Patient Stories

By Laura Finley

My hero is my husband, Michael. I was diagnosed with GBS in May of 2017. We live an active lifestyle and I was an avid runner training for a marathon when I became suddenly ill. I am a RN by profession and I knew something was terribly wrong with me. I went to the ER two nights in a row and was sent home with the diagnosis of anxiety. The third night, my husband came home after work to find me completely unable to walk and in severe pain. He rushed me to the ER and insisted they find out what was wrong. He spoke with an administrator at the hospital and they brought in a neurologist right away and who was able to diagnose me with GBS. If it weren’t for his persistence and my quick diagnosis, I may not have recovered as well as I have.

I was in the ICU for one month, rehab for another month, and finally several months of recovering at home in order to feel independent again – all the while, my husband worked around the clock to take care of me. He was going to his job, taking care of our 4 children, coordinating with people to help when he was unavailable and monitoring my health and progress as if it were his own. Despite my sometimes negative attitude and all of the stress he was under, he remained my cheerleader and steady source of comfort. Now that I am better (enough) to return to work, he continues to support me and our family by picking up my slack when I am too tired from working, or if my fatigue gets out of control. He always reminds me to “remember how bad off” I was when I start to think negatively. He is an amazing husband and I am so blessed to have him in my life and to have gone on this journey with him by my side.