My name is Karrie and I’m a 22 year old Mental Health Nursing student and in November 2013 I started to develop symptoms of GBS. I was admitted to hospital and became paralysed from the chest downwards. I had to have an NG tube fitted and also a pacemaker to control my heart rate.
Eventually I began to improve with amazing support from my family and the hospital staff. I received intensive physiotherapy and was encouraged to write a list of short and long-term goals. My early targets were: getting into a wheelchair and going home for a few hours on Christmas Day. Whilst my long-term goals were: getting back to ice skating; running a 10km race and getting back to my degree.
Before GBS I was a very fit and active person; I loved running and I particularly enjoyed figure skating, so I was so determined to get back to these activities. I was discharged in January 2014 and I spent the next few months doing daily exercises to slowly build up my strength.