Rahul’s Experience at CSH Shaped His Future…and Now He’s Giving Back
There is a 1 in 100,000 chance that it will happen…Rahul was that one. After receiving his annual flu vaccine when he was nine years old, Rahul experienced common side effects like fever and chills, as many people do. A few weeks later, however, he began losing feeling in both legs. The loss of feeling progressed over the next few days to the point where he was having trouble standing. Confused and afraid, Rahul complained about the numbness in his legs to his parents and they promptly took him to a specialist. The specialist was unsure of his condition and admitted Rahul to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a local hospital. By then, he had lost 80% of the feeling in his legs.
Rahul recalls his three-day stay in the ICU as one of the lowest moments of his life. He suffered headaches from medications, experienced fear and uncertainty about whether he would ever regain feeling in his legs, and the overall stress of the situation was taking a huge toll on his mental health.
Coming to Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH) after being discharged from the ICU was a complete turnaround for Rahul. Arriving by ambulance, he felt a sudden burst of hope when he entered the front doors and saw the bright colors and friendly staff awaiting him.
Rahul was ultimately diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder in which a person’s immune system damages their nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Symptoms usually last a few weeks and most people fully recover, but some can experience lasting nerve damage. While the exact cause of GBS is unknown, more than two-thirds of people who develop GBS experience symptoms several days or weeks after being sick with a respiratory illness or the flu. On very rare occasions, they may experience GBS symptoms days or weeks after receiving a vaccination.
“When I came to Children’s Specialized, I knew the environment was different the second I got there,” said Rahul. “It was so inviting for a scared kid like me.”
Ten years later, now 19, Rahul doesn’t remember each individual day that he spent at CSH, but he will never forget the kindness of the staff and the much-needed structure and guidance that helped him through such an uncertain and frightening time in his life. He enjoyed that there was always something to do, and he was never confined to his hospital bed like he was in the ICU.
“At CSH, I was treated as a human, not just a patient,” said Rahul. “I was included in day-to-day decisions, and my therapy plan was specific to my needs. They constantly kept me active whether it was therapy, playing, or spending time with my peers.”
One of Rahul’s favorite memories from CSH is spending time in the recreation room playing games and spending time with other patients. He loved talking to his peers and hearing their stories and perspectives on life, which began to give him a new perspective of his own.
“I would see people recovering from things even worse than I went through, in my opinion, and it would really inspire me,” said Rahul.
He recalls a friend he made during his many visits to the recreation room. They would often play the game “Zelda” together. They clicked during their first conversation and formed a bond over their experiences. The next time they met each other, she did not remember him or their conversation. It turns out that she had suffered a traumatic brain injury, causing severe memory loss. Rahul explains that every time they met, it would seem like the first time, but he didn’t mind. The pair were still able to support each other through their time at CSH and form a unique bond that made a lasting impact.
Rahul also reflected on the many visitors and exciting activities during his time at CSH. “One day, they brought in dogs for us to play with, and that was one of the best times I had throughout my recovery journey,” said Rahul excitedly.
After about one month, Rahul was discharged from CSH. With the help of what he learned from his therapists, he quickly transitioned from using a wheelchair to crutches and finally being able to walk again.
Although Rahul’s physical health soon recovered, leaving the safety of CSH was difficult for him. His mental health had suffered tremendously, and he was eventually diagnosed with severe depressive disorder and anxiety.
Rahul is grateful to CSH and credits his positive experience there with setting him up for success by giving him the tools to work through his mental health challenges. The week before he was discharged from CSH, Rahul recalls having a routine psychological evaluation with a psychiatrist. Looking back, he understands the importance of that evaluation. It was a turning point that helped him understand the feelings he was having and work through them to process those emotions safely.
For years after his experience with GBS, Rahul struggled to find direction and purpose. It wasn't until his junior year of high school that he started to take up fitness as a hobby. Fitness helped him find motivation and drive and today it is his passion. He now helps others achieve their health and wellness goals as an ISSA-certified personal trainer and is in the process of receiving his bodybuilding and nutrition certifications.
“I went from being a skinny kid in a wheelchair to safely lifting extremely heavy weights and helping others along my journey,” said Rahul. “After a while, people began to ask me for help and advice to help them reach their fitness goals. That’s when I began to reflect on just how far I have come.”
Looking back, Rahul doesn't know what his future would have been if he hadn’t had the unique care experience and support that CSH provided for his physical, mental, and emotional health.
When building his business model, giving back was a priority for Rahul. He couldn’t think of a better place to support than Children’s Specialized Hospital. He looks forward to making an impact for kids and families in his community by donating a percentage of his revenue to CSH so that more kids can receive the life-changing care that he is so grateful to have had.