Last November, Michael crossed the finish line of the 2024 Altamont 5K Turkey Trot run and 2K walk. A fit and active man, he thrived on running, hiking, skiing — the whole gamut of outdoor adventure. That following March, while visiting his son in Denver with his wife Veronica, he celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by cross-country skiing six miles — three up and three down — alongside his son.
So when leg nerve pain began soon after, Michael assumed it was from overexertion. But when he started losing feeling in his toes and legs, he knew something was off. A trip to the ER and a lower-body CT scan suggested a bulging disk. Still, something didn’t feel right.
A return visit for a lower back MRI again pointed to a disk issue, with a recommendation to see a spinal surgeon. While waiting the two to three weeks for that consult, Michael found himself in the ER for a third time. This time, doctors ordered a head-to-toe MRI. The scan ruled out multiple sclerosis — a concern since his mother had suffered from MS — and ultimately led to the correct diagnosis: Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
Michael began IV/IG (Immunoglobulin) treatment immediately and then entered acute rehab. He was then sent to rehab at Daughters of Sarah. When his progress again slowed, he returned to his neurologist, who sent him straight to the hospital for a second round of IV/IG. Doctors initially suspected a relapse, but the treatment brought dramatic improvement.
With extensive physical and occupational therapy at Daughters of Sarah, Michael progressed from being wheelchair-bound to walking 250 steps at a time with a walker. His philosophy was simple: “When you’re given exercises, do them. You have to put in the work.”
The socialization aspects of Daughters of Sarah made the rehab experience enjoyable. “Sitting at the guys’ table for meals was fun. And afterwards, we would visit each other’s rooms and get to know each other. There’s something special about that kind of shared experience.”
Five months after the onset of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Michael is going home — walking and able to transfer independently. His next goal? To take part in this year’s Altamont Turkey Trot. “I may be walking for part of it, but I’ll be there,” he says confidently.
As Michael puts it, “I’m starting where I left off. And in November, I’ll be back at that starting line.”