A young student told of her fight for life today after her entire body – including her eyelids – was paralysed by a freak medical condition.
Emily Thompson, 20, was unable to move after being struck by Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The rare disease, which affects just one in 100,000 people, attacks the lining of the nerves.
It left her facing death and hospitalised in intensive care.
And when Emily caught pneumonia, her devastated family was told she might not survive.
She had to be hooked up to a ventilator for five weeks.
But Emily has battled back from the brink and is now taking her first steps as she learns to walk again.
The former dancer, of Newton Hall, Co Durham, was diagnosed when she developed numb hands and feet three months ago.
Within days mum Carolyn, 51, dad David, 49, sister Victoria, 29, and brother Michael, 27, saw her taken into hospital.
They remained by her bedside around the clock.
Emily, who is at Sunderland University studying to be a social worker, said: “There were 10 days when I couldn’t remember anything. I just didn’t know what was real or what was a dream.”
Mum Carolyn added: “She wasn’t showing any signs of improving.
"It became impossible to communicate and for a few days she couldn’t even move her eyes.”
After seven weeks in intensive care, Emily began to regain feeling in her body. She was then transferred to a general medical ward.
And this week she took her first two steps with the help of her physiotherapist at a rehabilitation centre in Newcastle.
Emily says: “I just wanted to cry. It was so overwhelming because I thought it was never going to happen. I thought I was never going to walk again.”
Sister Victoria, a teacher, kept a diary of the trauma for Emily.
Mum Carolyn said: “It was just unbelievable to see her up even though she was supported – but it’s heartbreaking to see her being shown how to walk again.
“There is little known about the disease and I hope Emily’s story will help to raise awareness.”
SOURCE: mirror.co.uk
9 comments:
Emily is a lucky young lady to be able to go from being completely paralyzed to learning to walk again. I hope she keeps getting better.
Great happening for this young lady.
This story is simply amazing! I can't imagine not being able to move my eyelids. Emily has gone through a lot but seems to be heading in a positive direction.
How shocking, but fantastic that she made it through. I hope doctors look into this disease more to prevent further incidents like these from happening!
I wouldn't thin about how heartbreaking it is that she has to learn how to walk again. It is a miracle that she has the chance to learn to walk again!
Amazig recovery of such a rare disease!
A real miracle that she was able to walk again.
This disease that Emily is recovering from is a horrible disease.
I love stories about peope who are able to overcome the most difficult medical conditions. This girl is very strong and brave.
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