A Virginia man, Ra-Jon James, has shared his inspiring story of recovery after miraculously going from complete paralysis to walking again.
His battle was against Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a terrifying and rare neurological disorder.
James’s ordeal began suddenly in late July with a vague feeling of weakness. This inexplicable change quickly escalated, becoming severe enough to alarm everyone around him.
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What started as a simple weakness soon progressed into a fight for survival as the rare condition began its devastating attack on his body.
“I started noticing my legs felt very weak, and other people that I hung out with, they noticed that my eyes were actually red,” James told WTKR.
Though initial tests at urgent care were negative, offering a brief, false sense of relief, his condition rapidly worsened just hours after the visit. In a terrifying and sudden turn for the worse, he collapsed at home while his father frantically attempted to get him to the hospital for further treatment.
“He told me, ‘Get up, son. Get up.’ I said, ‘Why me? I can’t walk or get up.’ But I actually heard a voice tell me that I was gonna be OK,” James said.
Fear gripped James after he was rushed to the intensive care unit, where doctors fought tirelessly to save his life.
“They had to take me to the ICU. I was on the trach [tracheostomy], the ventilator. I was actually paralyzed,” James recounted.
James was soon diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder where the body’s own immune system attacks its nerve cells. To remove the infection, doctors performed a plasma exchange. James remained hospitalized for nearly three months after the diagnosis.
“Doctor told me I was close to death,” James said.
According to Dr. Jennifer Quilter, who served as one of the attending physicians for James at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, his subsequent recovery has been nothing short of extraordinary, particularly when considering the rigorous months of intensive rehabilitation he underwent.
“He came back to see us this month for the first time, and we were like, ‘Holy smokes, is this the same guy?’ We couldn’t believe it. He looked great,” Quilter said.
James is now able to walk again and is sharing his survival story to help others identify the early signs of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The warning signs to look out for include a sensation of pins and needles in the fingers, toes, ankles, or wrists; muscle weakness that begins in the legs and moves up to the torso; difficulty with facial movements, which can affect speaking, chewing, or swallowing; and an unstable walk.
Guillain-Barré is a rare condition, according to doctors, but early detection can be critical for survival. While the precise cause remains unknown, two-thirds of those affected experience an infection up to six weeks before the onset of symptoms.
James attributes his ability to overcome his most difficult times to his unwavering faith.
He now shares his journey, aiming to encourage others to pay closer attention to their bodies’ warning signs before a health crisis develops.
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