On 30th October after an awesome day cycling Death Road in Bolivia I started to feel agonising pains in my legs that evening, and was admitted to hospital in La Paz where I spent 3 days getting worse not better, and my legs then arms became paralysed. 

On the fourth day with no real diagnosis, my parents contacted the Embassy who moved me immediately to a better hospital where a neurosurgeon diagnosed GBS on arrival and started emergency treatment.  Had I spent another 24 hours in the previous hospital the paralysis would have reached my lungs with fatal consequences.

Thanks to the British Embassy, friends, family and excellent hospital care I am now in a stable condition with good prospects of recovering to full health in a few months.

Please see below for information about this rare syndrome, there is very little knowledge of why it occurs, and how to treat it.  It's often misdiagnosed, sometimes with fatal consequences.

All donations are warmly welcomed. I also urge you to donate blood and plasma if you are able as without the donated plasma i received here in Bolivia I might not be here today.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare autoimmune condition affecting the peripheral nervous system, usually leading to temporary or long-term paralysis. Around 80% of those with GBS will make a good recovery, but between 5-10% of people will not survive and the other 10-15% may be left with severe mobility or dexterity issues. GAIN helps people understand and manage both acute and chronic variants of the syndrome, raises awareness, and promotes clinical and non-clinical research into these conditions. For more info visit www.gaincharity.org.uk