Leanne's Story | GBS

Thank you, Leanne, for sharing a story about experiencing Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a young mother.

I was a healthy 34-year-old woman, the mother of a one-year-old daughter and a three-month-old son, living a life full of energy and family moments. Then, almost without warning, it began - weakness in my legs and a strange pins-and-needles sensation in my hands and toes. At first, it seemed minor, but the symptoms grew, gradually stealing my strength.

I tried to seek help, but the system didn’t catch it at first. Three times I went to the hospital, each time turned away. My vitals were normal, scans were clear, and I was sent home with codeine and crutches, despite the growing fear that something was seriously wrong.

The weakness escalated quickly. Soon, I couldn’t walk to the toilet on my own. I couldn’t lift or hold my children. The fear was terrifying, but the love for my little ones drove me forward. Eventually, the deterioration became undeniable - I was admitted via ambulance. My face had begun to droop, and I was catheterised. A lumbar puncture confirmed the diagnosis: Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

What followed were three long months in hospital, where every day was a battle against a body that had seemingly turned against me. Once stable, I was transferred to BrainKind rehab, a place that became my sanctuary for recovery. There, I relearned the fundamental skills of life - how to sit, to stand, to walk. Each step was a small victory, a reclaiming of independence.

Through it all, I made a promise to myself: I would be home for my two-year-old’s birthday. It was a goal that kept me moving forward, through pain and frustration. Against all odds, I walked through my front door two days before that special day, fulfilling that promise and embracing my children with renewed strength and gratitude.

GBS took a lot from me, but it also taught me resilience, patience, and the extraordinary power of hope and determination.