HOME - Holly After GBS

HOMEhollyaftergbs2018-10-09T16:07:30-06:00

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Be inspired by Holly's emotional journey from her life crashing down with GBS to living life to the fullest!

Im not the best cook, I don’t make my daughter g

Im not the best cook, I don’t make my daughter gourmet meals.
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Im not very creative and dont cut her lunches into cute little animal shapes.
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I can’t knit and don’t make her blankets or toques or mitts.
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I’m far from a perfect mom.
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But Im great at comforting her tears when shes upset or sad. We have tough conversations and I can always calm her fears. I’m great at asking her questions and getting to know what’s inside her head and inside her heart.
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We may have lost so much time together when we went through GBS, but we have certainly made up for it since. I love this little girl so much ❤️

Ten years!!! Ten years since my diagnosis. Where h

Ten years!!! Ten years since my diagnosis. Where has the time gone!
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I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome ten years ago today when my baby was just 3 weeks old. I went to the hospital with what I thought was a pinched nerve, and did not come home for 5 months. I spent 3 months paralyzed in ICU, before I learned how to breathe on my own again, how to hold cutlery, how to eat, drink, talk, shower, and then walk again. I will never forget the people that got me through that time; my momma, who never left my side so I would never be alone, Casey’s daddy who raised our baby girl, the nurses, doctors, and RT’s who took incredible care of me and kept me alive, the PTs and OT’s that helped me get my life back, and my baby girl who gave me the strength to get through each day ♥️
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Who knew that while I was going through the most terrifying time of my life, that it would end up being the best thing to happen to me. I discovered my strength, I discovered my worth and I discovered that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. The things I’ve accomplished since having GBS, from learning to walk, then run, from writing a book to climbing mountains, speaking at Universities, volunteering with the GBS foundation, helping others through this disease, and becoming stronger in the gym than ever before to now fitness training other survivors – these are things that I would have never accomplished, had I not had GBS. And for that, I will forever look back on this day with gratitude and appreciation for the woman that it made me.
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You all know that I celebrate my anniversary every year by doing something I’ve never done before - this year I will be climbing an ice wall here in my city - stay tuned for the video!

I AM my illness. It made me the person I am today.

I AM my illness. It made me the person I am today. It took me many years of trial and error but I've finally built a life that my body loves. <3

Guillain Barre Syndrome is rare. But it can and do

Guillain Barre Syndrome is rare. But it can and does happen - to about 2 out of every 100,000 people per year. It affects people of all ages, races, color, sex, in every country in the world.
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Watch out for these symptoms :
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• Prickling, pins and needles sensations in fingers, toes, ankles or wrists
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•Weakness in legs that spreads to upper body (In 10% of cases, symptoms begin in the arms or face)
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• Unsteady walking or inability to walk or climb stairs
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• Difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing
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• Double vision or inability to move eyes
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• Severe pain that may feel achy, shooting or cramplike and may be worse at night
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•Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function
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• Rapid heart rate
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• Low or high blood pressure
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• Difficulty breathing
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My first symptoms were tingling in the finger tips, severe, unbearable pain in my neck and weakness in the legs where I could hardly walk.
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What were your first symptoms ?
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#chronicillness #chronicillnesswarrior #chronicillnessawareness #chronicallyill #chronicillnesssucks #chronicpain #spoonie #stillsdisease #rheumatoidarthritis #cfs #ehlersdanlossyndrome #potssyndrom #mcas #lupus #guillianbarresyndrome #autoimmunedisorder #autoimmunedisease #gbssurvivor #fromimpossibletopossible #hollyaftergbs #gbsawareness #guillainbarre #multiplesclerosis #Transversemyelitis #cidp #chronicinflammatorydemyelinating polyneuropathy #gravesdisease #Hashimotosthyroiditis #Myastheniagravis

How to properly do a static stretch 💥
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No, you don’t just grab your arms and legs and bend them in a strange way for a few seconds.
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To really get the benefits of stretching (such as increased range of motion, ease of movement, reduction in stiffness and pain) you have to follow a few important steps.
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1. Decide what stretch you're doing and research how to properly do it!
2. Take in a big deep breath through your nose.
3. Start to go into the stretch and as you exhale go even deeper.
4. You want to go until you feel discomfort (not pain!) and then hold it there. You should feel the tension as if someone is pulling your body.
5. Keep holding the stretch for at least 20 seconds (if you can) and work your way up to at least 30.
6. Breathe throughout the stretch and if you find yourself coming out of it too soon, take in that breath through the nose again and exhale while trying to get back into the stretch.
7. If you’re particularly tight or sore in a specific area, repeat the above steps and try to increase the time you hold it.
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Remember, stretching can be uncomfortable (especially if you're extra tight) but it should never be painful! And it does get easier over time!
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Also - today is the last day to register for my upcoming weekly fitness class where we will connect, workout and stretch! Are you in? Click the link in my bio to register now.
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And have a happy valentines day everyone! ❤️

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