On that Friday in January, he checked After five days at Fletcher Allen, into Fletcher Allen’s emergency room Billings was transferred to Fanny Allen, for a lumbar puncture to confirm the where he was told he would stay for two diagnosis. months of rehabilitation with a physical “It’s kind of a wimpy name, ‘Guillain- therapist and occupational therapist. Barré,’” Billings says. “But at first, it was a “But I was showing daily progress, so I huge relief once we got into the hospital negotiated a way out after a week and and got the diagnosis and knew that it a half,” says Billings, who explained to wouldn’t be fatal, because of my age and his caregivers that he had “everything the fact that I was in decent physical he needed to survive” on the main level shape.” of his Underhill home. He was disBillings began undergoing a five-day charged with a wheelchair and walker treatment that would further knock down on January 25. his immune system before he could start As the next month progressed, he to recover. “I was still losing power,” he was able to stand, and then walk, and recalls. then drive and even travel for business. As his stalled body But it wasn’t until Billings awaited its jump-start, went for a three-mile run his mind raced. Though on a sunny late February Guillain-Barré is fatal in just day that he felt somewhat 5 percent of cases, long-term normal again. “Running is side effects for survivors can an important part of my life, include residual weakness, as it reduces stress, offers atrophy, and loss of strength time alone to recharge my and endurance. “I thought, batteries and think creWhat does this mean for me, atively,” he explains. my job, my family?” Billings It’s not unheard of for says. “Do we move? How am I people with such illnesses going to manage all the snow to rebound from paralysis and all that? OK, I don’t think and return to their previous I’m going to die, that’s great level of athletic activity, acnews, but how long is it going cording to Massachusettsto take me to fully recover, based neurologist and and will I fully recover?” Guillain-Barré authority The smallest things Peter Lichtenfeld. “I had became the most frustrating. one patient who made it WIll B I llIN g S “I couldn’t even roll myself to the Wimbledon tennis over in bed,” says Billings. tournament one year after “I’m independent; I don’t like to ask for illness,” he says by phone, “and another help. To ring the nurse to help you roll who ran a full marathon two years after over in bed is pretty humbling.” illness.” So was sharing a room with a 90-yearBut racing 13.1 miles four months old stroke victim, and needing to be after being paralyzed is remarkable by strapped in a crane-like device by a physi- any standards. Though Billings now cal therapist to get out of bed. Unable to admits to feeling stiff sometimes, and sleep, Billings was wiped out. His digestive a bit apprehensive about a training system had shut down, leaving him with regimen that has been less intense than no appetite, and one of the few sensations usual — about 20 miles per week — he he had was “excruciating back pain.” was determined to start setting running Making his stay somewhat more bear- goals once he could put one foot in front able were the visitors. Billings’ 8-year-old of the other. In addition to this weekdaughter made a card for his elderly end’s race, Billings has set his sights on roommate, who had no visitors of his own. July’s Mad Marathon in Waitsfield, the Also on hand were Billings’ wife, parents New Balance Falmouth Road Race in and in-laws, and his running buddy White, Massachusetts in August and the Cape who tried to keep his spirits up by joking Cod Marathon in October. about sponge baths. But first up is the Vermont City Still. “The kids were obviously very Marathon. “It’s one of the most scared, going into the room and seeing popular and best-managed local events,” me hooked up to a thousand machines,” Billings says. “While I’ve historically remembers Billings, who also lost control focused on [running] time, my goal this of one side of his face. “When my wife saw season is to finish strong and have a that, she panicked, and my mom was really great time.” m upset when she saw me.” Billings says he tried to be “as positive as possible about the process” — which INFo included a high-dose immunoglobulin KeyBank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, treatment delivered intravenously to Sunday, May 25, beginning at 8 a.m. in speed recovery. He began to notice that Burlington. Registration is closed. Info for he could move his right leg two inches, a runners and spectators at vermontcity marathon.org. small improvement that gave him hope.
To ring The nurse To help you roll over in bed is pretty humbling.
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