Gino at 39 weeks gestation *

It's a lame-o pregnancy analogy because it doesn't fit in so many ways, but I can't help but think of Gino's 9-month fight back from complete dependence to nearly being able to walk again as a rebirth.

Brief recap: last February, my sister's husband had tingling in his hands and feet, which rapidly turned into full-body paralysis -- a 1 in 100,000 case of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Three weeks in ICU with machines breathing and digesting for him, cleansing his blood of the attacking antibodies (in the truest sense of the word) while the dis-ease ran its course; then three months in rehab to help him rebuild to the point of being able to breathe, sit, and operate his wheelchair.

Five months after returning home and having my sister as his caretaker, Gino is just about ready to walk unassisted. Climbing and descending stairs will be the last major hurdle. Then developing enough stability and reflex reliability to drive and write. We're all planning for Gino to deep-fry the Christmas turkey, as he's done in past years. And we're hoping the police department will re-offer him his job within the next few months.

Gratitude. We've got it in record amounts.

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow bloggers and readers.
May you be aware of your blessings.

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Other posts on Gino's story:

Our bodies: do we rent or own?
Tami & Gino before Guillain-Barre (with their body-building photos)
Community support for Gino
Gino on TV
Setback (skull fracture)

* From dictionary.com: ges·tate /ˈdʒɛsteɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[jes-teyt]

4. to develop slowly.

Not good news on Gino

Gino fell backwards from his wheelchair yesterday onto the back of his head, causing a small skull fracture.

He had some short term memory loss and tests reveal blood on the brain. We hope he is moved out of ICU today.

We would SO appreciate your healing prayers and thoughts.

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What does the tail end of an adoption look like? Visit Back in the parenting classroom on Drama 2B Mama.

Gino in the news

KUSA (9 News in Denver) recently did a story on my brother-in-law, Gino, who is slowly recovering from being struck earlier this year by Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

You can read the story here and see the 90 second video clip, as well as read comments and post your own.

I'm betting it's not long before Gino walks. I'll keep you posted.

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Looking for the limerick entries to vote on? Click the icon below see the corresponding entries.

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It's time to leave the hospital. But first, Crystal and I have a Heart to Heart on today's Drama 2B Mama.

Barnraising: Generosity for Gino

Awhile back, I mentioned the fundraiser for my brother in law, who is healing from Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Well, it was held last night, and there were so many people we were afraid the fire marshal would shut us down. But I think he was there, too.

More than 300 people in the community came to support Gino and my sister. Enough was donated to the Officer Gino DePalma Healing Fund to pay a portion of the hospital bills and help purchase a wheelchair-accessible van. It was a whole lotta generosity for dinner tickets, raffle tickets, silent auction, and donations.

Rob and I got some cool things at the auction: sessions with a personal trainer, an appointment with a sports medicine doctor, and a set of wine glasses.

I am in awe (as is my sister) at the outpouring generosity of this community.

Tip of the hat to Marianne, Gino's sister, who planned and pulled-off the entire event (as well as taking overnight shifts with Gino during most of his hospitalization).

Check out today's episode or Drama 2B Mama, Can I Study for a Blood Test?

Tami and Gino before Guillain-Barre

I got permission to post a photo of Tami and Gino before Guillain-Barre. The picture on the left is of them in 2000. The picture on the right is them 12 weeks later, after a Body-for-Life challenge. They actually have managed to stay in great shape over the long haul, due to a complete change of eating and activity habits.

Tami is staying fit running after her son. Gino is staying focused on regaining what he's lost during the illness's run.

Tami and Gino have counseled other people wanting to bring wellness into their lives. You can find a lot of good information on their website at Start Today Fitness.

I'm so proud of my sister and her husband! Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

Gino's home from rehab!

You know from this post that my brother-in-law, Gino, was stricken with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in February. What started as numbness in his hands and feet turned into full-body paralysis over the course of a few days. He was in intensive care for several weeks as machines kept his body functioning.

He's spent the last three months in rehab, learning again to speak, eat, move. (An aside: Gino and I have watched 2+ seasons of Six Feet Under during the nights that I sat with him -- we're addicted. Not sure how we're going to work in this f-bomb-dropping show anymore, with our kids being around.)

Well, they kicked Gino out of rehab yesterday -- he's well enough to come home! Friends contributed countless hours to making Gino and Tami's home wheelchair accessible. We hope his muscle functions continue to progress and that the wheelchair is soon discarded in favor of leg power.

So Tami is now nurse (giving meds), therapist (working what needs work) and tech (getting Gino from bed to chair to car, etc). On top of taking care of Gino, she will continue to take care of their adorable 2-year old son.

Tami's glad, I think, to be finished with the long drive to the hospital that she made sometimes twice a day. She's glad, too, to have both her boys in one home (they'd turned the hospital room into a home away from home).

But the idea of being the primary caretaker is daunting. I am so proud of how my sister has remained positive and energetic throughout this ordeal, an ordeal that might have broken a lesser person. Both she and Gino are inspirational as anti-victims -- never once did either ask "why did this happen to us?" They just kept the faith and moved forward.

Right back into their home.

Our bodies: do we rent or own ?

My Dad once told me that we are all TABs -- Temporarily Able-Bodied.

Being young and invincible, I dismissed his statement as a middle-aged mope.

Years later, I finally see what he means.

Eleven weeks ago, my sister's husband complained of numbness in the hands and feet. He got on to WebMD and self-diagnosed before he went to his doctor. The doctor said surely he didn't have Guillain-Barre Syndrome -- it was much too rare. Gino whipped out the WebMD printout and the doctor disappeared for a few moments. When he came back, he ordered Gino to get to the hospital -- now.

Over the next two weeks, Gino lost function of everything south of his eyeballs. In went a trache tube. In went a feeding tube. In went a catheter. In went two central lines. Lost was the ability to move, to speak, to swallow, to breathe. His immune system had attacked his nerve system -- quite effectively.

The advance of the syndrome finally stopped, and Gino was able to move from intensive care to a rehab facility. He has spent the last two months getting reacquainted with his body. As his nervous system reconnects, he is experiencing both great pain and small gains. It's a cause for celebration when he can hold a cheese sandwich and almost reach his mouth.

Hospital staff love visiting Gino's room to see his latest tricks. You see, Gino is in a rehab hospital dedicated to spinal and brain injuries. Most of the people we meet there are NOT getting better -- they are merely learning how to live in their new normal.

People at this hospital are proof that we are all TABs. An ATV accident changes everything for the man with a 3 year old. A stroke from birth-control pills can turn a 32 year-old woman's life -- and that of her partner -- 180 degrees. The trucker who didn't wear his seat belt will not be able to hold his wife's hand when she gives birth to their first child this summer.

Gino will be released next month, and is expected to regain most (or all) function over the coming years. He will be once again be Temporarily Able-Bodied.

I am so grateful that I can walk hand-in-hand with my husband. That I can scratch my nose. That I can take in a deep, delicious breath of Colorado air. That I can hold my children and swing them around.

I am not owed my body, I do not own my body. Taking good care of it doesn't guarantee continued use of it. Made from the stuff of stars and inspiration of the Divine, my body is on loan from the Universe. I am thankful for the small and large things I can do.

I am temporarily able-bodied and I finally get that fact -- as much as a TAB can.