What started as a strange tingling sensation in her hands and feet quickly became a nightmare for 26-year-old Mallory Wilkerson. One morning, the Kentucky nurse and single mom woke up feeling as though her limbs had simply “fallen asleep.” But instead of fading, the numbness persisted — and rapidly worsened.
By the end of the day, Mallory couldn’t distinguish between hot and cold, whether she was washing her hands, holding a drink, or stepping into the shower. Alarmed, she rushed to the emergency room. Within 24 hours, she was choking on food and tripping over her own feet. Just nine days later, Mallory was completely paralyzed and dependent on a ventilator to breathe.
Her eventual diagnosis: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system. According to the Mayo Clinic, GBS can cause muscle weakness, sensory loss, and in severe cases, full paralysis.
“I was very confused and scared as to what was going on with my body,” says Wilkerson, who had never heard of GBS before. “I had so many questions, but I couldn’t ask them — I was intubated, unable to talk, move, or breathe on my own. It was terrifying.”
Contrary to what many might believe about paralysis, Mallory says she could still feel everything — including intense pain. “I always thought if you were paralyzed, you didn’t feel anything. But I was in excruciating pain the entire time.”
For three agonizing months, Mallory remained on a ventilator. Doctors warned her family that hers was among the worst cases they had ever seen and that she might never walk again. Her parents chose not to tell her that prognosis — a decision Mallory now credits for helping her maintain hope.
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