Liam's Fight Against Guillain Barre Syndrome

Right around New Year’s Eve Liam became ill with a fever that was hard to break. He complained of leg pain and due to the pediatrician’s office being closed his Mother assumed it was the flu and rotated Ibuprofen and Tylenol every four hours with lots of hydration. Liam was on the mend January 2nd and even went outside to ride his dirt bike for a little while and jumped on the trampoline. He did fatigue early that day and went to bed.

Around 12:30 AM on 1/3 Liam woke up and expressed to his Mother he could not walk. Confused and concerned she took him to the ER where he was diagnosed with viral myositis due to his CK levels being high.. which indicate muscle breakdown. They were instructed to follow up with Liam’s pediatrician which they were able to get in a few days later where the blood work was repeated and all of his levels were coming down into normal range.

This concerned his Mother because he should be getting better and starting to walk again according to the diagnosis. She took Liam back to the ER after calling and expressing her concern to his pediatrician who agreed he should be walking by that time.

At the ER is where everything took a turn. They started using big terms and saying this was something more neurological and his Parents had to consent to more invasive testing. Liam went through a Lumbar Puncture where they discovered a protein in his spinal fluid along with his white blood count being in normal range which led the Doctor to conclude he was going through a very rare occurrence of Guillain Barre Syndrome. Guillain Barre is an ascending attack from the immune system to the peripheral nervous system that starts in the feet and works its way up. In more severe cases people get paralyzed from the neck down.

This led this Doctor to consult with the Neurology Team at Shawn Jenkins MUSC Children’s Hospital who wanted Liam to immediately start a round of IVIG infusions where they replace his antibodies with donor antibodies. Liam got his first round via ambulance from Murrells Inlet to Charleston where he and both his parent’s Brittani and Joseph stayed 1/9-1/13. Liam made great progress and upon discharge everyone was confident he would continue to progress at home with physical therapy and neurology.

Unfortunately this past Sunday, 2/2 Liam fully regressed in his ability to walk and was back in the ER. They consulted with his neurology team and upped his medications. Brittani and Joseph were instructed to bring him back to Charleston if there wasn’t improvement in 2 days.

They were readmitted to Shawn Jenkins this Tuesday 2/4 where Liam underwent a 3 hour MRI with and without contrast which thankfully cleared Liam of all life threatening conditions. Liam’s care team is working around the clock to figure out the right management of his pain to get him back on track.

Liam loves to be outside, running, jumping, playing with his sister and friends, riding his dirt bike, and playing baseball. He is determined to be back to his prior level of function.

With this diagnosis it is a slow process to a full recovery but a full recovery is expected.

When anything happens you aren’t expecting there is always a financial burden. Brittani is not working at this time as she takes care of Liam around the clock. As well as gets him to PT 3x a week. Joseph has been out of work for each hospital stay and will return to work once Liam is cleared from this stay at the Hospital. His family is his priority.

If you can help them with prayers they are more than grateful. However, they would be more than thankful for any financial assistance you can provide at this time!