Althea

"It's So Worth It."

In March of 2011, Althea acquired a rare condition known as Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which attacks the nervous system, causes paralysis, and affects breathing. In the early stages of her illness, she had a great deal of difficulty communicating with family and caregivers. Because she was nearly totally paralyzed, she was only able to communicate with a letter board, a crude and time-consuming process. Soon after arrive at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, she began using a Passy-Muir^® Valve, which re-directed airflow over her vocal cords, giving her the ability to speak. Although the ability to speak greatly improved her quality of life, the Valve provided other benefits, such as improved swallow, more efficient cough, and increased subglottic pressure, which improved the efficacy of many rehabilitation activities.