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Mike Nuppnau (Willa Detwiler Nuppnau's husband) age 49 was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with Guillian Barre' Syndrome. Below is an e-mail Willa posted June 14. An update 6-22-08: Mike is finished with his infusions and will be moving to a Hobart hospital for rehab for 12 days. He is learning to use a walker for some mobility. His legs remain with no feeling and they are unable to support him. Please pray for full recovery! They had all planned on coming to the reunion. Now we are unsure of their attendance.

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June 14, 2008
From Willa Nuppnau

Mike has Guillain Barre Syndrome and cannot walk. It came on suddenly, within 2 hours, last Sunday morning. He thought his legs had gone numb from laying wrong in bed, but it gradually got worse instead of better. We got him to the ER quickly. His back and belly also ached (4 bulging discs + bladder filling). He had 4 MRIs, spinal tap, EMG, NVC, CTA of his aorta, lung function test, catheter and IV within the first 48 hours. His neurologist ruled out the "really bad" stuff first and then made the diagnosis. Some of Mike's results have been sent to Mayo Clinic and somewhere in California to be tested for some "exotic" stuff that the doc is still considering, since Mike's is not a classic case of Guillain Barre.

Guillain Barre, pronounced Gee on Bar ray' (with a hard "G"), is an uncommon inflammatory disorder in which by mistake, the body's immune system attacks your nerves, the lining in particular. There is no known cause or cure, but treatment is successful for 100% recovery in 80% of the cases. It can travel to all parts of the body making them weak, numb, even paralyzed, so it can be very serious if it goes to your chest area since it can affect even the muscles which help you breathe!

The treatment he is on is IVIG. He gets 5 infusions of immunoglobulin which helps block the antibodies that are destroying the nerves. We are now 5 days into it and he is having the last one as I write. These treatments should cut the recovery time in half. Recovery can take 3 weeks to 3 months to 3 years, but also Guillain Barre can recur at any time. Next week Doc will retest him, reevaluate and hopefully see improvements so that he can go to rehab center to learn to walk again. Until then he is at Porter Hospital, room 426.

Doc did see a bit of reflex in Mike's right knee on Thursday and Mike seems to be able to "feel" a little sensation in the right leg when moved. I am to put his joints through range of motion exercises. They use a type of fork lift with a canvas hammock on it to move him from bed to chair twice a day. He has a special air bed, too. He is on blood thinners to lessen the risk of blood clots.

In the meantime, the boys are stepping up and running the businesses (mowing business and package beverage store). Ryan is doing most of the paperwork and all are mowing besides their "real" summer jobs working at the golf courses here in town. Kevin is in charge of groceries and the kitchen and laundry, while John is in charge of cleaning. They help each other and Mike's mom is helping with the store, too. I have been up at the hospital most of the time, just coming home to shower occasionally or grab a bill that is due! Thus, it has taken me a while to write this email to let you all know.

Please keep us in your prayers, especially that this does not travel any further up his body and of course, for a speedy recovery!

Love, Willa and boys 219.465.0763

P.S. Please share this with anyone who you think would appreciate knowing.