Melissa Mbitu
My name is Melissa, a Kenyan girl who came across GBS, in June 2024. It started as a normal flu, then numbness and weakness came in on my legs and hands. I was admitted at MP. Shah Hospital on a Friday and by and by Saturday I was unable to move and my sense of speech had stopped. On Saturday night I had difficult time on breathing and it got worser as the day went on.
Sunday was the very first time seeing an ICU room and my hopes were really fading. All I could say after seeing my mom was “I love you.” Thinking that I would not survive. I was shut down for a week only to wake up with tubes everywhere. My journey at the ICU took 1 month and a week. The doctors once extubated me, but it did not last long. I have a cut at my neck currently. I got better thanks to the hardworking doctors and the nice nurses.
I was sent to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) for a month. I finally started practicing my standing posture and walking steps though difficult it was promising. After 3weeks I stopped using the oxygen machine and finally began eating and talking once again. It was such an emotional moment between me and my family members and friends. I was finally taken to the private ward for a month. After so many weeks at the hospital I came across the wonderful sun and clean air as soon I was at the ward. I began intense physiotherapy; it was difficult can’t lie but I did so well the first week I was swinging a lot while walking but the second week I had a better walking posture.
I finally became better worrying less about myself and finally I got discharged. Seeing my siblings again was such an emotional moment. I still pushed on with physiotherapy today. Right now, I am way much better, only a few milestones remaining, but I am doing great. I only use crutches on rough rounds but walk without on smooth surfaces. So, I have shared my story to encourage any young adult out there facing any difficult condition, It is all about believing in God and believing in yourself. Challenges come on your way to make you stronger than the way you were. Just believe you will be better, and you can do it and it will happen. Hope my story will change the way you view your situation right now.
“Remember for you to win a battle you have to face the battle.”
