Chaos in Body and Mind

Our Battle with Guillain-Barre Syndrome

By: Carole J Williams, Stuart W Williams

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Wrapped in a shroud of utter despair, Carole fought depression, pain, isolation and the fear of death as she battled the autoimmune disorder, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, for months. Beginning with nagging back pain, the downward spiral sucked Carole and her husband, Stu, deep into the healthcare system where they struggled to understand this rare disease and how to survive the grueling course of recovery. Their journey from diagnosis to eventual recovery chronicles her medical team’s struggles with every aspect of her physical and psychological wellbeing and the essential role of physical and occupational therapists who helped devise the path to recovery. Characters leap from the pages, some ghoulish and destructive; others cheerful and inspiring. Learn how the combination of good and evil worked to enhance or retard the journey and how caring support of family and friends nurtured the long and painful recovery. Stu’s counterpoint narrative emphasizes the difficulty of negotiating medical realities while trying desperately to buoy Carole’s spirits during the earliest days when she was “locked in” and could not participate in her own care. Because he knew her mind was active, over time he found ways to bring forth Carole’s real personality and determination to be part of the drive to return to normalcy. Patients, medical professionals, and family members alike can utilize the details of this journey to better understand how to help others overcome the unimaginable physical, mental, and emotional distress of their own battle against Guillain-Barré Syndrome.