Living with Guillain-Barre Syndrome

I was 49 years old and just got married for the very first time. After just one month of marriage I came down with the flu, then my legs started going numb and the pain, all over my body, was unbearable. That’s when I got scared.

I went to the doctor and, Thanks to the Lord, he new right away that it looked like I had Gillian Barre Syndrome [Guillain-Barre Syndrome]. He told me to go to the emergency room, so I did. I expected to get a shot and be sent home, but after four hours I was admitted to the hospital. I was horrified. I had never even heard of Gillian Barre. It didn’t take long. My legs went first. The paralysis went up my body. I had to be catheterized. Then it hit my arms, hands and fingers. If it wasn’t for my husband, my in-laws, my brother and sister-in-law and the many 100’s of people praying for me, I think I would have lost it totally when I was so weak I could not even push the button to call the nurse.

My breathing got more and more shallow and after only seven days I had to be put on a ventilator. Things just got worse. I eventually had to have a tracheostomy. About eight hours after that surgery, blood seeped around the trach and I stopped breathing, my heart stopped for almost two minutes. “Code Blue, Code Blue.” My poor family, waiting, crying, praying in the waiting room to see if their wife, little sister… was going to live or die.

But I didn’t die. After several more minor surgeries and five weeks in ICU the paralysis started leaving my body. Gradually I could move a finger, then I could smile. After a while the trach would come out and I was moved to in-hospital therapy. For a total of three months I was in the hospital. My husband and family holding my hands, washing my face, praying, rubbing my painful feet and hands and legs. For 24 hours a day they took turns staying with me. I had such wonderful nurses and CNA’s and physician’s! Thank the Lord.

This is just the short version. I came down with GBS in January of 2006. Today is March 7, 2008. My legs below the knees are still partially paralyzed. I still go numb in my arms and hands. But I’m no longer in a wheelchair. I no longer have to use a walker. I can feed myself, play the piano, work in the yard, walk my dog and go for short hikes with my husband. I know it’s not over yet. I still have quite a way to go, but I’ll get there. God is still the Great Physician and He is seeing me through!!