help and care (if needed).

To learn more or purchase tickets, you can click here. Donations can also be made through a GoFundMe started to support Andy’s recovery here.

“When we started with the GoFundMe, one of the first things Andy said when he could speak was that it was one of the things that kept him going and kept him fighting – knowing how many people cared,” Jim told Patch.

“And I can just tell you personally, from my experience, I’m in my 50s. I’ve had a small business for years. I’m a musician, a teacher, a small business owner — I’ve never really asked people for anything substantial, you know? I’ve never done this before,” Jim said of the GoFundMe and benefit concert. “And to get the kind of support, and to have people saying ‘yes, we want to help, how can we help?’...it’s crazy.”

“I have students that I haven’t talked to in 20 years contributing,” he continued. “They want to come to the concert, and they tell me, ‘You meant so much to me all these years ago, and I’m happy to help you now.’”

“So it’s been really overwhelming,” Jim said. “But also just really lovely.”

“Together For Andy” will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Triumph Restaurant & Brewery at 1 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank.

To learn more or purchase tickets, you can click here.