As some of you will know, my father-in-law - Phil’s dad and Margot’s Grandpa John - has been in hospital since 12th February suffering with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). What started with a numb sensation in his feet and toes after a long walk escalated to full paralysis and saw him on a ventilator under intensive care within a couple of weeks, where he spent a further 3 weeks. He’s undergone 3 hospital transfers and 4 courses of invasive treatment to date and experienced several set-backs and regressions (after showing minor signs of improvement); all with a smile on his face, an unbreakable sense of humour and a level of grace and acceptance that is truly inspirational.

None of us have been allowed to visit. He is going through this all alone, aside from the virtual messages of love we are sending him daily (which is tricky when he has no use of his hands/phone and therefore no direct contact with us) and the exceptional care of the NHS staff around him. It has been utterly heartbreaking for our family - after a year spent apart we are now faced with losing even more precious time together. And having had a baby in the last year we feel an awareness of the passing of time even more acutely.

It’s going to be slow progress (and not necessarily linear as we have learnt) and we’re all going to need some serious patience, strength and determination (not least of all John and Christine) but we’re hopeful that he’ll make a good recovery in the long term. We’ve heard some remarkable recovery stories from GBS sufferers that continue to offer us hope.

So, while I feel otherwise helpless and at the mercy of modern medicine, with a birthday looming, I'm asking for donations to the Guillain-Barre & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies charity. Please consider making a small gift - not only will it support the work of the charity, it will give John another reason to keep going and keep smiling, and right now he needs all the reasons we can muster.

Thank you friends x

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