Rare Illness Nearly Kills Columbia Woman, Gives Her New Outlook on Life

In February of 2018, Rebecca Keilty went to the doctor for the flu, she was treated but did not feel better after a few days. She began feeling weak, “dizzy” and she felt a tingling feeling in her fingers and toes. What she thought was a mild case of the flu turned out to be a rare, life-threatening disease that changed her entire outlook on life.

The condition, known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), causes the body’s own immune system to attack nerves throughout the body. This was why Keilty felt a tingling sensation in her extremities, the disease had already started the assault.

“From the waist down I could not even move my legs, I had to use my hands to move them,” says Keilty, describing the night she went to the emergency room.

Parkridge Hospital where Rebecca Keilty found out she had GBS. (Photo by Robert Perrell)

Guillian-Barre Syndrome currently has no cure and doctors do not know what causes it, but its onset is sudden and incredibly dangerous. According to a 2011 study, the mortality rate for GBS was as high as 18 percent and can be known to cause respiratory failure in its victims.

This is precisely where Keilty found herself shortly after beginning treatment, she was immediately put on a ventilator and was barely aware of her surroundings for eight days.

“I heard things going on, I heard people talking, but I was just in so much pain all day long, all night long, I was miserable,” said Keilty.

Once on the ventilatory though she began receiving a heavy dose of pain medication. She experienced vivid hallucinations, and according to her, she remembered seeing “animals, vines, and clocks all over the walls”. But after eight days she began to show improvement and doctors began slowly weaning her off the respirator.

Despite some doctors telling her that she may never walk again due to the nerve damage, Keilty made a full recovery from GBS. Except for a few “tingles” every so often, Keilty says she has been symptom free for over a year.

“Hopefully it never comes back, some people can get it one or two more times and some people never get it again, it really just depends,” said Keilty.

One thing that has changed in the last year since getting off the ventilator, and that is Keilty’s outlook on life. She says that the whole ordeal has completely altered the way she perceives her life. She understands how precious the time is that she gets with her family and friends, and she even has a newfound appreciation for just being able to go to work each day. A 2017 study from Harvard Health indicates that a positive outlook and optimism can benefit your health and help in the body’s recovery. Keilty definitely feels that her outlook on life is more positive and is keenly aware of how precious life is.

“I’d like to say that before my illness, I really appreciated life and opportunities…but I don’t think it’s really until you realize how short your life could be or how quickly it could be gone that you truly appreciate those things.”

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