One mother thought her daughter was only joking when she said she couldn’t feel her legs – but the reality was terrifying.
Debbie Picken, from Bath, has described the horrific events in May 2017 when her four-year-old daughter Clover fell ill with a mysterious virus.
At first it looked like she had the flu.
But just a week after her symptoms started, she started to lose feeling in her legs and feet.
Debbie rushed her to the hospital where Clover was eventually diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
What followed were many sleepless nights, a lengthy hospital stay and months of physical therapy to get the toddler back on his feet.
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Now, five years later, Debbie looked back on that terrifying summer.
“In May 2017 she had flu-like symptoms for about a week and then she didn’t feel better. I finally got her into the hospital a few days later by the GP after hours, as it was a public holiday, and there was a confirmed case of scarlet fever in her nursery, and she had developed a small rash on her chin.
“The doctor said it was a virus but not scarlet fever so we went home with instructions to give her Calpol.
“That same day, but in the evening, I was taking her back to the hospital when she suddenly developed a cough that left her unable to breathe.
“Her vital signs were checked and I was advised to just let the cough run its course, so I took her home at 2am when it finally stopped,” explains Debbie.
Over the next few days, she expected Clover to recover.
However, she continued to suffer from fatigue and spent most of her time sleeping on the floor, in between short periods of play.
When the four-year-old was no better after a week, Debbie noticed that Clover was falling and limping more often, so she took her back to the GP.
From there, they went to the pediatric assessment unit at Bath’s Royal United Hospitals (RUH).
There she was diagnosed with an ear infection, which was thought to be causing Clover’s vertigo.
“At that stage, there was nothing tangible wrong with her that suggested a serious illness,” Debbie explained.
“It wasn’t until we got home and she wasn’t in the pram or car seat that she had to walk again and she told me she couldn’t. She was always lying on the floor pretending to be a mermaid, so when she said she ‘couldn’t move her legs’ I thought she was messing around.”
What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
The NHS describes Guillain-Barré syndrome as “a very rare and serious condition” that affects the nerves.
It mainly affects the feet, hands and extremities, causing problems such as numbness, weakness and pain.
While most people will eventually make a full recovery, this can be life-threatening and some people are left with long-term problems.
It affects people of all ages, but is most common in adults and men.
The first symptoms are:
- numbness
- pins and needles
- muscle weakness
- pain
- problems with balance and coordination
These symptoms may get worse over the next few days or weeks before slowly starting to improve.
People are advised to contact their doctor if you notice any of these early symptoms.
You are advised to call 999 or go to the nearest emergency room if:
- has trouble breathing, swallowing, or speaking
- can’t move their limbs or face
This is a medical emergency and the person should be seen in the hospital as soon as possible.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is believed to be caused by a problem with the immune system, the body’s natural defenses against disease and infection.
Normally, the immune system attacks any germs that get into the body. But in people with Guillain-Barré syndrome, something goes wrong and it mistakenly attacks and damages the nerves.
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But when Clover said she couldn’t even walk to the bathroom, Debbie realized she wasn’t pretending anymore.
She immediately called the hospital for advice.
“In the back of my mind I thought of an illness that a friend had a few years ago, Guillain-Barré syndrome, which causes paralysis and is usually caused by a virus. The doctor I spoke to said Guillain-Barré was unlikely and since she had already gone to bed and still had some movement in her legs, she would be home at night so I could touch them up in the morning,” said debbie.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a very rare and serious condition that affects the nerves. It is thought to be caused by a problem with the immune system, the body’s natural defenses against disease and infection.
Normally, the immune system attacks any germs that get into the body. But in people with Guillain-Barré syndrome, something goes wrong and it mistakenly attacks and damages the nerves.
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The next day, Clover was taken back to the hospital for tests. Her mother explains: “They initially thought it was a brain tumor or meningitis, but once they ruled out those possibilities, they turned to Guillain-Barré.
“Because it’s neurological, it’s hard to test for and they diagnose it by ruling out everything else.”
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