A woman from Canada was left paralysed after she gave birth to her first child, the Mail Online has reported.
Holly Gerlach, 31, began to feel tingling in her fingertips just two weeks after she gave birth to her daughter Casey.
Within three days, she was completely paralysed, unable to breathe on her own, and confined to her hospital bed.
Medics in Edmonton, Canada, discovered the mum was suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition which sees the body’s immune system attack the nervous system.
Fortunately for Holly, she has now made a full recovery, and loves looking after her young daughter and working out at the gym.
Holly had a healthy pregnancy ahead of her C-Section to deliver Casey in 2011. After the straightforward birth she was sent home from hospital – but a few weeks alter started experiencing strange symptoms.
Tingling in her fingertips and weakness in her legs prompted Holly to think she had flu, but she went to her GP anyway to investigate it.
She was told she probably had a pinched nerve, but that night when the mum got up to feed Casey, she collapsed.
After being admitted to hospital, Holly was told she had Guillain-Barre, and was placed in intensive care.
She also had to undergo two blood cleansing treatments – one of which almost killed her.
And after six weeks completely paralysed and unable to talk, Holly finally got movement in her fingertips again. 126 days after she was admitted to hospital, Holly finally managed to walk again.
“Casey and I are doing brilliantly. She knows what happened to me, and as she gets older she’ll understand more.
“I never imagined I’d start parenthood this way, but I’m still here for my daughter.”
Holly was rushed to hospital after collapsing
What is Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Guillain-Barre is a rapid onset disorder caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system. The immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves and damages their myelin insulation. Treatments include filtering the blood to remove antibodies that are attacking the nervous system out of it.
While the syndrome can lead to death (and does in 5% of cases), sufferers can experience a full recovery.
