Shtilian Stoykov is 33 years old from Gabrovo. Doctors found out soon after his birth that he suffered from cerebral palsy and his parents abandoned him in a home. He spent his childhood and adolescence alone, in homes and institutions. Cerebral Palsy is a severe disease that severely affects the musculature of the body and leads to paresis, involuntary movements, muscle tightness, coordination disorders, and more.
Despite his illness and difficulty getting around, Stylian refuses to use a wheelchair and prefers to walk with canes, even though it costs him more effort to maintain his independence.

His disability has never stopped him from pursuing his goals. At the age of 18, with no support from anyone, he set out on his own and left institutions. With a bag of clothes, a lot of drive and full of dreams, he enrolled at the Technical University of Gabrovo and lived independently. He successfully obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and soon after started working as a technical assistant.

Not long after, he enrolled in driving courses, purchased a car which he adapted to be able to drive with his hands, and is now a full-fledged driver. This is how he was able to fulfill a dream, to be self-sufficient, independent and able to travel.

In 2024, Stylian became ill, kidney crises occurred one after another and it turned out that he was predisposed to kidney problems because of his underlying disease (cerebral palsy). After being admitted to the hospital in Gabrovo, numerous examinations and long treatment - what is right, what is wrong, something happens and he wakes up paralysed. He is given a new, additional diagnosis - Guillain-Barre Syndrome. This is a rare autoimmune disease that is triggered after a severe infection (sepsis). Stiliyan ended up with severe paralysis from the neck down, difficulty breathing, pelvic-reservoir disorders and hellish pain.

After almost 5 months in the hospital in Gabrovo, with not enough adequate care for Shtilian, and no improvement after the paralysis, he was transferred to Sofia - Tokuda. There, extensive tests were done and the diagnosis was confirmed.

Shtilian remained in the intensive care unit of Tokuda and was prescribed a proper diet and daily active rehabilitation.
Forty days later, with proper treatment and rehabilitation, Stiliyan is visibly improved and one step closer to his former life and the hope that he can get better.

Guillain-Barre is a condition that knocks you down in a day, but requires intensive, daily rehabilitation for months, even years, to get back to where you were before. Stilian can regain his independence and his former life. He is tenacious, purposeful and does not lose heart even in this so difficult period. But he needs help.

He is currently staying at Serdika Rehabilitation Hospital. Since it is a private clinic, his stay costs 4 thousand leva per month, and the price includes 24-hour medical care and monitoring, daily rehabilitation by a specialist, full assistance with feeding, bathing, toileting, etc. With the help of friends and acquaintances, the first month of Stiliyan's stay is paid for. But the doctors' recommendation is at least one year of intensive rehabilitation, which is worth 60 thousand leva. The amount, unfortunately, is unaffordable for Stiliyan. I believe that together we can bring Stillian back to his beloved life, because he loves him so much.