Joel's Fight Against Guillain-Barre Syndrome

In early June 2020 Joel started experiencing blurry vision and tingly feet, knowing that that was not normal he took him self to the emergency room at the hospital. Over the next few days, he made a few more visits to the emergency room and a few tests were taken - initially they had thought that Joel had had a stroke, then they thought that he had functional neurological disorder.

They sent Joel home and advised for him to see a physiotherapist to work through the brain issues he was experiencing. At home Joel’s health took at turn for the worst and over the next few days Joel’s body became paralysed. It was at this time Joel’s partner Sunni knew that she had to get a second opinion and she took him to Christchurch hospital, where Joel was then diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Guillain Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. There is currently no known cure for Guillain Barre Syndrome and although most people recover from this condition it is a long road, between 60-80% of people are able to walk at six months.

With this diagnosis Joel is now in full time hospital care at Burwood hospital, which has put him out of work for the foreseeable future. Sunni his Fiancée who is a nurse has had to reduce her hours to care for Joel and their 1-and-a-half-year-old daughter Maddison.

Joel was a very fit, healthy and hands on Dad and as you can imagine this whole situation is putting an incredible strain on him and his family. We have decided to start this give a little page on behalf of Joel and his family, we kindly ask that you show some compassion and donate as little or as much as you can.

Thank you kindly