Nationwide — Ra-Jon James, an African American man from Virginia, is now walking again after a rare condition left him paralyzed and fighting for his life. His journey highlights the importance of early medical care, faith, and resilience in battling Guillain-Barré syndrome.
James first noticed his legs weakening and his eyes turning red in late July. Friends and family quickly saw the change. He went to urgent care, where initial tests came back negative. But hours later, he collapsed at home as his father tried to get him to the hospital.
“He told me, ‘Get up, son. Get up.’ I said, ‘Why me? I can’t walk or get up.’ But I actually heard a voice tell me that I was gonna be OK,” James told WKYT.
Paramedics rushed him to the ICU, where he was paralyzed, on a ventilator, and struggling to survive.
Doctors diagnosed him with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder that attacks the body’s nerves. They performed a plasma exchange to remove the infection, and James stayed in the hospital for nearly three months. “Doctor told me I was close to death,” he recalled.
Dr. Jennifer Quilter, who treated James at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, said his recovery was extraordinary. “We couldn’t believe it. He looked great,” she said. Now, James is walking again and uses his experience to raise awareness about Guillain-Barré symptoms like tingling in hands and feet, weakness, trouble speaking, and unsteady walking.
James credits his faith for carrying him through the toughest days. He hopes sharing his story encourages others to pay attention to warning signs and seek medical help before it’s too late.