Rowdy Gaines and Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Rowdy Gains was a 3 time Olympic gold medalist who was diagnosed with GBS at the age of 31.  One of his interventions during this time was pool therapy, which is not an uncommon occupational therapy treatment.  I thought it was interesting that the OT could use an average therapeutic technique that also served as engagement in an integral occupation in his life.  What is truly impressive about Rowdy's case was that he qualified for the 1996 Olympics even after his diagnosis of GBS (and was the oldest person to qualify!)  Even though he did not end up performing in the 1996 Olympics, it goes to show that individuals with these life-altering neurological diseases can sometimes get to a place where they were before their dysfunction.