Your Stories

12 challenges in 12 months

12 challenges in 12 months

Last year Jodie Prior undertook 12 challenges for GAIN in 12 months, all in the name of her Grandad, Colin. Here is her story of a most remarkable year. I lost my beloved Grandad, Colin, to Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. My family were...

Pregnant with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Pregnant with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Cheryl Perkins lives in Adrada de Haza, a small village in the north of Spain, with her partner, Daniel, 19-month-old son, Luca, two dogs and the cat. Cheryl’s roller coaster of 2020 began whilst she was just over three months pregnant with their second child...

‘I couldn’t breathe or talk but still tipped a big winner’

‘I couldn’t breathe or talk but still tipped a big winner’

Trevor Jacobs is co-owner of Champion Chase contender Editeur Du Gite but will be watching Cheltenham from his hospital bed. When Trevor Jacobs, part-owner of Champion Chase hope Editeur Du Gite, recently won a four-figure sum on a bet his celebration was more muted...

Recovering from GBS for a second time at 87

Recovering from GBS for a second time at 87

This is my story about recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after contracting the very rare illness for the second time at the age of 87. I decided to share my story (with some help from my family) to give hope and inspiration to others with GBS that they too...

Introducing Ben Watson

Introducing Ben Watson

Paralympic double gold-medalist, childhood GBS survivor and GAIN’s brand-new Charity Champion! When we reached out to Paralympian cyclist Ben Watson in the summer of 2021, we knew he would be an inspiration to our members and supporters. Little did we know that a few...

To Hell and back

To Hell and back

Linda Barnard tells us of her determination to beat GBS and get back to being a mum A bit about me – in early 2019, I was about to reach my 51st birthday. As a single working mum of three, I had a busy life, two jobs, six cats, large garden, and I also loved to go out...

Mike Ralls – My CIDP story

Mike Ralls – My CIDP story

Guillain Barré Syndrome …. Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, two conditions/syndromes/diseases that I had never heard of until Monday 25th June 2018. The week before this date, everything was normal. I was doing Spin classes at my local leisure centre...

CIDP the birth of my princess

CIDP the birth of my princess

My journey began in April 2013. I was a stay at home mummy with two beautiful boys, and William my partner. I was healthy at thirty weeks pregnant, excitedly looking forward to the birth of our daughter who we had already named Kelsey-Mae Patricia. I started with...

My CIDP Adventures

My CIDP Adventures

I have been invited to share with other gain4all readers my experience of CIDP over the past two years. I am in practice, as I recently gave an hour-long telephone interview to a modus researcher who wanted to know about my symptoms and response to IVIG treatment in...