College Student Overcomes Rare Condition With Help from Mercy

When 21-year-old Nick O’Toole was diagnosed with mono at the beginning of his spring semester at Iowa State University, he was just a little tired and had a cough.

Little did he know that, within weeks, he would be fighting for his life as he knew it.

Initially, it was nothing major. Plus, mono is known to stick around for a while: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people get better within two to four weeks, although symptoms can last for several more weeks. So, Nick kept pushing through.

Then, on Feb. 19, Nick called his mom, Wendy.

“He said he had slept all day and was exhausted,” she said. “His cough was intense and painful.”

Nick scheduled an appointment at the student health center for the following day. But, before he got there, he noticed his legs felt unusually weak and his hands started to tingle. At the appointment, Nick learned he had developed pneumonia and started antibiotics.

But, the next day, Nick wasn’t able to move his legs like normal and had to ask others to help him get to the bathroom. He also needed his roommate to open pill bottles for him because he couldn’t do it himself.

When Wendy drove from Cedar Rapids to Ames to see her son, she was shocked.

“He couldn’t walk normal,” she said. “It was as if his legs were 50% functioning. It took two of us to help him walk to my car. Even standing, he was off-balance.”

After another visit to the student health center and the local ER (as well as more tests and antibiotics), Nick decided to stay at school. Then, the next day, he called Wendy early in a panic: He could no longer stand and his fingers were curling. He had to have someone carry him to the restroom. Hours later, he couldn’t move.

When Wendy and Ron, Nick’s dad, got to Ames, Nick’s condition had deteriorated significantly. He couldn’t put his clothes on or tie his shoes. So, they took him back to Cedar Rapids and went directly to Mercy’s Hiawatha ER. There, all signs pointed to Guillain-Barré syndrome — a rare condition in which an individual’s immune system attacks the nerves, sometimes causing paralysis. Nick wondered if he would ever walk again.

But, Mercy’s team worked quickly. Nick was transported via ambulance and admitted to Mercy Medical Center, where he began four days of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment to infuse his body with antibodies. Five days later, Nick was moved to Mercy’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU). He would spend a total of 20 days in the hospital.

Mercy Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit Medical Director, Carla Schulz, MD, FAAFP, cared for Nick when he moved to rehab.

“Two-thirds of Guillain-Barré patients have a preceding viral infection,” Dr. Schulz explained. “It presents as acute onset of weakness and decreased muscle tone, and 30% of patients end up in the ICU and intubated within one to two weeks if not treated.”

In the IRU, Nick received three hours of physical and occupational therapy daily for two weeks straight. On his first full day there, he stood up and took a few steps for the first time in nine days. Slowly, he gained strength and mobility to be able to feed himself again.

“Nick got so lucky,” Wendy said. “We had to feed him and help him drink. He laid in bed for eight days straight.”

Wendy said that the IRU staff had a plan every day, but Nick blew them away with his determination and progress.

“Upon admission to IRU, each patient has an individualized plan of care designed for them,” Dr. Schulz explained. “Our therapy staff worked very hard on this plan for Nick and he rocked it! The therapists, nurses and the rest of the IRU team takes joy in seeing patients succeed. Watching Nick go from taking a few steps to ‘racing’ down the halls on crutches was amazing and we all celebrated.”

Nick was discharged on March 14 and was back on campus by St. Patrick’s Day – down 20 pounds and still using a cane for stability. After spring break, he returned to his classes at Iowa State, where he’s studying business analytics. Although he may have to go a little longer due to his unexpected illness, Wendy said that was much better than the alternative.

“It took about another month of PT back in Ames, but I am starting to finally feel like myself again,” Nick said. “At first, I was really scared. I didn’t know if I would walk again, I wondered about my future and thoughts of a having a normal life. Like my parents, family and friends, I had no idea how this would play out. The IRU team came in and worked with me every day, and every day I pushed myself harder. I put everything I could into getting stronger and eventually walking again on my own. I absolutely refused to let this get the best of me. The IRU team was super supportive. Leaving that day in March was very emotional for me and my family. For the amount of time that I spent in their care; the conversations we had, jokes and laughter; as well as waking up every day to their ‘Let’s do this again’ attitude, I considered them my friends. There’s not another team that I would trust more than Mercy’s IRU.”

Learn more about Mercy’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.