After returning from his ideal vacation in Bali, a man contracted a rare autoimmune condition that paralyzed him from the face down.
Tom Pegg, a 23-year-old real estate agent originally from Cheshire, England, returned to Dubai in June with an upset stomach. It is believed to be a frequent ailment among tourists returning from the island.
According to the Independent, his condition deteriorated over the following five days, first causing swelling around his eye and then his throat. He sought medical attention, and the attending physician injected him with antihistamines due to his history of allergic reactions.
In an interview, Pegg's sister, a beauty therapist in Cheshire, claimed the news was terrifying and that she had never heard of the disease before. "My brother is a very charismatic, charming, laid-back guy. He's gone from being a fit, healthy, fun-loving guy to being frail- he looks like a little boy. It's such a horrendous disease that happens so quickly and out of the blue, it's put my brother's life on hold," her sister stated.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The uncommon condition Guillain-Barré, which causes the body to attack itself and shut down, was identified when Pegg was readmitted to Al Qaassimi Hospital in Dubai.
Reportedly, Pegg has a very bad form of the disease, and it has paralyzed him completely from the neck down. It is unclear how long it will take for him to regain his mobility and begin walking again.
In most cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, the autoimmune response to an infection causes the immune system to target the nervous system rather than the invading pathogens mistakenly. Most individuals get well within a year, but one in five will have long-term issues, and it may be fatal, according to the NHS website.
Pegg's father and sister traveled out to be with him during his five days in an induced coma. His mother could not go with them since she is undergoing stage three breast cancer treatment and is too weak to fly.
The Pegg family has contributed almost £100,000 (about $124,000) so that he may return home to get medical care at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
Progressive Improvement
Pegg is taking things easy as he begins the laborious process of relearning how to walk and communicate. No one can predict how much longer he will remain hospitalized. He has already been there for nine weeks.
He reported a favorable response to plasma exchange therapy, in which the patient's blood is filtered to eliminate dangerous antibodies harming the nerves. He now has use of his limbs, too. His eyesight, which had been briefly impaired, has now returned.
Pegg uprooted his life in Cheshire and headed for the sunshine of Dubai back in January.
