|
The Charlotte GBS/CIDP
Support Group
In
2004, the Charlotte GBS/CIDP Support Group was started
by Kristin Prentiss and Hannah Blanton. Kristin and
John's son Paul was diagnosed with GBS at 5 months
of age. On easter Sunday, 2003, Paul came down with
a viral illness, becoming lethargic and unable to
move his legs. Several days later he was admitted
to the hospital and diagnosed with GBS. He was successfully
treated yet struggled for years with one side of his
body being slower to respond. He is now a healthy
and active 5 year old. He continues to wear a brace
to help retrain muscles that were damaged at such
a young age.
On Mother's Day,
2003, Hannah Blanton was strolling her children(ages
2 and 4) and noticed her feet were numb. Over the
course of a week the numbness/weakness progressed
up her body, she could barely walk and was in severe
pain. Paralysis set in from her chest down. After
a 2 1/2-month hospital stay, IVIG treatment, and intense
physical, occupational and speech therapy she relearned
how to sit, stand and eventually walk again.
The Foundation brought Kristin
and Hannah together and they formed this GBS/CIDP
support group about which they are both so passionate.
"We know there is a greater reason
we were touched with this illlness and that we still
have much work to do. Look at the dates of our illnesses
- our lives were brought together painfully yet with
such a purpose."
The GBS/CIDP Foundation International
The
Foundation has been acknowledged by the Voluntary
Health Agency Community as being amoung the top in
the field, and has been acclaimed as one of the few
organizations where 100% of donations are used for
the purpose for which they are collected. GBS is a
world-wide disorder. There is a need for better education
of the medical and lay communities about this disorder,
as well as better treatments. Additionally, because
of its probable auto-immune nature, increased knowledge
of GBS may well lead to a better understanding of,
and treatments for, other auto-immune disorders.
A little bit more about "The Miracle Mile"
We
call this the Miracle Mile because so many of us affected
by GBS/CIDP thought we would never walk again, much
less complete a mile! It is truly a miracle that these
folks are walking - please join us in celebrating
their success at the finish line!
All proceeds from this 5k and Miracle Mile will go directly to GBS/CIDP research and advocacy.
|
