Living with Guillain-Barre Syndrome

In the Spring of 2005, our daughter Makenna (we call her Kenna) was admitted to the hospital after a doctor visit where her doctor was unable to find her reflexes. She was complaining of ‘tired legs’ I did not think she needed to be admitted to the hospital…I was wrong. By the time she got to the hospital (about an hour later), she could no longer walk without assistance. By the end of the day, she was completely paralyzed. Her breathing muscles were affected as well as her heart rate, blood pressure, and her ability to swallow. No one knew what was wrong. It took 2 days to figure out this was Guillain Barre. Kenna spent almost a month in the Children’s hospital and then was transported to a rehab hospital where she spent the next 2 1/2 months as a patient doing 6-8 hours of therapy each day. She went home in a wheelchair able to take a few steps. She then went 4 days a week on an outpatient basis to the rehab hospital for the next year. She had a couple set backs where she needed the IVIg treatment again but now 2 years later, she is a healthy, happy 7 year old who is walking, running, dancing and playing like every 7 year old should! She still struggles with fatigue and some ‘tired legs’ when she over does but over all she is still improving and doing great! We thank God for the progress she has made and how much we have learned through this experience! I wrote a book about Kenna and our experience with Guillain Barre. It is called “Joy in the Morning.” (www.joyinthemorningbook.com) It is an easy read and it has been a help and encouragement to many people who have been touched by GBS
Author of “Joy in the Morning”