It's been a year...

So yesterday was the year anniversary of Steve being diagnosed with GBS.  I tell the story of draining two cell phone batteries with texts to my daughter and my sister, "These are his symptoms. What is it?" and the facts of low platelet counts and plasma phersesis treatments.  I am glad I took the short video of the machine, because it seems so far back in my memory.
Steve says he is better.  He says he sleeps better because the pains that he felt before GBS aren't there anymore.  When I got my flu shot last October, there were five or six questions about GBS, and it was evident that GBS recoverers were not going to be allowed to take the flu shot ever again.
The anniversary yesterday was greeted with "It's a Good GBS Day to you" and a couple of reflective moments.  Steve still goes to see the neurologist.  It's still a remarkable story of God's Presence and His miracles, of the comfort of family and friends.  It was an amazing year.

Back to the ...

Steve went back for his 6 month check up with the neurologist, Dr. Rao Nadella.  Steve said it was short and uninteresting.  He will go back in 6 months.  Every so often, Steve will mention some tingling in his hands and a "tired" feeling in his upper chest/throat area.
Steve also went back to the gym last week and has been three times this week.  He says he feels good during the workout, just needs to work on his stamina.  He went 10 minutes at 3.0 speed at 10 degrees on the treadmill.
And to prove that he is returning to normal, we spent the Saturday putting in zoysia plugs in the front yard area.  I had to quit before he did.

Five and a half months and counting.

Steve continues to walk down stairs with wobbly legs, but he says that he's never slept better.  The small aches and pains that kept him awake have disappeared.  Steve attributes pain-free sleep to GBS.
We cleaned out a major portion of Steve's dad's house last weekend.  Toward the end of the day, lifting heavy objects (like a TV) was too much of a strain.  He felt very fatigued.  But he has mentioned grabbing work-out clothes and heading to the Y more often, so I suspect it will happen soon.  The physical therapy group called, and unless Steve has a pressing need for more therapy (which I doubt), they will discharge him.
One more thing checked off the list.

It's been almost 4 months...

Steve still has vestiges of his GBS.  He confessed today that if he has to talk loudly for an extended period of time, that his jaw and chest start having that same sensation of muscle fatigue.  He still doesn't have reflexes in his elbow and knees.
Last week, on the 11th, we went to visit his dad at his dad's home.  His dad was lying on his right side with his left leg on the coffee table because then his left side didn't hurt so badly.  We took him on to the ER and an X-ray confirmed a broken rib.
While there, the attending ER physician recognized Steve.  Steve told him that he [Steve] had been in the ER in January with Guillian Barre.  After exchanging a few excited words, the doctor asked Steve to "get up and walk!"  The doctor was impressed with Steve's recovery.

Testimony at our church.

Pastor Scott asked Steve to give his testimony which can be heard here.

He Put the Cane Away

He went to work without his cane, as a test.  He is still  'c  a  r  e  f  u  l' going down stairs.  The cane is in the umbrella stand if/when he needs it.

Latest development

Steve was able to stand up from a full squat using only his legs. He continues to work full time, and this may be his last week of therapy.
The neurologist said that Steve's progress was average.
Ha.