I was a star athlete but my dreams came crashing down after I was paralyzed from a common virus virtually everyone is exposed to

Relly Ladner, a talented 17-year-old soccer player with dreams of attending Dartmouth College on a scholarship, began experiencing a tingling sensation in her legs during a game. Initially dismissed as dehydration, her condition worsened overnight, leaving her unable to move her legs. After being rushed back to the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the nerves. Ladner was told she might never walk or play soccer again. This devastating prognosis motivated her to fight for recovery. She spent eight months undergoing intensive physical therapy, painstakingly relearning how to move her legs, walk, run, and eventually play soccer. Her treatment involved immunoglobulin infusions to help neutralize the antibodies attacking her nerves and also included a bout of aseptic meningitis. Despite the severe nerve damage, Ladner's determination allowed her to overcome the odds. Now 25, she has not only returned to playing soccer but has also become a marathon runner, completing her second New York City marathon. She credits her GBS experience with fueling her motiva... download the app to read more