Barry Shore: From Paralyzed to Swimming Around the World – A Story of Triumph Over Diagnosis

BY LA TRIBUNE EDITORIAL TEAM

Mr. Shore, I need Your help. Please blink twice if You can understand me.

I blinked twice.

Mr. Shore, I’m Doctor Abrekov, the neurologist on duty. You have something very serious. It might be fatal. We need to run tests.

Are You with me? Blink twice if Yes.

I blinked twice.

Do we have Your permission to go ahead with the tests? Blink twice if Yes. Once if no. I blinked twice.

On September 17, 2004, Barry

Shore experienced one of the greatest crises in his life. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS, a rare neurological disorder wherein the body’s own immune system causes damage to the nerves, resulting in muscle weakness and sometimes, paralysis.

Barry was paralyzed overnight and became a quadriplegic.Prior to this, he had a thriving career, having been an entrepreneur from age twelve, and had helmed several multimillion-dollar businesses in his prime. He was at the top of the world, but then he lost everything. Fame and success were replaced by stress, pain, fear, worry, anxiety, and depression.

Many people would have given up at this point, but not Barry. While lying in bed and unable to move, he envisioned a universally accessible portal that would enable people to Learn to LIVE in JOY, daily. No matter the circumstances.

At present, from being a quadriplegic and totally paralyzed from the neck down, he is now swimming 2 miles per day, 6 days per week with the help of assistive devices. He would wear floaties on his legs to keep him from sinking, and paddles on his hands because his fingers don’t close. He also uses a snorkel to help him breathe.

But he swims.

Barry can now swim for more than one hundred minutes without stopping, something that he wasn’t even able to do before the disease caught him. And by the end of Summer 2022, he had already accumulated almost 9,000 miles – an equivalent to swimming a third of the way Around the World.

How a Miracle Happened

The road to recovery was not easy. After one year of treatments and therapy, there were barely any improvements in his condition. He was still not able to sit by himself and was even farther from being able to walk.

Barry started looking for other options and was then approached by Vince, a friend and neighbor, who offered to help. Calling himself the greatest aquatic therapist in America, Vince convinced Barry about water therapy and promised to help him stand up again within a year.

Being a believer in the power of positive thinking and open to trying new solutions, Barry gave it a try, and they went to work. In a facility that provided a special lift to get him in and out of the water, Barry cooperated with Vince and his TEAM of 4 other therapists who were eager to find the miracle that will help them beat this disease.

They attached flotation devices on his legs, arms, and waist to prevent him from sinking. Then for three days every week, at 35 to 40-minute sessions, these dedicated people moved his arm and legs, trying to revive some spark in his nervous system.

It went on for 16 months with not much progress, but no one gave up. And then one day, Barry managed to move his arms over his head and, lo and behold, moved his body in a Back Stroke. He started swimming.

Barry hit his head against the pool’s edge, shouted for joy, and continued swimming for the next 98 minutes. That’s right. They clocked it at 98 minutes. He just kept going because he didn’t want to stop. There was applause at the pool, and the therapists were celebrating, congratulating each other with high fives.

He swam a mile that day, and then continued swimming one mile 2 times, then 3 times, and finally to 5 times every week. Within two years, Barry was able to swim on his belly for two miles each session, supported by floaties on his legs and paddles on his hands.

What’s Next? The Vision

Barry believes that he regained partial mobility through intense Prayer, Therapy, and Love. He understood that each day is a gift to be cherished, and chose to focus on sharing his joy of living with the world.

And after being a quadriplegic for years, Barry has decided to use this experience to better his life and the lives of others. This enabled him to “GO MAD,” his acronym for Go Make a Difference!

In essence, this means bringing into the world through the unique combination of a positive, purposeful, and powerful attitude with a zest for life based on joy. He formulated the 3 Fundamentals of Life:

1. Life, Your Life has Purpose

2. Live a Purpose Driven Life and You can GO MAD

3. Unlock the Power and Secrets of Everyday Words and Terms

Barry’s Keep Smiling Movement has distributed over three million keep smiling cards for free. His podcast, the joy of living is heard worldwide with over three million downloads. He has also established the Joy of Living Institute (™), helping thousands of people learn to live in joy every day, offering a free course that can be accessed through his website www. barryshore.com

Along with this goal, Barry has a three-point vision. He envisions partnering with Michael Phelps; together, they would be dedicated to Mental Well Being, and third, they would raise millions of dollars at 2 cents/mile.