D Rock Recovery from Guillain-Barre’s

Hi my name is Jadyn, I am Darek Shettel's daughter. Some of you may know him as D Rock. Last week my dad was hospitalized with tingling in his hands and feet, having trouble with his balance and some basic movements.

 

He went through two days of testing and it finally took a spinal tap to figure out what was wrong. We now know it is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This is a rare condition seen in 1 out of 100,00 people in which a person's immune system attacks their peripheral nerves. Weakness in the hands and feet are usually the first symptoms but these sensations can quickly spread and paralyze your whole body. We are very thankful to MAYO hospital for figuring out what was going on before things got worse because when caught early this syndrome is treatable. People of all ages can be affected, but it is more common in adults and in males. Most people can recover fully from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré but it is a VERY long road.

 

After 6 days in the hospital, receiving the limited available treatment for this rare disease he is back at home. The hospital said he should go from there to inpatient rehab for an extended time. However, with no health insurance, already having accumulated massive medical bills, and having no ability to work now, this was not an option. While we hope and pray that he will return to normal, the realistic timeframe for recovery is anywhere from 6 months to a year. He can’t walk on his own nor does he have full use of his hands right now so needless to say, working construction is out of the picture.

UPDATE ** He has been told the IVIG treatment did not work. He is currently at Mayo for the next 10 days receiving a more complicated treatment that we hope will improve his symptoms. We will update friends, family, & donors on his condition.

My dad is very proud and has never been one to ask for anything. He has been there for every flat tire, car accident, sports game I've been in, and everything in between. He has always been there for a friend or family member in need too.

 

We're praying for a speedy recovery but during this beyond-stressful and scary time, I ask you for your help. Anything and everything is appreciated more than you know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity.