"Choice Not Chance Determines Your Destiny"

    

retrieved from: https://barryshore.com 

    For my final neuro note, I watched a video titled "Diagnosis is not destiny" by Barry Shore. Barry is a motivational speaker who encourages people to live with joy no matter the circumstance. He is known to be the ambassador for joy, and you can see him do just that in the video. Barry lives with Guillain Barré Syndrome. GBS took over Barry's body very quickly. Barry and his son were overseas and when they returned he decided he wanted to rest for a few days before returning to work. One day when he woke up form a nap he fell straight down when he stood up. He got up and was thinking that was weird and then he tried to walk towards the front of the house, but he fell down and could not get back up. He told his family that they don't need to worry and he will be back tomorrow. Tomorrow ended up being 144 days in the hospital, 4 years in wheelchairs, and had braces on both legs from hips to ankles. He is unable to walk upstairs, walk up a curb by himself, and he has constant help 12 hours a day 7 days a week. He also said that he is able to be vertical and ambulatory with a 7 foot walking cane made by a zen master. Barry emphasizes the fact that diagnosis is not destiny, and that choice not chance is what determines your destiny.

    I chose this video because I love hearing personal stories as it helps me learn how different diagnoses affect different people in different ways. When I was listening to this video it was so encouraging to see Barry filled with joy living life on the mountaintops knowing that he went through a lot of valleys to get here. In relation to our course content about GBS, I learned that GBS progresses very quickly. Although this disease can take over someone's body there is a chance to improve and get better. We learned that there is demyelination in the nerve roots and the peripheral nervous system is affected. Because peripheral nerves can regenerate, many people can get better! I would recommmend this source to anyone because it shows how people can find joy and encouragement through living with GBS. Because Barry chooses to live everyday with joy he is able to overcome any obstacles that comes his way, and he is able to participate in things that matter most to him! 

Barry Shore. (2021, August 18). Diagnosis is not destiny. GBS/CIDP Foundation International. https://www.gbs-cidp.org/patient-stories/diagnosis-is-not-destiny-barry-shore/