Monsters Inside Me - It Came from a Tick

SHE SAID, "DADDY,
I THINK MOMMY IS DYING."

[ SCREAMING ]

Narrator:
NATURE'S DEADLIEST ORGANISMS...

[ CRYING ]

I DIDN'T KNOW
IF I WAS GONNA LOSE HER.

Narrator:
THEY CAN HIJACK OUR BODIES...

THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

Narrator:
...DISABLE OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS...

IT MAKES THE BODY ATTACK ITSELF.

Narrator:
...AND EAT US FROM WITHIN.

IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING.

Narrator: FOR THOSE INFECTED,

THEY ARE
"THE MONSTERS INSIDE ME."

28-YEAR-OLD RUTH GODEJOHN

LIVES IN THE SMALL TOWN
OF SHELBY,

DEEP IN THE HEART
OF RURAL NEBRASKA.

SHE HAS
FOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS --

6-YEAR-OLD KORTNEY,

5-YEAR-OLD SARAH,

2-YEAR-OLD EMILY,
AND A NEW BABY, WENDY.

IT WAS PRETTY CRAZY
BEING A MOM OF FOUR.

THEY GOT ME LAUGHING.
THEY HAD ME CRYING WITH JOY.

JUST BEING THEIR MOM
WAS THE GREATEST ADVENTURE.

Narrator:
KORTNEY IS THE ELDEST DAUGHTER
IN THE FAMILY.

Kortney: IT'S FUN HAVING
THREE YOUNGER SISTERS.

I LIKED BEING THE OLDEST.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK, YOU KNOW,

HAVING TO KEEP EVERYBODY
IN LINE.

Narrator:
BUT THERE IS ONE THING

THE WHOLE FAMILY LOVES
TO DO TOGETHER.

Ruth:
THE GIRLS LOVED BEING OUTDOORS.

WE TOOK 'EM FISHING QUITE OFTEN.

WE SPENT TIME, YOU KNOW,
DAYS CAMPING.

Narrator:
AND 2-YEAR-OLD EMILY

HAS HER OWN PARTICULAR APPROACH
TO FISHING.

EMILY LIKED
TO GOOF AROUND A LOT.

EMILY WOULD PICK UP ROCKS
AND START THROWING THEM.

AND EITHER I
OR MY MOM WOULD BE LIKE,

"STOP, YOU'RE GONNA
SCARE THE FISH AWAY."

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY.

Narrator: BUT THE FAMILY
IS ABOUT TO DISCOVER

THAT NATURE ISN'T ALWAYS
SO HARMLESS.

ONE MORNING IN EARLY JUNE,

RUTH IS GETTING THE GIRLS READY
FOR THE DAY.

Ruth: I WOKE EMILY UP
TO GET HER DRESSED

SO I COULD GET HER SISTERS
OFF TO SCHOOL.

AND I NOTICED

ABOUT A QUARTER-SIZED LUMP
ON HER NECK.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS STRANGE.

I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT
WITH THE OLDER TWO SISTERS.

I WAS CONCERNED,

BUT I FIGURED I WOULD GIVE HER
TYLENOL EVERY FOUR HOURS

TO SEE
IF THAT WOULD TAKE IT AWAY.

Narrator:
BUT THE NEXT DAY,

RUTH FINDS THAT STRANGE LUMP
IS STILL THERE.

Ruth:
I WENT IN TO HER PEDIATRICIAN,

AND THEY DID AN EXAMINATION.

AND THEY TOOK ONE LOOK
AT HER NECK,

AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME
IT WAS A INFECTION

THAT CAUSED A LYMPH NODE
TO SWELL.

Narrator: LYMPH NODES ARE PART
OF THE BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM.

WHEN THE BODY DETECTS
AN INFECTIOUS AGENT,

IT SENDS LYMPHATIC FLUID
TO THE LYMPH NODES,

MAKING THEM SWELL.

DOCTORS GIVE EMILY ANTIBIOTICS.

I IMMEDIATELY START
ADMINISTERING IT TO HER.

THE NEXT MORNING, THE LUMP GREW.

WITHIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS,
IT JUST OVERPOWERED HER NECK.

IT JUST WAS HUGE.

[ Ringing ]

I IMMEDIATELY CALLED
THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE BACK.

BUT THEY JUST TOLD ME
TO CONTINUE

TO ADMINISTER THE MEDICINE,
THAT SHE'LL GET BETTER.

I WAS A LITTLE ANGRY
BECAUSE I THOUGHT

THEY SHOULD'VE AT LEAST
INVESTIGATED IT

A LITTLE BIT MORE.

Narrator:
NEVERTHELESS, RUTH CONTINUES

THE ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT.

Ruth: THE NEXT DAY, I SAW
BLACK RINGS UNDER HER EYES.

IT LOOKED LIKE SHE GOT HIT
UNDER BOTH EYES.

SHE WAS VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED

BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T EXPRESS
IN MORE LOGIC TERMS

OF HOW SHE WAS FEELING.

ALL SHE COULD DO WAS JUST CRY.

I WAS SCARED.

I HONESTLY THOUGHT
THESE DOCTORS MUST BE CRAZY

BECAUSE THIS CHILD
IS NOT GETTING BETTER.

SO, I ENDED UP TAKING HER
TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

Narrator: THERE, AN E.R. DOCTOR
REVIEWS EMILY'S CASE.

THE DOCTOR TOOK ONE LOOK AT HER,

AND THE OPTION WAS
TO LET THE DOCTOR

GIVE HER A PURE PENICILLIN SHOT.

Narrator: PENICILLIN IS
AN ANTIBIOTIC USED TO TREAT

A WIDE RANGE
OF SERIOUS INFECTIONS.

Ruth: THE DOCTOR
ADMINISTERED THE SHOT.

MY BIGGEST HOPE WAS
THAT IT WAS GONNA WORK

AND THAT THINGS
WERE GONNA START IMPROVING.

Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,

RUTH KEEPS EMILY INDOORS,
AND HER HEALTH SEEMS TO IMPROVE.

Ruth: IT WAS A WEEKEND,

AND WE WERE GONNA GO
HAVE A FAMILY DAY OUTSIDE.

AND I STARTED COMBING HER HAIR,

AND SHE LET OUT
THIS AWFUL SCREAM.

SO I START FEELING HER HEAD

AND I FEEL THIS BUMP
IN THE BACK PART OF HER HEAD.

AND WHEN I STARTED
SEPARATING HER HAIR,

I FOUND...A BLOATED TICK.

Narrator: TICKS ARE SMALL,
INSECT-LIKE PARASITES

THAT FEED ON THE BLOOD
OF THEIR HOST.

Ruth: I WAS FREAKING OUT.

THIS TICK LITERALLY

DUG ITS BODY AND ITS FEET
RIGHT INTO HER SCALP.

Narrator:
IMMEDIATELY, RUTH USES TWEEZERS

TO EXTRACT THE EMBEDDED TICK
OUT OF EMILY'S HEAD.

Ruth: I ENDED UP SAVING THE TICK
AND PUT IT IN A BOTTLE.

Narrator: RUTH TAKES EMILY
AND THE SPECIMEN

BACK TO THEIR
LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN.

Ruth: THE DOCTOR CAME IN,
AND SHE EXPLAINED TO ME

THAT THE TICK
THAT WE HAD TAKEN OFF OF EMILY

WAS AN AMERICAN DOG TICK.

Riskin: THE AMERICAN DOG TICK
IS PRIMARILY FOUND

EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

IT CAN CARRY
SEVERAL INFECTIOUS AGENTS

THAT CAN CAUSE
MULTIPLE DISEASES,

INCLUDING
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER

AND CANINE TICK PARALYSIS,

ALL OF WHICH AFFECT HUMANS
AND ARE POTENTIALLY FATAL.

Narrator: TO TEST
FOR TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES,

THE PEDIATRICIAN
SENDS RUTH AND EMILY

TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
AND MEDICAL CENTER,

78 MILES AWAY IN OMAHA.

THERE,
PEDIATRIC DISEASE SPECIALIST

DR. ARCHANA CHATTERJEE
REVIEWS HER CASE.

AT HER INITIAL PRESENTATION,

EMILY'S CASE
WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR.

SHE HAD AN ULCER ON HER HEAD

AT THE SITE
WHERE THERE IS AN INSECT BITE.

Ruth: THEY DREW HER BLOOD --
JUST NUMEROUS BLOOD DRAWS --

FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.

SHE EXPRESSED A LOT OF HURT,
A LOT OF PAIN.

THERE WAS MOMENTS WHERE
SHE COULD EXPRESS HERSELF,

BUT THERE WAS JUST MOMENTS
THAT SHE JUST CRIED.

AND IT'S LIKE
MY HEART JUST ACHED.

Narrator:
FOR THREE LONG WEEKS,

EMILY AND RUTH
ARE IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

WHILE DOCTORS
ANALYZE THE BLOOD TESTS.

I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE
ANY ANSWERS, AND I WANTED THEM.

Narrator: SO, RUTH RETURNS
WITH EMILY TO THE HOSPITAL.

Ruth: WE WERE SCHEDULED
FOR ONE MORE APPOINTMENT --

THE FOLLOW-UP OF PREVIOUS TESTS.

THE DOCTOR COMES WALKING IN
AND DECKED OUT

IN WHAT LOOKED LIKE ALMOST,
LIKE, A RADIOACTIVE SUIT.

I HAVE THIS LOOK OF SHOCK
ON MY FACE

'CAUSE OF COURSE I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SHE TELLS ME
THAT EMILY'S VERY CONTAGIOUS.

I WAS SCARED OUT OF MY MIND.

[ CRYING ]

Narrator: IN OMAHA,
RUTH GODEJOHN IS IN THE HOSPITAL

WITH HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
EMILY,

WHEN DOCTORS WEARING
ISOLATION GEAR

WHISK THE GIRL AWAY.

SHE TELLS US
THAT EMILY'S INFECTIOUS,

AND SHE HAD TO BE QUARANTINED.

THE DOCTOR PROCEEDED
TO EXPLAIN TO ME

THAT EMILY HAD TESTED POSITIVE
FOR TULAREMIA.

Narrator:
TULAREMIA IS AN INFECTIOUS,
TICK-BORNE DISEASE

CAUSED BY A BACTERIA
CALLED FRANCISELLA TULARENSIS.

INSIDE EMILY'S BODY,

THE BACTERIA COLONIZE HER SKIN
AND KILL HER TISSUE.

WHITE BLOOD CELLS
ATTEMPT TO DESTROY THE BACTERIA

BY INGESTING THEM
BUT THE BACTERIA

ARE ABLE TO SURVIVE
INSIDE THE WHITE BLOOD CELLS,

WHERE THEY CONTINUE
TO REPRODUCE.

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

TRIES TO FLUSH OUT THE BACTERIA
WITH FLUIDS.

THIS IS WHAT CAUSED
EMILY'S SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES.

[ CRYING ]

Narrator: THE BACTERIA
THAT CAUSES TULAREMIA INFECTIONS

IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS,
IS RESISTANT TO PENICILLIN,

AND CAN BE FATAL.

Dr. Chatterjee: BECAUSE
EMILY HAD LARGE, OPEN SORE,

THOSE BACTERIA
COULD BE AEROSOLIZED

FROM THAT ULCER SITE.

SO, SHE WAS PLACED IN ISOLATION

AND BECAUSE
EMILY WENT UNDIAGNOSED

AND THEREFORE UNTREATED
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS,

THE WORST OUTCOME,
OBVIOUSLY, IS DEATH.

Ruth:
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

I DIDN'T KNOW
IF I WAS GONNA LOSE HER.

I DIDN'T KNOW
IF SHE WAS GONNA GET BETTER.

I WAS JUST --

IN ALL HONESTY, I WAS TRUSTING

THAT GOD
WAS GONNA TAKE CARE OF HER.

MY HEART WAS BREAKING.

[ SNIFFLES ]

ROUGHLY 120 CASES OF TULAREMIA

ARE REPORTED
IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY YEAR.

CHILDREN IN RURAL AREAS
ARE MOST LIKELY

TO CONTRACT THE DISEASE
DURING THE WARMER MONTHS,

AS THIS IS WHEN
THEY ARE MOST LIKELY

TO BE EXPOSED TO TICKS.

WITHOUT TREATMENT, UP TO 60%

OF THOSE INFECTED WITH TULAREMIA
IN THE UNITED STATES WILL DIE.

Narrator:
BUT HOW DID EMILY CONTRACT
THE DISEASE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Ruth: I REMEMBER
EMILY BEING OUT FISHING

AT LEAST A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR
TO HER GETTING SICK.

THAT HAS GOT TO BE
WHERE SHE CAUGHT THE TICK.

Narrator: DOCTORS PRESCRIBE
A NEW ANTIBIOTIC

CALLED STREPTOMYCIN.

BUT ADMINISTERING IT ISN'T EASY.

THEY PUT THE PICC LINE IN

FROM HER ELBOW
ALL THE WAY TO HER HEART.

Emily: [ CRYING ]

Ruth:
SHE WAS CRYING AND SCREAMING,

AND THE DOCTORS
WERE HOLDING HER DOWN,

AND THE NURSES WERE LIKE,

"MOM, IF YOU NEED TO LEAVE,
WE'VE GOT THIS."

AND I'M LIKE,
"I'M NOT LEAVING MY BABY."

Narrator: FOR SIX DAYS,

THE FAMILY REMAINS
BY EMILY'S SIDE

AS SHE FIGHTS
THE TULAREMIA INFECTION.

WE PRAYED A LOT, EVERY NIGHT.

SOMETIMES MY MOM
WOULD LEAD US IN PRAYER

JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT,
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS PROTECTED.

Ruth: ALL I COULD DO WAS JUST
REASSURE HER THAT I WAS THERE.

Narrator:
AND THEN, ONE MORNING,

RUTH AND KORTNEY
NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

Ruth: SHE FINALLY HAD COLOR
IN HER FACE.

AND THAT WAS
THE MOMENT I REALIZED

THAT EVERYTHING
WAS GONNA BE OKAY.

SHE LOOKED SO MUCH BETTER.

WE HAD A GROUP HUG FOR MAYBE
A GOOD 10 MINUTES OR SO.

Narrator: EMILY DEFEATS
THE DEADLY TULAREMIA BACTERIA.

SHE COULD HAVE DIED FROM THIS.

THE DOCTORS HAD TOLD ME
TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER

BECAUSE SHE COULD
HAVE SOME KIDNEY PROBLEMS.

WE WERE VERY LUCKY
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY.

Narrator: TWO DAYS LATER,
DOCTORS SEND EMILY HOME.

AND TODAY, EMILY GODEJOHN IS
A HAPPY, HEALTHY 10-YEAR-OLD.

MY FAMILY TELLS ME
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

JUST MAKES ME THINK THAT,
"WOW, I WENT THROUGH THAT,

AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED."

IT GIVES ME THE SHIVERS
A LITTLE.

BUT I'M HAPPY THAT I'M HERE.

Kortney:
I MEAN, IF SHE WASN'T HERE,

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I WOULD'VE DONE.

SHE'S MY SISTER.

Ruth: EMILY TODAY
IS A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY KID.

SHE IS A JOY.

I'M GLAD SHE'S AROUND.

TO PREVENT TULAREMIA INFECTIONS
AND OTHER TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES,

THE CDC RECOMMENDS USING
DEET-BASED INSECT REPELLENT.

IF A PERSON COMES IN CONTACT
WITH A TICK,

IT SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED
WITH TWEEZERS.

AND IF SYMPTOMS DEVELOP,

THEY SHOULD SEEK
MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

Narrator: A SINISTER AFFLICTION
PLAGUES A SMALL-TOWN MOM.

I FELT LIKE SOMEONE
JUST PUNCHED ME IN THE GUT.

MY HEART DROPPED TO MY STOMACH.

Narrator: CHRIS AND KENDALL COBB
ARE A MARRIED COUPLE

LIVING IN THE BUCOLIC TOWN
OF ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA.

WE MOVED TO ROCKY MOUNT
ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

WE LIKE THE SMALL-TOWN LIFE
IN THIS AREA.

I LIKE THE RURAL AREAS
AND THE MOM-AND-POP SHOPS.

Narrator: CHRIS WORKS
AS A TIMBER BROKER,

AND KENDALL
IS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM

WHO DEVOTES MOST OF HER TIME
TO THEIR TWO KIDS --

9-YEAR-OLD CORBETT
AND 5-YEAR-OLD MARY VIVIAN.

CORBETT IS 100% BOY.

HE'S INVOLVED
IN ANYTHING OUTSIDE --

LOVES TO BE OUTDOORS.

MARY VIVIAN, SHE LOVES
TO RIDE HORSES, LOVES ANIMALS,

AND IS JUST
A VERY SWEET-NATURED CHILD.

Chris:
KENDALL'S A GREAT MOM.

SHE'S VERY CARING,
VERY COMPASSIONATE.

PUTS THE KIDS' INTERESTS FIRST

AND WORKS HARD TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

Narrator:
BUT THIS FAMILY'S MOM

IS ABOUT TO BE PUT
TO THE ULTIMATE TEST.

ONE SPRING MORNING,

CHRIS AND KENDALL
ARE AT THE KIDS' SCHOOL

FOR A SPECIAL EVENT.

Chris: THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL,
THEY HAVE FIELD DAY,

WHICH IS AN ACTIVITY

WHERE THEY HAVE 3-LEGGED RACES,
SACK RACES, SPRINTS.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US
AS A FAMILY

TO BE THERE AND WATCH THEM.

Kendall: I WAS GONNA
TAKE PICTURES OF THEM,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT
THIS REALLY BAD ABDOMINAL PAIN.

IT FELT LIKE
SOMETHING HAD BEEN JAMMED IN IT.

I WAS REALLY WORRIED,

BUT I DIDN'T WANT
THE CHILDREN TO KNOW

THAT I WAS FEELING BAD.

Chris: I COULD TELL
SHE HAD SOME KIND OF PAIN.

BUT SHE REALLY
DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

BECAUSE SHE KNEW
IT MEANT A LOT FOR THE KIDS

FOR HER TO BE THERE.

Narrator: THREE DAYS LATER,
KENDALL GOES TO SEE HER DOCTOR.

AFTER THE VISIT, SHE CALLS CHRIS
WITH SOME ALARMING NEWS.

Chris: I WAS AT WORK,
AND KENDALL CALLED ME

TO INFORM ME
THAT SHE HAD GALLSTONES.

Narrator: GALLSTONES OCCUR WHEN
A DIGESTIVE FLUID CALLED BILE

SOLIDIFIES IN THE GALLBLADDER.

THE STONES CAN GROW
TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS

AND OFTEN CAUSE
SERIOUS ABDOMINAL PAIN.

THE DOCTOR SAID THAT I NEEDED
TO HAVE MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED,

AND IT WAS
JUST A SIMPLE PROCEDURE.

I WAS SO RELIEVED,
BECAUSE I KNEW

I WOULD NOT HAVE
ANY OTHER PAIN ISSUES AGAIN.

I WAS HOPING THAT THIS WOULD BE
THE END TO THE PAIN.

Narrator:
SO, THREE DAYS LATER,

KENDALL GOES IN FOR SURGERY
TO HAVE HER GALLBLADDER REMOVED.

AND IT SEEMS
THAT THE OPERATION IS A SUCCESS.

WHEN I HEARD THAT,
I WAS RELIEVED.

Narrator:
KENDALL RECOVERS WELL.

AND FOR TWO MONTHS,
HER LIFE RETURNS TO NORMAL,

UNTIL ONE EVENING
IN LATE SUMMER.

Chris:
WE WERE HAVING DINNER,

AND KENDALL GOT UP
AND WENT TO THE BATHROOM.

BUT AFTER WAITING SEVERAL
MINUTES FOR HER TO RETURN,

I BECAME CONCERNED,
AND I WENT TO CHECK ON HER.

Kendall: [ CRYING ]

I COULD HEAR HER
MOANING IN PAIN,

AND WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR,

SHE WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR
DOUBLED OVER IN PAIN.

[ CRYING ]

IMMEDIATELY, MY HEART DROPPED
TO MY STOMACH.

Narrator: CHRIS COBB HAS
JUST FOUND HIS WIFE, KENDALL,

DOUBLED OVER IN THE BATHROOM.

Kendall:
IT HURT SO BAD IN MY BACK.

I WAS IN SUCH EXCRUCIATING PAIN
THAT I JUST COULDN'T EVEN MOVE.

Chris: SEEING HER LAYING THERE
ON THE FLOOR DID SCARE ME.

I HAD NEVER SEEN HER EXPERIENCE
THAT KIND OF PAIN BEFORE.

Narrator:
CHRIS RUSHES KENDALL TO THE E.R.

THERE, DOCTORS TAKE HER VITALS

AND PERFORM
AN ABDOMINAL CAT SCAN.

THE RESULTS ARE SURPRISING.

Kendall:
THE DOCTOR CAME IN.

HE SAID THAT HE KNEW
WHAT WAS WRONG,

AND HE TOLD CHRIS AND I
THAT I HAD A KIDNEY STONE.

Narrator:
KIDNEY STONES ARE SMALL DEPOSITS

OF MINERAL AND ACID SALTS
THAT FORM WITHIN THE KIDNEYS.

THE HARDENED STONES
CAN CLOG THE URINARY TRACT,

CAUSING INTENSE PAIN
IN THE BACK AND ABDOMEN.

Kendall:
I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS.

BUT JUST KNOWING THAT THEY KNEW
WHAT IT WAS, WAS GOOD NEWS.

Chris: THE DOCTORS THEN TOLD US
THAT THE KIDNEY STONE WAS SMALL

AND SHE WOULD PROBABLY PASS IT
WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS.

THERE WAS A BIG SENSE OF RELIEF

TO KNOW THAT'S WHAT
WAS CAUSING THE PAIN.

Narrator: THREE WEEKS LATER,

KENDALL DOES PASS
THE KIDNEY STONE.

BUT THE PAIN PERSISTS.

AND OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS,

KENDALL IS PLAGUED

BY DEBILITATING ABDOMINAL PAIN,
NAUSEA, AND DEPRESSION.

I WASN'T ABLE
TO DO ROUTINE THINGS --

GO OUT TO DINNER,
HELP CARE FOR THE CHILDREN.

I FELT REALLY BAD

I WASN'T GIVING THE CHILDREN
MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

BEING A MOM IS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

IN KENDALL'S LIFE,

AND THIS HAD
COMPLETELY DISRUPTED THAT.

Narrator:
KENDALL SEES COUNTLESS DOCTORS,
BUT TO NO AVAIL.

Chris:
ALL THE TESTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE,

AND THE DOCTORS
WERE DUMBFOUNDED.

AND IT WAS
EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

Narrator:
THEN ONE DAY IN LATE AUGUST,

THINGS COME TO A HEAD.

KENDALL HAD DECIDED
TO TAKE OUR DAUGHTER,

MARY VIVIAN,
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING.

IT WAS MID-AFTERNOON.
I WAS AT WORK.

Narrator: THERE,
CHRIS RECEIVES A CALL

FROM HIS WIFE'S CELLPHONE.

Chris: I ANSWERED THE PHONE,
EXPECTING TO HEAR KENDALL.

BUT INSTEAD, I HEARD
A QUIVERING, SHAKY VOICE

OF MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

SHE WAS EXTREMELY UPSET.

SHE WAS CRYING.

AND SHE SAID, "DADDY,
I THINK MOMMY IS DYING."

I HAD NEVER
HEARD MY DAUGHTER THAT SCARED.

Kendall: I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN
THAT I COULD BARELY SPEAK.

IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST
PAINFUL EPISODES THAT I HAD.

I FELT LIKE SOMEONE
JUST PUNCHED ME IN THE GUT.

IT WAS EXTREMELY INTENSE.

I JUST GOT REALLY AFRAID.

Chris: I WAS SCARED
NOT ONLY FOR KENDALL,

BUT ALSO FOR OUR DAUGHTER
FOR HAVING TO EXPERIENCE THIS.

Narrator: CHRIS CALLS 911,
AND 10 MINUTES LATER,

EMT's LOAD KENDALL
INTO AN AMBULANCE.

CHRIS RUSHES TO MEET THEM
IN THE E.R.

Chris:
SHE LOOKED EXHAUSTED.

SHE WAS DOUBLED OVER.

IT WAS OBVIOUS
THAT THE PAIN WAS MORE SEVERE

THAN WE HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.

Narrator: DOCTORS RUN
X-RAYS AND BLOOD WORK.

Chris:
BUT THE E.R. DOCTORS TOLD US

THEY COULDN'T FIND
ANYTHING WRONG WITH KENDALL.

I WAS EXTREMELY UPSET.

Narrator:
ALL THE DOCTORS CAN DO

IS REFER KENDALL
TO YET ANOTHER SPECIALIST.

BUT THIS TIME, THE SPECIALIST
UNCOVERS AN IMPORTANT CLUE.

Chris: THE DOCTOR TURNED TO ME
AND ASKED

IF HER SKIN COLOR
HAD BEEN LIKE THAT

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

I TURNED AND LOOKED AT HER
AND NOTICED

THAT HER SKIN DID LOOK
A LITTLE YELLOW.

HE SAID THAT SHE APPEARED
TO BE JAUNDICED.

Narrator: JAUNDICE
IS A YELLOWING OF THE SKIN

THAT TYPICALLY RESULTS
FROM DYSFUNCTION IN THE LIVER --

A VITAL ORGAN
THAT AIDS IN DIGESTION.

JAUNDICE CAN OFTEN BE A SIGN
OF HEPATITIS OR LIVER DISEASE,

BOTH OF WHICH CAN BE FATAL.

I WAS REALLY SHOCKED
WHEN HE SAID THAT.

ALL KINDS OF THINGS
WERE RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND --

CANCER, TUMORS --

WAS SCARY, AND MADE US REALIZE
HOW SICK KENDALL REALLY WAS.

Narrator:
WHEN THE SPECIALIST ORDERS
AN MRI OF KENDALL'S ABDOMEN,

HE NOTICES AN ABNORMALITY
ON HER LIVER.

BUT TO FIND OUT
WHAT IS CAUSING IT,

KENDALL MUST UNDERGO
EXPLORATORY SURGERY.

AT DUKE MEDICAL CENTER
IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA,

DR. JEFFREY BASILE AND HIS TEAM
PREPARE FOR THE OPERATION.

Dr. Basile: WE THOUGHT
SHE WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN ERCP.

IT'S AN INVASIVE PROCEDURE
WHERE WE TAKE A SCOPE

WITH A CAMERA AT THE END OF IT

AND WE GAIN ACCESS
TO THE BILE DUCT.

Narrator: THE BILE DUCT
IS A LONG, TUBE-LIKE STRUCTURE

THAT CARRIES BILE FROM THE LIVER
TO THE INTESTINES.

DR. BASILE AND HIS TEAM
SEDATE KENDALL

AND BEGIN THE PROCEDURE.

Dr. Basile: THE SCOPE WAS
INSERTED THROUGH HER MOUTH

INTO HER ESOPHAGUS,
STOMACH, AND EVENTUALLY

INTO THE UPPER PART
OF HER SMALL INTESTINES.

Narrator:
FROM THERE, DOCTORS GET A VIEW
INTO THE DUCTS OF HER LIVER,

WHERE THEY STUMBLE UPON
SOMETHING HORRIFIC.

Dr. Basile:
WHEN WE SWEPT THE BILE DUCT,

A FLAT,
LEAF-LIKE APPEARING OBJECT

APPEARED IN OUR CAMERA VIEW.

THIS OBJECT APPEARED
TO BE MOVING.

IT WAS EXTREMELY SHOCKING.

Narrator:
KENDALL COBB HAS BEEN SUFFERING
FROM A MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS

FOR FOUR PAINFUL YEARS.

BUT DURING
AN EXPLORATORY SURGERY,

DOCTORS
MAKE A STUNNING DISCOVERY

IN THE DUCTS OF HER LIVER.

Dr. Basile: A FLAT, LEAF-LIKE
OBJECT APPEARED TO BE MOVING.

WE USED A SCOPE TO SUCTION IT,
SO WE COULD PULL IT OUT.

WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IT IN A JAR
AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.

Narrator:
WITH THE CREATURE IN HAND,

DR. BASILE AND HIS TEAM
CAN IDENTIFY IT.

AND WHEN KENDALL WAKES UP
FROM SURGERY,

SHE AND CHRIS ARE IN
FOR QUITE A SHOCK.

Kendall:
HE HAD A JAR IN HIS HAND.

THERE WAS SOMETHING IN IT.

AND HE SAID HE HAD A PARASITE.

Dr. Basile:
WE DIAGNOSED KENDALL

WITH A LIVER FLUKE
CALLED FASCIOLA HEPATICA.

Narrator: FASCIOLA HEPATICA
IS A TYPE OF PARASITIC FLUKE

THAT TARGETS
ITS HOST'S BILE DUCTS AND LIVER.

INSIDE KENDALL'S BODY,

THE PARASITES FEED
ON LIVER CELLS AND BLOOD,

KILLING TISSUE AND CAUSING
EXTREME INFLAMMATION.

THERE, THE PARASITES
REPRODUCE UNCHECKED,

LEADING TO HER JAUNDICE,
DEBILITATION,

AND THE AGONIZING
ABDOMINAL PAINS

THAT HAVE HAUNTED HER
FOR FOUR YEARS.

Kendall: I WAS SO SHOCKED.

I JUST FELT SO INVADED.

Chris:
I'M SCARED TO DEATH.

NOT ONCE DID WE EVER CONSIDER

THAT THE POSSIBILITY
COULD BE A PARASITE.

THE LIVER FLUKE PARASITE
IS A FLATWORM

THAT CAN SURVIVE
IN THE HUMAN BODY

FOR UP TO 30 YEARS.

ALTHOUGH MANY OF THOSE INFECTED
WITH THE DISEASE

DON'T EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS,

THE LIVER FLUKE CAN CAUSE
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

OF THE LIVER AND EVEN LEAD
TO THE FORMATION OF GALL STONES.

IN EXTREME CASES,

THE PARASITE CAN CAUSE
CANCER OF THE LIVER.

Narrator:
BUT KENDALL'S PROGNOSIS

IS EVEN WORSE THAN THIS.

SHE CAN ULTIMATELY DIE
FROM SEVERE INFECTION.

IT WAS VERY SCARY.

IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE
OUR FAMILY WITHOUT KENDALL.

SHE'S THE MATRIARCH,

SHE'S THE ONE THAT TAKES CARE
OF ALL OF US.

Narrator: TO KILL THE REMAINING
FLUKES IN HER LIVER,

DOCTORS PUT KENDALL
ON A RIGOROUS COURSE

OF ANTIPARASITIC MEDICATION
CALLED NITAZOXANIDE.

BUT SOMETHING STILL HAUNTS HER.

WHERE DID I GET THIS?

THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE'VE BEEN
IN THE LAST 14 YEARS

OUT OF THE UNITED STATES
IS THE BAHAMAS.

Narrator:
WHILE LIVER FLUKES ARE PRESENT
IN THE CARIBBEAN,

THEY CAN ALSO BE FOUND
MUCH CLOSER TO HOME.

Riskin: THOUGH IT'S MOST COMMON
IN ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE,

THE LIVER FLUKE IS FOUND
IN OVER 50 COUNTRIES,

INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES,

AND AFFECTS AS MANY
AS 35 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.

IN FRESHWATER, THE LIVER FLUKE
EGG HATCHES INTO A LARVA

THAT THEN PENETRATES A SNAIL
WHERE IT FEEDS AND GROWS.

AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS,
IT LEAVES THE SNAIL

AND ATTACHES ITSELF
TO A PIECE OF VEGETATION

AND FORMS A CYST.

THE PARASITE
ENTERS ITS NEXT HOST

WHEN A MAMMAL, SUCH AS A SHEEP,

EATS
THE CONTAMINATED VEGETATION.

INSIDE THE MAMMAL, THE FLUKE
BURROWS THROUGH THE INTESTINE

AND INTO THE LIVER,
WHERE IT LAYS ITS EGGS.

THE EGGS PASS
IN THE MAMMAL'S EXCREMENT

AND INTO FRESHWATER,
WHERE THE LIFE CYCLE CONTINUES.

Narrator: WHILE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO BE CERTAIN

WHERE KENDALL GOT THE PARASITE,

THERE IS ONE PLANT IN PARTICULAR

THAT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED
WITH LIVER-FLUKE INFECTIONS.

Riskin: THE MOST COMMON WAY

IN WHICH PEOPLE BECOME
INFECTED WITH LIVER FLUKES

IS FROM EATING
CONTAMINATED RAW WATERCRESS.

Narrator:
ALTHOUGH THE PARASITE IS KNOWN
TO BE PRESENT IN THE U.S.,

IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE
TO CONTRACT THE PARASITE

FROM EATING CONTAMINATED
IMPORTED PRODUCE.

AFTER THREE MONTHS,
THE ANTIPARASITIC MEDICATION

RIDS KENDALL'S LIVER
OF THE INFECTION.

AND TODAY,

THE COBBS' FAMILY LIFE
HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL.

I'M BACK TO BEING THE KIND OF
MOM THAT I WANT TO BE.

Chris: SINCE THE PROCEDURE
AND HER RECOVERY,

SHE HASN'T MISSED
A SINGLE FUNCTION

FOR EITHER OF THE CHILDREN.

SHE'S BACK TO BEING
THE MOM THAT SHE WANTS TO BE

AND THE MOM
THAT WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE.

Riskin: THERE ARE NO VACCINES
AGAINST LIVER FLUKE.

THE BEST WAY TO AVOID
CONTRACTING LIVER FLUKES

IS BY MAKING SURE

VEGETABLES ARE THOROUGHLY WASHED
AND COOKED,

PARTICULARLY
WHEN TRAVELING ABROAD

IN LOCATIONS
WITH POOR SANITARY CONDITIONS.

HE WAS CRYING OUT,

"IT HURTS, MOMMY.
EVERYTHING HURTS."

HE WAS HITTING HIMSELF
AND SCREAMING.

HE ABSOLUTELY LOST IT.

Narrator:
DAVE HART AND ANNE GORE

LIVE AMIDST THE SPECTACULAR
NATURAL SURROUNDINGS

OF ALASKA'S LARGEST CITY,
ANCHORAGE.

DAVE IS AN ENGINEER
FOR AN OIL COMPANY.

AND ANNE WORKS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT DAVE DOES,

AND I SAY,
"HE IS AN ENGINEER BY DAY,

BUT BY NIGHT,
HIS REAL PASSION IS CLIMBING."

I LIKE GETTING AWAY
FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE

OF EVERYDAY LIFE.

I LIKE TO PUSH MYSELF
MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

Narrator: BUT THEIR TRUE PASSION
IS FOR THEIR TWO SONS --

3-YEAR-OLD LUCA
AND 5-YEAR-OLD TATE.

Anne: LUCA IS CHARMING
AND HE'S A FUNNY KID, TOO.

TATE SPOKE AT A VERY EARLY AGE,

SO WE ALWAYS KNEW
THAT HE WAS A BRIGHT KID.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TEACHING THEM
THE SAME SORT OF SKILLS

THAT I'VE GOT OUT OF CLIMBING
FROM ACTIVITIES LIKE CAMPING

AND HIKING
AND SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS.

Narrator: BUT DAVE'S HOPES
FOR HIS CHILDREN'S FUTURE

ARE ABOUT TO BE SHATTERED.

IT'S A SCHOOL DAY IN OCTOBER,

AND THEIR YOUNGEST SON, LUCA,
IS RECOVERING FROM AN INFECTION.

Dave: LUCA WAS HOME FROM SCHOOL
WITH PINK EYE.

AND THEN, TATE CAME DOWN
FROM UPSTAIRS, FROM HIS BEDROOM,

AND JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT.

HE HAD A NASAL TONE
TO HIS VOICE.

AND I THOUGHT,
"WELL, THAT'S WEIRD."

Anne:
TATE SAID THAT HE FELT SICK.

I FIGURED HIS BROTHER
HAD STAYED HOME FROM SCHOOL,

AND I THOUGHT HE PROBABLY WANTED

TO STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL
AS WELL.

Dave: BUT HE HASN'T BEEN ONE
TO MAKE UP ILLNESSES

TO STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL.

Narrator:
TATE AND LUCA SPEND THE DAY
AT HOME RECUPERATING.

THE NEXT MORNING,

ANNE TAKES THE BOYS
TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN.

Anne: AND I EXPLAINED
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SHE GAVE ME A LOOK.

SHE SAID, "I THINK
WE SHOULD RULE OUT FLU

BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER."

Narrator:
LUCA'S FLU TEST IS NEGATIVE,
BUT TATE TESTS POSITIVE.

Anne: THE RESULTS
WERE A SURPRISE TO ME.

I REALLY THOUGHT
THAT TATE WAS TRYING

TO STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL
WITH HIS BROTHER.

Narrator:
THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBES TATE
AN ANTIVIRAL MEDICATION.

AND ANNE TAKES THE BOYS HOME.

BUT THAT EVENING,
DAVE NOTICES SOMETHING UNUSUAL.

Dave: I WALKED IN FROM WORK,
AND I SAW TATE ON THE COUCH.

HE WAS JUST BREATHING
VERY QUICKLY.

AND YOU COULD TELL JUST
STRUGGLING TO CATCH A BREATH.

DAVE CALLED ME OVER AND JUST
SAID, "SOMETHING IS WRONG."

I COULD SEE, IN FACT,
THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.

HIS BREATHING
HAD BECOME MORE LABORED

AND IT WAS FASTER
THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

I STARTED TO GET REALLY SCARED.

Narrator: ANNE AND DAVE
TAKE TATE TO THE HOSPITAL.

Anne: HE WAS IMMEDIATELY PUT ON
TO THE MONITORING EQUIPMENT.

AND THEN, THEY DISCOVERED THAT
TATE'S OXYGEN LEVEL WAS LOW.

Narrator: DOCTORS PLACE
AN OXYGEN MASK OVER HIS MOUTH.

BUT I JUST REMEMBER
SEEING HIM RIP IT OFF.

Anne: DON'T DO THAT!

I WAS JUST TRYING TO REASSURE
HIM THAT IT IS HELPING HIM,

IT'S NOT SUFFOCATING HIM.

Narrator: WITH TATE STRUGGLING
FOR EVERY BREATH,

DOCTORS X-RAY THE BOY'S CHEST.

THE CHEST X-RAY SHOWED
TWO TYPES OF PNEUMONIA --

BOTH A VIRAL AND BACTERIAL.

Narrator: PNEUMONIA
IS AN INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE

TO AN INFECTION
DEEP IN THE LUNGS.

IT CAN STRIKE SUDDENLY,

FILLING THE LUNG'S AIR PASSAGES
WITH FLUID

AND STARVING THE BODY OF OXYGEN.

Dave: IT WAS A SEVERE CASE,
AND EVEN MORE CONCERNING

WAS THE SPEED AT WHICH
IT WAS PROGRESSING.

IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION.

Narrator: DOCTORS TREAT
THE BACTERIAL INFECTION

WITH ANTIBIOTICS,

BUT THERE IS
NO SPECIFIC DRUG AVAILABLE

THAT CAN COMBAT AN EXTREME
FLU-VIRUS INFECTION LIKE TATE'S.

WE WERE JUST HOPING THAT HIS
IMMUNE SYSTEM WOULD KICK IN.

Narrator: FOR THREE DAYS,
THE FAMILY WAITS BY TATE'S SIDE.

THEN, ON THE FOURTH DAY,
DOCTORS ORDER MORE X-RAYS

THAT REVEAL
SOME ENCOURAGING RESULTS.

Dave:
HIS PNEUMONIA WAS IMPROVING.

Anne: THAT WAS GREAT NEWS

BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE
WE HAD FINALLY TURNED A CORNER.

Narrator: TATE'S IMMUNE SYSTEM
CLEARS HIS FLU INFECTION.

BUT LATER THAT DAY,
DAVE PICKS UP ON SOMETHING ODD.

Dave:
TATE SAID TO ME THAT HIS LEGS
WERE STARTING TO HURT.

SO, I ASKED THE STAFF
WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.

AND THEY REASSURED ME
THAT THAT'S JUST ONE

OF THE SYMPTOMS
OF RECOVERING FROM FLU.

Narrator:
DESPITE TATE'S LINGERING PAIN,
DOCTORS DISCHARGE HIM.

BUT TWO NIGHTS LATER,

ANNE AND DAVE ARE WOKEN
BY SOMETHING ALARMING.

I WOKE UP AND I HEARD TATE
JUST CRYING IN PAIN.

Tate: [ CRYING ]

Anne: I WENT DOWNSTAIRS.

HE WAS THRASHING AROUND
AND CRYING OUT,

"IT HURTS, MOMMY.
EVERYTHING HURTS."

[ CRYING ]

AND HE ABSOLUTELY LOST IT.

IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING.

Narrator: IN ALASKA,
ANNE GORE AND DAVE HART

WAKE TO FIND THEIR SON
WRITHING IN PAIN.

Dave: HE WAS HITTING HIMSELF
AND SCREAMING.

TERRIBLE TO SEE YOUR KID
IN THAT MUCH PAIN

AND YOU CAN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
ANNE AND DAVE RUSH TATE
BACK TO THE HOSPITAL.

THERE, A NURSE TAKES THE BOY
INTO THE E.R.

AND GIVES HIM PAIN MEDICATION.

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

DOCTORS THEN
ADMINISTER MORPHINE,

WHICH DOES QUELL HIS PAIN.

BUT IN SPITE OF THIS,

TATE'S CONDITION CONTINUES
TO DETERIORATE.

Dave: TATE'S ABILITY TO MOVE
WAS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

AND AT THAT POINT,
HE HIT A LOW AND COULDN'T WALK.

HIS ARMS STILL WORKED,

BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER ABILITY
TO MOVE BEYOND THAT.

WE HAD A CHILD
WHO WAS PARALYZED.

Anne: ONE OF THE PHYSICIANS
IN THE I.C.U.

SAID THAT WE REALLY NEEDED
TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

Dave:
A LITTLE BIT SHOCKING TO KNOW

THAT THEY WERE DOING
ALL THEY CAN.

YOU THINK WITH MODERN MEDICINE
THEY CAN JUST SOLVE ANYTHING,

BUT THEY CAN'T.

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator:
WITH THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT,

DOCTORS LOOK
INTO OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES

OF TATE'S BIZARRE CONDITION.

Anne:
THE DOCTORS STARTED TO THINK

THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING
NEUROLOGICAL STARTING TO HAPPEN,

WHICH WAS FRIGHTENING FOR US.

Narrator:
NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

CAN AFFECT THE BRAIN,
SPINAL CORD, AND NERVES.

THEY CAN BE CAUSED BY
GENETIC ABNORMALITIES, TUMORS,

AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE
OF INFECTIONS.

A PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGIST
REVIEWS THE CASE

AND IMMEDIATELY
ORDERS A SPINAL TAP.

AND THE NEXT DAY,
THE SPINAL TAP RESULTS COME IN.

Anne: WHEN WE WENT IN TO MEET
WITH THE PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGIST,

IT WAS
OF HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION

THAT TATE HAD
A NEUROLOGIC CONDITION

CALLED GUILLAIN-BARRé SYNDROME.

Narrator:
GUILLAIN-BARRé SYNDROME
IS AN AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION

IN WHICH THE BODY'S
OWN WHITE BLOOD CELLS

ACTUALLY ATTACK
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

INSIDE TATE'S BODY,

ROGUE WHITE BLOOD CELLS ATTACK
THE LINING OF THE BLOOD VESSELS.

THE ROGUE CELLS THEN TARGET
TATE'S NERVES,

DESTROYING THE PROTECTIVE COVER
THAT SURROUNDS THEM.

THE RESULT IS INFLAMMATION
AND TATE'S MUSCLE PARALYSIS.

IF THE RENEGADE IMMUNE CELLS
REACH THE BODY'S VITAL ORGANS,

THE CONDITION CAN BE FATAL.

Anne: TATE'S BODY
WAS ATTACKING ITSELF.

MY OWN MIND WENT FROM HAVING
A FAMILY OF HEALTHY BOYS

TO NOT HAVING A FAMILY
OF HEALTHY BOYS.

[ SIGHS ] ALL RIGHT.

[ SIGHS ]

THAT WAS HARD.

Narrator: BUT THE DOCTORS
HAVE EVEN WORSE NEWS.

Anne:
THERE ISN'T AN ANTIBIOTIC.

THERE ISN'T
A COURSE OF TREATMENT

TO HALT WHAT'S HAPPENING
OR TO PREVENT IT.

THAT WAS VERY HARD NEWS
TO HEAR --

THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

Narrator: 5-YEAR-OLD
TATE HART IS IN THE I.C.U.

BATTLING THE CRIPPLING
AND INCURABLE

GUILLAIN-BARRé SYNDROME.

THERE ISN'T AN ANTIBIOTIC.

THERE ISN'T
A COURSE OF TREATMENT.

EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES,

AS MANY AS 9,000 PEOPLE
DEVELOP GUILLAIN-BARRé SYNDROME.

AND IN AROUND 30% OF CASES,

SUFFERERS NEVER FULLY REGAIN
THE LEVEL OF MUSCLE STRENGTH

THEY HAD PRIOR
TO ACQUIRING THE CONDITION.

Narrator: IN EXTREME CASES,

THE CONDITION CAN LAST
FOR YEARS

AND CAN CAUSE
PERMANENT PARALYSIS.

Dave: I THINK
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT.

TATE NOT BEING ABLE
TO PURSUE THOSE ACTIVITIES

IN THE FUTURE WAS HARD.

Narrator: UNSURE OF HOW SEVERE
HIS CASE WILL BE,

DOCTORS TREAT HIS SYMPTOMS
WITH PAINKILLERS

AND TRANSITION HIM TO HOME CARE.

Anne: DAVE WAS PUSHING HIM
IN THE WHEELCHAIR.

I REMEMBER THINKING...
"IS THIS OUR NEW NORMAL?"

Narrator: FOR TWO MONTHS,

TATE UNDERGOES
INTENSE PHYSICAL THERAPY

TO HELP RESTIMULATE
HIS DAMAGED NERVES.

AND THEN ONE DAY,
ANNE SEES A RAY OF HOPE.

ONE DAY IN THERAPY,
TATE WAS ABLE TO HOLD ON TO...

[ Voice breaking ] ...TO HOLD ON
TO A BAR AND PULL HIMSELF UP.

THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.

Narrator: TODAY,

TATE HART HAS WORKED AGAINST
HIS GUILLAIN-BARRé SYNDROME

AND HAS REGAINED
SOME MUSCLE STRENGTH.

HE EVEN HAS A NEW PASTIME.

NOW THAT I FEEL BETTER,
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO

IS TO GO RIDING MY BIKE
WITH MY FRIENDS.

Narrator: BUT WHAT CAUSED
TATE'S IMMUNE SYSTEM

TO ATTACK HIS OWN BODY?

IT ISN'T KNOWN WHAT EXACTLY
CAUSES GUILLAIN-BARRé SYNDROME.

HOWEVER, IN ABOUT 60%
OF CASES IN THE U.S.,

ONSET OF THE DISORDER

IS PRECEDED
BY AN INFECTION SUCH AS THE FLU.

EXPERTS SUSPECT
THAT SOME VIRUSES

CAN DISRUPT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
AND CAN CAUSE IT

TO ATTACK
THE BODY'S OWN NERVOUS SYSTEM.

THIS CAN CAUSE PAIN, PARALYSIS,
AND EVEN DEATH.

Narrator: IN TATE'S CASE,

HIS GUILLAIN-BARRé SYNDROME
ATTACK

WAS LIKELY PROMPTED
BY THE FLU VIRUS,

AND SUBSEQUENT INFECTIONS
COULD STILL TRIGGER A RELAPSE.

IT WAS SURPRISING TO ME
THAT THE FLU COULD DO THIS.

Dave:
AND SO, WE CANNOT VACCINATE TATE
FROM THE FLU ANYMORE.

SO, EVERY FLU SEASON, IT'S --
IT'S A RATHER SCARY TIME.

BUT TATE'S DOING GREAT NOW.
HE'S JUST A NORMAL KID.

Anne:
WE ARE SKIING, WE'RE BIKING,

AND TATE'S RIGHT THERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS