The Will to Occupation

Andrew Franek suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome in August of 2016, starting a journey of pain and recovery. According to the Center for Disease Control, Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare disorder where the immune system damages the nerves, leading to weakness and occasionally paralysis. Andrew’s story is posted on YouTube as “Andrew’s Story: Guillain-Barre Syndrome.” The video shows the regression of Guillain-Barre syndrome, detailing the rapid loss of function and eventually leading to paralysis. It became difficult for him to breathe, swallow, or move, so he opted for a trach and peg tube to assist in breathing. This extreme regression can partly be attributed to the misdiagnosis of Andrew’s condition. Once Andrew was properly diagnosed with GBS, he transferred to the Shepherd Center and begin to recover. Through rigorous physical, occupation, respiratory, and speech therapy, he began to build the strength to eat and use assistive devices to move around. He progressed so well, that he made a full recovery. The support of his medical team and family allowed him to participate in the occupations he loved such as exercising, shooting, working as a fireman, and eating. I chose this story to learn more about GBS and the effects it can have on occupation. This video shows the very intimate experience of people with GBS, as explained above. From the information learned from our neuro courses, I would assume Andrew’s nervous system was attacked from the bottom up, which is why he eventually struggled with breathing, swallowing, and blurred vision. These functions are controlled by the brain stem. Although this video shows the signs and symptoms of those with GBS, it shows me the will needed to recover from this condition. Andrew displayed a huge amount of will power so that he may experience the occupations he loved. His resilience is my most important take away from the video. I would recommend others to watch this video because it shows a “First-Person” perspective of GBS, which can give a great understanding of how occupation is disrupted and what recovery looks like.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/guillain-barre.html.

Franek, Andrew (August 1, 2017). Andrew’s story: Guillain-Barre syndrome. Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWvrHhs2jps