Mallory Wilkerson was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorderOne morning, Mallory Wilkerson woke up to a strange tingling in her hands and feet — like they had fallen asleep overnight. But the sensation never went away. Soon, she couldn’t tell the difference between hot and cold, whether she was holding a drink, washing her hands or stepping into the shower.Alarmed, she went to the emergency room that same night. By the next day, she was tripping over her own feet and choking on food. Within nine days, the 26-year-old single mom of a 5-year-old boy was completely paralyzed and placed on a ventilator. Not long after, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).According to the Mayo Clinic, GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, leading to muscle weakness and, in some cases, full paralysis.“I was very confused and scared as to what was going on with my body,” says the Carrollton, Ky., local, who works as a nurse. “I had never heard of Guillain-Barré before. I had so many questions, but I was not able to talk due to being intubated.”“I was alert the whole time, so it was very scary not being able to move, talk or breathe on my own,” she adds. “I always thought there were no feelings whenever someone was paralyzed — however, I was in excruciating pain.”
Wilkerson remained on a ventilator for three months.During that time, doctors told her family it was one of the most severe cases they had ever seen. They warned her parents that she would likely never walk again.“Thankfully, they chose not to tell me that, so I was very hopeful I would make a full recovery,” Wilkerson says. “I got through all the frightening moments through praying. I was shown a lot of love and had many praying over me and with me.”After initially receiving care in Louisville, Ky., Wilkerson was flown to Atlanta, Ga., in August to begin intensive rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center. There, she underwent treatment including IVIG and plasmapheresis. Slowly, her body began to respond — first with movement in her upper body and later in her legs and feet, beginning around November.As her body began to recover, so did her lungs. Weaning off the ventilator and relearning how to breathe on her own was one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of her recovery.“I started therapy three days a week and then went to five days a week, from nine to four every day,” she says. “I made sure to sign up for all the extra activities I could to keep making progress. I was able to take my first steps (with assistance) in December.”Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Throughout her recovery, Wilkerson leaned heavily on her support system — including her parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle — who all stepped in to care for her son.While the physical toll of her condition was extreme, she says the emotional toll of being separated from her son and unable to care for him was just as difficult.“It was challenging mentally and physically not being able to care for and do the things I once did with him,” she says.But her son’s love and presence became one of her greatest motivators.“My son was an angel — he would cuddle me, feed me and push me in my wheelchair,” she says. “He was always so excited to help in any way he could and ready to cheer for me with anything I accomplished. He has kept me busy and helped me progress every single day. He is definitely my at-home therapy.”She adds, “During the process, my family was very good at explaining what was going on. They explained that the machines were to help me breathe and I had to do therapy to strengthen my body so I could get back to being with him.”One of her most emotional milestones came when she was finally able to speak again. After months of being unable to communicate with her son using her voice, she finally had the strength to say three powerful words: “I love you.”The moment was captured on video and later shared to TikTok, where it has since amassed more than 574,000 views.“I love you, Mommy,” her son says in the clip.“I love you,” she replies.“As seen in the TikTok video I posted, I got to tell him I love him!” she says. “Wow, the amazing overwhelming feeling I had getting to tell him that after months of not being able to. I wasn’t expecting it to go viral — I felt like the video didn’t express the feelings I felt in that moment,” she says.“I am so glad that it touched so many people,” she adds. “It’s easy to take things for granted, and the video reminds me not to take for granted being able to tell my people I love them.”
Though the road has been long and difficult, Wilkerson says the experience changed her life in ways she never expected.“I am also so thankful for it,” she shares. “It has taught me so much, and I have a whole new outlook on life. It is so touching when both strangers and people I know tell me how inspiring I have been to them. I would do it all over again if it meant even just changing one person’s outlook. I am so blessed that God chose me to have this huge testimony.”
Still, day-to-day life comes with new challenges. For instance, she’s still not able to work or care for her son as she once did. Simple things like running with him, getting up and down, grocery shopping and carrying him around are all still huge challenges.Learning to live life as a person with a disability, she says, has been the hardest thing she’s ever done, and it’s given her a profound respect for others who face the same battles every day.“In the next few months, I pray that my healing keeps improving and my nerves continue recovering,” she says. “I do not have any normal feeling in my feet yet, and I still have facial paralysis. Having facial paralysis really has sucked especially when it’s time for pictures with family and friends and I am not able to smile as I once did.”“I have always heard you never know what can happen, but now I truly understand how your life can be turned upside down overnight,” the mom continues.