My Journey with GBS

On Sunday February 10, 2019 I had a wonderful evening of sharing, laughs and fellowship with friends. Schedules did allow for a Christmas gathering and then was put on precautions due to my laryngitis; so it was exciting getting together for Valentine’s Day. My two “second moms”  Karen Humby and Marilyn Shoults help organize the event - we ordered Chinese food from Ginger Beef and had carrot cake from Cheesecake Cafe (yum!). My friends/colleagues Bev (her husband Danny) and Chris were able to come. They have been my rock for me when I was bullied at work and they have been by my side from day 1 of my GBS diagnosis. Karen, her husband Ross and their daughter Elizabeth came to enjoy good and fellowship. The remaining friends who came from the Shoults’ clan many of them who have known me 25+ years - Marilyn and Wally, their son Chris, their son Tim and wife Maureen, their daughter Amanda and boyfriend Eric, From Wally’s family - brother Gary and wife Lynne (a great support to my mom too

For those who knew me when I was in my schooling, you probably met a different Laura compared to the one now. If I told you I see myself as an introvert, would you believe it? Many people who know me now have a hard time believing I was; but it is true.  Growing up - I was a typical loner. Quiet and shy for one. Add to having difficulty at times with pronunciation of words and being a “big girl”, I was a target for bullying right from kindergarten to adulthood, which I kept hidden inside. There would times where I would do the silliest thing, like stub my toe and I would babble to my mom about bullying that happened 6 months prior. I found I was content doing solo activities - reading books, playing cards, and playing with my dolls or barbies. High school years you would find me sitting in front of locker or in the library doing schoolwork. I developed a wall, figuratively as well as literally (staying overweight), which helped me protect myself from hurt. Didn’t always work thoug

Have you ever asked yourself, “ God why are you doing this to me? What did I do to deserve this? ” I sure have especially in the beginning of this journey of GBS, why does my family have to go through yet another trauma, don’t see the purpose. My family has to face cancer (4 times with mom and sister!), death, and divorce. Just in 2016 alone - mom faced and beat her bone metastatic cancer, my brother Bruce severely injuring his foot and me being diagnosed with Guillian Barre Syndrome. Enough is enough I think.  Each of these “ traumas ” I have had experience, my faith was tested. Can I rely on something that is not tangible - can not see it or grab onto it physically? In short, the answer is Yes. Being in a room for hours on end or the quietness of night as you prepare to sleep - you have time contemplate things, replaying memories and thinking of the past and present and what future holds now.  I remember a verse that helped when I had to face my future without Kathryn, no lo

On September 22, 2018, my friend Marilyn and I had the opportunity of attending an education session at Mount Royal University hosted by the GBS/CIDP Organization. The topic was GBS and IVIG treatment (intravenous immunoglobulin). The last speaker was Dr. Chris White, a neuromuscular physician from Calgary’s South Health Campus Hospital. In his presentation he described how IVIG treatment works depending on the type of GBS variant you have. In the presentations earlier left me a bit disheartening as I keep hearing people’s questions asking, “ I have been taking IVIG treatments for the past 2 years.. ”. I thinking, “ Are you kidding me? I only got in the beginning, September 2016 and now it’s 2 years later. Has my recovery been slow because I haven’t received additional IVIG treatments while in hospital?” But Dr. Chris White’s presentation helped me turn my feelings around. There are various variants of GBS and how you use IVIG treatments depends on your variant. Okay, feeling better

25 years ago - on February 3, 1994, my life changed forever. A piece of me was taken from me. My sister Kathryn at 21 years old passed away suddenly. Her death, as expected, was devastating for my family and all those who loved her too. We were sisters, but best friends too. She missed by many. Going through my own health crisis, recovering from Guillian Barre Syndrome (GBS), I think of Kathryn often and think of what encouragement she would say to me. When she was 14 she was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma of the humerus bone (same cancer of Canada’s hero - Terry Fox). They were able to save her left arm the first time but when she relapsed about 1.5 years later, they couldn’t save her arm this time plus microscopic hot spots were found in her thoracic spine. She had to face 2 major surgeries within a month - one was the total amputation of her left arm (including the shoulder joint) and the second surgery was the removal of her T9 vertebrae, with the bottom of T8 and the top of