Wednesday April 22, 2009

Prayers for the Fridge

Prayers for the Fridge
One of our family members needs us and he needs us now.

William Perry is in serious condition in the Aiken Regional Medical Center where is he suffering from a rare neurological condition called Guillain-Barre’ syndrome. He was diagnosed last summer and has been in and out of the hospital since. The latest visit to the hospital began last week.

For our younger readers that were not around during his playing days, Perry was the first three-time All-American in Clemson football history. He was named ACC Player of the Year in 1984. In the 1984, he was a Lombardi Award finalist and an Outland Trophy finalist.

Perry was a big part of Clemson’s 1981 National Championship squad and one of the most popular players in school history. He was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears and became a world famous figure in the 1985 Super Bowl Champions.

After a nine year NFL career Perry returned home to Aiken and was inducted in the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2002. His brother, Michael Dean Perry, was perhaps the finest defensive lineman in school history. Michael Dean was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2000.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s website tells us:

"Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances, the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until the muscles cannot be used at all and the patient is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases, the disorder is life-threatening and is considered a medical emergency. The patient is often put on a respirator to assist with breathing. Most patients, however, recover from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, although some continue to have some degree of weakness. Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally, surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome. The disorder can develop over the course of hours or days, or it may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. No one yet knows why Guillain-Barré strikes some people and not others or what sets the disease in motion. What scientists do know is that the body's immune system begins to attack the body itself, causing what is known as an autoimmune disease. Guillain-Barré is called a syndrome rather than a disease because it is not clear that a specific disease-causing agent is involved. Reflexes such as knee jerks are usually lost. Because the signals traveling along the nerve are slower, a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test can give a doctor clues to aid the diagnosis. The cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the spinal cord and brain contains more protein than usual, so a physician may decide to perform a spinal tap.

There is no known cure for Guillain-Barré syndrome, but therapies can lessen the severity of the illness and accelerate the recovery in most patients. There are also a number of ways to treat the complications of the disease. Currently, plasmapheresis and high-dose immunoglobulin therapy are used. Plasmapheresis seems to reduce the severity and duration of the Guillain-Barré episode. In high-dose immunoglobulin therapy, doctors give intravenous injections of the proteins that in small quantities, the immune system uses naturally to attack invading organism. Investigators have found that giving high doses of these immunoglobulins, derived from a pool of thousands of normal donors, to Guillain-Barré patients can lessen the immune attack on the nervous system. The most critical part of the treatment for this syndrome consists of keeping the patient's body functioning during recovery of the nervous system. This can sometimes require placing the patient on a respirator, a heart monitor, or other machines that assist body function.

Guillain-Barré syndrome can be a devastating disorder because of its sudden and unexpected onset. Most people reach the stage of greatest weakness within the first 2 weeks after symptoms appear, and by the third week of the illness 90 percent of all patients are at their weakest. The recovery period may be as little as a few weeks or as long as a few years. About 30 percent of those with Guillain-Barré still have a residual weakness after 3 years. About 3 percent may suffer a relapse of muscle weakness and tingling sensations many years after the initial attack."

The Fridge gave us so many great memories during his Clemson days and beyond. Now it is our time to give back to one of our own.

Here is a link on the front page where you can e-mail patients at the hospital by going to http://www.aikenregional.com/

The mailing address for the hospital for cards and letters is:
Aiken Regional Medical Centers
302 University Parkway
Aiken, SC 29802-1117

I learned firsthand the power of prayer from Clemson Nation. I saw what Tigernet can do when prayers we come together. As someone who has benefited and seen the results, I encourage you to take a few minutes today and in the future to pray for the Fridge and send him an e-mail or letter. Thanks for your consideration.

Get Well Soon, Fridge!

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Sandy Wright, Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, Edward Putman, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, William Perry.