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…
On the morning of April 30, 2016, I had difficulty getting out of bed. My legs were very heavy. The first time I tried, I fell. My wife had to help me up. I felt “weird” all day and later that day, I fell again but this time, I was knocked unconscious and was taken…
From Wheelchair to the Peaks of the Caucasus: A Journey of Resilience Felix Wachter, a 28-year-old doctor from Lauf, Germany, has always been passionate about running, skiing, and mountaineering. From a young age, skiing was a source of joy for him, and he eventually became a ski instructor after finishing high school. Along with his…
In November 2024, during my senior year of college at Baylor University, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). I was a healthy and active 21-year-old and captain of the Baylor Songleaders Dance Team.It started on the evening of October 29, 2024. While watching TV with friends, my leg suddenly swelled from hip to foot….
I just turned 50 and had my first grandson born, my parents drove from Oregon to see their great grandson, when they arrived at our home I was excited to see them, when I went out to greet them I feel to my knees, I thought I just tripped, by the next morning I couldn’t…
I am Lucy Valcheva, 36, from Bulgaria. In April 2023, the worst and the best thing happened in my life. You are probably horrified and thinking, how can Guillain Barre be good? I was in a very dark place before getting sick, totally stuck in a routine and on autopilot with little joy in my…
I’m Clarissa, 24 years old. At the time of my GBS diagnosis, I was 23 and had been working as an educator in a nursery for two years. I’m also a lifeguard and a swimming instructor, and I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in the design and coordination of educational services. I’ve always been…
I played three hard sets of tennis on Thursday 5 July 1990 against a man of 26 (half my age), felt my legs tingling that evening, but thought no more about it. By the following Monday, it was much worse, and my wife insisted I go to the doctor that morning. He referred me to…
I was 28 years old, living in Paris, France when I developed GBS. Within 3 days, I became completely paralyzed from my feet to my eyes, intubated on a respirator. Blinking my eyes was my only physical act. Within 30 days I was free of the respirator and walking unassisted. Today, at 74 years old,…
In 2018 I had a food poisoning episode and for a month after I had symptoms such as blurry vision, numbness and tingling, extreme fatigue, and balance issues which eventually led to losing my ability to walk and paralysis from the hips down. A spinal tap confirmed the diagnosis- GBS. I had IVIG and over…
In January of 2015, whilst training for a triathlon, I started feeling weak and out of breath. Putting this down to nothing more than a cold, I continued training. Progressively, the symptoms continued getting worse, however, not listening to my body, I continued to train. 4th February – I had extreme pins and needles in…
One morning (some years ago), I’d just got done paying for some goodies at the local 7-11, stepped off the curb to get into my car, and had this weird feeling in my legs. Two days later, I found myself in a local ICU, unable to walk and barely able to use either hand. After…
“I REALLY want folks to know, they are NOT ALONE.” We sat down with GBS survivor, volunteer and member of our board of directors Shane Sumlin, to find out more about his positive outlook, what motivates him, and what he’d really like the community to know. Here’s what Shane had to say: Shane, when did…
On March 4, 2023, Kadence woke up with double vision and numbness to her face. We took her to the ER but with no other symptoms, they released us thinking it was an ocular migraine fast forward a day and her eyes were starting to cross and we could just tell something wasn’t right. We…
One day, I was flying as a pilot in a Boeing 737, the next day I woke up at home and within 4 hours I was paralyzed up to my neck. Guillain-Barré Syndrome they concluded after a long day of testing. This happened to me 10 years ago in April this year. But I refused…