Mary McAlister (old)

I made no discernible recovery for more than 6 months. (June 1948). The first stages of my recovery commenced with my eyes, being able to focus, and to turn and lift my head a little. On the 1st of January 1949, 5 days short of my 16th birthday almost a full year since I had left for that “Tasmanian holiday.” I was able to sit up briefly enough, to have my photo taken; it would be another three months before I was strong enough to attempt to “walk”.

Walking was certainly a planned procedure, no spur of the moment impulse. I was encased in a tightly fitted laced corset from just below my armpits to the top of my legs. On my legs were long steel and leather callipers keeping my legs strapped straight, not to bend at the knee; from the toe of specially made shoes were metal springs which were stretched to leather strapping below my knees to keep my feet from dragging too much. By these means I was able to “walk” stiff legged and very frightened of falling. Falling still remains my greatest worry.

However at last it looked as though I was finally to go home which I did June/July 1949 ... my physiotherapy continued as an outpatient with daily visits back to hospital. Just before my seventeen birthday, now at home, I had progressed strength wise in my knees and legs, to discarding the long callipers, and having short callipers fitted, these were strapped tightly below the knee, the springs attached to my shoes as before, enabling me to at last bend my legs, and walk a little more like most people, if a little awkwardly...and go to work.

It is far too easy to dismiss all those months in between my fifteenth and nearly seventeenth birthdays as being easy, they were not, there were countless challenges. One persists because there are no alternatives we do what we can, in the best manner and grace that we are able, not to grieve for what might have been. As individuals with GBS or CIDP residual effects may often be our constant companion throughout our lives, challenges become commonplace, often our independence may need help, stairs without railings, tight lids on jars, tripping over almost nothing, fatigue, yes many of us find these are day to day challenges. Nevertheless we manage; after all we are GBS-CIDP survivors!!!!

Often in my role as “Call a friend” for GBS-CIDP telephone calls, I listen to how quite ordinary people unexpectedly thrown into quite extraordinary situations deal with confronting issues. How strongly and determinedly they face uncertain futures and yet keep a positive focus to do the best they can each day.

There are many aspects to one’s inspiration. It comes in many guises from many people we meet. It is a many faceted emotion. We absorb and learn and hope to emulate these positive aspects into our own lives.