No Filter Michelle Slept by Her Son’s ICU Bedside for Most of Last Year
Feb 15, 2026
Michelle Burgess, a mother who sat by her son Leo’s ICU bed through months of critical care, shares her family's ordeal. She recounts Leo's sudden collapse, the rare autoimmune diagnosis, frantic transfers and intensive treatments. The conversation follows the vigil at his bedside, his first words after awakening, and the slow, hopeful path of recovery.
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Sudden Onset During Holiday
- Michelle describes Leo becoming lethargic, vomiting and developing a disappearing rash before suddenly being unable to walk.
- That evening they rushed to a regional ER where urgent tests began and lumbar puncture attempts failed.
Collapse, Hallucinations And Rapid Paralysis
- Leo collapsed in the bathroom and began vivid hallucinations and delirium that staff witnessed.
- Within hours his legs stopped working and he lost most movement, prompting urgent transfer plans.
Diagnosis Follows Exhaustive Testing
- Doctors ran escalating infectious and autoimmune tests and considered many rare causes before diagnosing Leo.
- Michelle learned that some treatments for other autoimmune diseases can also help newly identified conditions like GFAP astrocytopathy.