Violet Nelly
Between Fire and Favor: Surviving Guillain-Barré Syndrome
I am from Kenya. My symptoms began on July 10th, 2022. I started experiencing strange weakness and tingling sensations in my body. Over the next few days, these symptoms worsened rapidly. After a frustrating and confusing period of uncertainty, I was finally diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) on July 15th. What followed was an urgent transfer to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) where I received IVIG treatment for five days.
The shock of the diagnosis and the speed at which my body deteriorated was overwhelming. I was completely dependent on others, even for the simplest tasks. I spent one month admitted at The Mater Hospital, undergoing specialized care. After that, I began a six-month period of intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help me recover mobility and function.
The journey was filled with physical pain, emotional distress, and mental exhaustion. I had to relearn everything—from sitting up to walking. But through it all, I found strength in my faith, my family, friends, my church, and the incredible healthcare professionals who stood by me.
During this period, I learned to appreciate the power of community. My support system became my lifeline. Their visits, prayers, words of encouragement, and constant check-ins reminded me that I was not alone. Each day brought small victories—moving a finger, sitting unaided, taking a few steps—and we celebrated them all.
GBS changed my life completely. It forced me to pause, to re-evaluate, and to trust God more deeply. It taught me resilience, patience, and gratitude. Healing was not instant, but every bit of progress was a miracle I didn’t take for granted.
Today, I am still on a recovery journey. There is still some numbness in my feet, and my energy levels fluctuate, but I am walking, I am independent, and I am hopeful. GBS may have interrupted my life, but it didn’t stop my story. I have come through fire.
