Support Laura-Lee's Road to Recovery from GBS

Laura-Lee Barron, wife, mother, grammy, daughter, friend, sister, aunt, niece, educator, fierce union leader, advocate for children and public education has been on a long road of recovery since she developed Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in February after she had a lumpectomy to treat breast cancer in January.

GBS is a condition that causes mild or severe muscle weakness. There are different types of GBS. The most common type is Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) Laura-Lee’s diagnosis. In GBS, a person’s infection-fighting system (the immune system) attacks their own nervous system. This damages the nervous system, which can cause symptoms. Doctors do believe something about her cancer surgery sparked this.

GBS causes muscle weakness on both sides of the body. The weakness usually starts in the legs, and then spreads to the arms and face. Some people have mild weakness. Other people are unable to move the muscles in their legs, arms, or face. This is called “paralysis”. In some people, the muscles for swallowing and breathing get very weak, Laura-Lee experienced most of the symptoms and has been fighting and working to regain feeling and control of her muscles. Although doctors expect this to be temporary, it is frightening and frustrating for both Laura-Lee and Trish.

After more than 30 days in the hospital, Laura-Lee was transferred to an acute care and rehab facility where she has been since March 8. During this time, she has been working with therapists to regain her ability to swallow, talk, and move. Laura-Lee's wife Trish has been by her side supporting, coaching, and advocating for her every step of the way. At the end of March, Laura-Lee said, "the illness continues to be cruel and I continue to battle. It's been good having the help and support. It's not all sunshine and roses nor is it all doom and gloom.”

Laura-Lee has made a lot of progress in the past 90 days but we have been told, this is going to be a marathon and could take many months of rehab and work to get back to where she was before the syndrome attacked. Together with a great group of friends by her side, Laura-Lee is now eating regular foods and liquids, able to use her core muscles and arms to sit up with some assistance, transfer and move her wheelchair, hold pens and write (although still pretty messy) for short periods, and is starting to get some movement back in her legs. And as each of you that know Laura-Lee would expect, the wit, humor, and sass are sharp as ever as she continues to heal.

She and Trish are now working on a transition plan to the next stage of recovery which will include making their home accessible for a wheelchair, setting up in-home health and therapy visits, activities of daily life care, and hopefully a stay at one of the in-patient rehab facilities for some intensive therapy three plus hours a day.

As you can imagine, these are not things that come cheaply and much of it won't be covered by insurance. Through this fundraiser, we are working to help support her recovery.