I have never been particularly fond of Valentine’s Day; to me, it always seemed more about consumerism than genuine affection. However, on February 14, 2020, love took on a new meaning that I could not ignore.
On that fateful day, my husband was suddenly taken from our lives and rushed to a specialized hospital three hours away from our home and our four young children. He was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune illness called Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a shocking turn of events that we never anticipated. We were a healthy family, focused on raising our three sons and our eight-month-old daughter, managing the daily chaos of work, school, and family life. I often felt the weight of mom-guilt as I tried to maintain balance in our busy lives.
Before his diagnosis, I had never even heard of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. I quickly discovered that this condition causes the body to mistakenly attack its own nerves, leading to progressive paralysis and significant pain. The most alarming aspect of this syndrome is its potential to affect respiratory muscles, which can jeopardize breathing.
After just five harrowing days in the hospital, my husband was in the ICU, paralyzed and reliant on a ventilator. He was unable to communicate and endured excruciating pain. The doctors informed us that the severity of his condition meant that recovery could take weeks, months, or even longer. We found ourselves living through a nightmare.
With our children safe at home with their grandparents, I devoted myself to my husband’s care. Unable to speak due to the ventilator, I became his voice. I did everything possible to keep him comfortable; I adjusted his environment to regulate his body temperature and even taped his eyelids shut when he lost the ability to blink.
Six weeks later, with no sign of recovery, I faced the tough decision to transfer him to a rehabilitation center seven hours away. It was time for me to return to my children and embrace my new role as a single mother during this crisis. My focus shifted to being there for them, and I pushed myself to be the pillar of strength that they needed.
One day during family counseling, my eight-year-old son expressed his hurt feelings: “You should have called us more to tell us what was going on.” His words struck me hard. My baby was no longer little; he had matured in ways I never expected. I realized I had to acknowledge his feelings and apologize for not keeping him better informed.
My husband remained on a ventilator for fifteen weeks before transitioning to intensive physical and occupational therapy. His hospitalization spanned nine months as he worked to regain basic functions like breathing, eating, and moving. We made the long journey to see him each weekend.
Almost a year later, against all odds, he came home able to walk. It felt miraculous. Our experience transformed us all. I watched my children cope and mature, revealing unexpected wisdom during this challenging time. I too grew stronger; when my husband was first taken to the ICU, I had expressed my fear of being lost without him. Through this ordeal, I discovered my own resilience.
I took on a new leadership role in our family, advocating for my husband’s care and creating a safe space for my children to process their emotions. I also had to contemplate the long-term implications of his illness and how it would shape our future.
I documented our journey in a CaringBridge journal, a platform designed for sharing health updates. Writing provided me with an outlet for my emotions, helping me cope while also keeping our friends and family informed. It became a way to explore our experiences and find hope in the midst of adversity.
After my husband’s return, I continued writing as a means of catharsis and to preserve our family’s story for our children. This culminated in my book, Beyond the Challenge: A Memoir of Healing and Hope. It reveals our journey through trauma and transformation, filled with vulnerability and honesty.
Though it was a painful chapter in our lives, the experience underscored the beauty of growth that can emerge from struggle. It reminded me that the path to joy often intertwines with discomfort.
Summary
Sarah Thompson shares her harrowing experience of her husband’s sudden diagnosis with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, leading to a life-altering journey of caregiving, resilience, and transformation. As Sarah navigates the challenges of being a single mother during her husband’s illness, she learns invaluable lessons about strength and the importance of communication within her family. Through journaling and ultimately writing a memoir, she captures the emotional complexity of their journey, highlighting the growth that can arise from adversity.