Jacob Mitchell is a 26-year-old firefighter from Sumter, South Carolina. He is married and has two children. In his free time, Jacob enjoys fishing, hunting, golfing, and playing softball.

Recently, Jacob experienced loss of movement in both his upper and lower body. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a condition where the immune system attacks the nerves and can cause weakness or paralysis. After initial treatment at an acute care hospital, Jacob chose Midlands Regional Rehabilitation Hospital (MRRH) for specialized rehabilitative care because of the private rooms and its family-friendly environment.

Upon arrival at MRRH, Jacob presented with complete paralysis of his upper and lower extremities. His main goals were to walk again, hold his daughter, and be able to play baseball with his son. He worked with the hospital’s interdisciplinary healthcare team that developed an individualized treatment plan to help him reach these goals.

During his 30-day stay at MRRH, Jacob participated in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to help improve movement, daily activities, communication, and swallowing. He worked closely with his physical and occupational therapists, Matt and Kinsley, who he says were amazing.

“Through therapy, I was able to walk again and do a lot on my own,” Jacob says. “My facial movements have fully returned.”

Today, Jacob is continuing with outpatient rehabilitation at MRRH. He is able to walk independently and drive. He looks forward to returning to his job as a firefighter and his hobbies.