Story

Walking Again after Guillain-Barré

Two Haitian women, seen from the waist up, stand in a brightly-lit rehab center. One, in a red scrub top, presses a hand to the other woman’s upper chest, supporting her.

Photo © Nadia Todres

Cherline, working with physical therapist Rose-Milord Celestin in the SBH rehabilitation center

Cherline, 36 years old, arrived at St. Boniface Hospital in January, unable to walk. She had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

Guillain-Barré can be fatal, but Cherline, the mother of four children between the ages of 12 and 18, was not ready to give up on life. Every weekday, for more than seven months, she’s been working with physical therapist Rose-Milord Celestin to regain her ability to live independently.

Here is Cherline’s story, in her own words:

A woman in a white T-shirt balances on a well-worn rehab table. She stretches her left hand out in front of her while a therapist helps support and stretch her right leg.

Photo © Nadia Todres

“I’ve had a disease called Guillain-Barré for more than two years. I went to two hospitals before I came here, to the emergency room. I was not well at all. I couldn’t make my feet budge. I was using a wheelchair. Even my speech was not clear. The ER sent me to see internists, and [they referred me to] therapy. This past January 8, they decided to keep me at the SCI Center so I could do therapy more often, because it was difficult for me to travel home due to the state of my health.

“Now, thanks to the SCI [rehab] program, I [am able to] do things like comb my hair, cook, and wash my clothes. Before, I couldn’t do any of these things. I’m able to go home on the weekends and take care of my children and do activities I enjoy around the house. This makes me genuinely happy.

In a rehab center, two Haitian women sit across from each other, holding hands. Cherline leans forward, preparing to stand, while her therapist sits upright.

Photo © Nadia Todres

In a rehab center, Cherline stands on a low step. Her therapist, in red and aqua scrubs, sits before her, holding her hands and looking down at her stance.

Photo © Nadia Todres

“I always say, next to God’s grace it’s the therapy that got me walking again. Without it, I would be stuck somewhere, not walking. I was in so much pain before. Now the pain is so much less. I believe that with the help of God and this therapy I will return to how I was before the illness.

“A special thank you to the SCI service.”

Rose-Milord Celestin credits Cherline herself for the progress she’s made this year:

Cherline is making an extraordinary effort. With the state of her health before, if she had stayed home she would be someone awaiting death. We’re astonished to see how she has changed. Even though there were a lot of challenges in getting Cherline the medications she needs for her treatment, she still worked really hard. By the end of August, Cherline will be able to return home to be with her family who is waiting for her.

– Rose-Milord Celestin, physical therapist

Two Haitian women sit in a brightly-lit rehab center, smiling warmly at the camera. One wears a white T-shirt and taupe skirt, and the other wears red and aqua scrubs and medical gloves.

Photo © Nadia Todres

Cherline and Rose-Milord pause at the end of the day’s therapy session.

Program Areas

Explore More Stories