Growing up, Todd Shroyer knew many of the volunteer firefighters in his hometown of Conesville in Coshocton County, and made it his goal to join their ranks.  He took an emergency medical technician class that was offered as an elective in college in order to gain lifesaving skills needed to assist in emergency situations.  While working full-time in accounting and business, Todd volunteered with Coshocton County Emergency Medical Services.  He became a full-time employee in 2008, and now serves as the Director.

In late January 2020, Todd was at work when he noticed his feet were going numb and feeling cold.  A few days later, his hands also started feeling numb, but he ignored the sensations.  Thinking he just needed a readjustment, Todd visited a chiropractor, but his symptoms worsened.  He was experiencing intense pain and finally decided to have his wife, Terry, take him to a local hospital.  Physicians suspected Todd had Guillain-Barre syndrome and sent him to a hospital in Columbus.  A spinal tap confirmed the diagnosis.  Todd’s symptoms continued to worsen to the point that he could not breathe on his own, and he was placed on a ventilator.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system.  The protective covering of the peripheral nerves, known as the myelin sheath, is destroyed, preventing the nerves from transmitting signals to the brain.  Weakness and tingling in the hands and feet are typically the first symptoms of the disorder.  As the nerve damage spreads, the entire body can be paralyzed.  The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown; however, the majority of patients report symptoms of an infection in the six weeks preceding the onset of the disorder. 
Treatment requires interruption of the immune-related nerve damage which can be achieved by either a plasma exchange or immunoglobulin therapy.  During a plasma exchange, plasma is extracted from blood cells taken from the patient, then the blood cells are returned to the body.  The body produces more plasma to replace what was extracted and builds new antibodies.  Immunoglobulin contains healthy antibodies from blood donors which can be injected into the patient to block the damaging antibodies.

After treatment for Guillain-Barre syndrome, patients typically require rehabilitation to regain function lost during the illness.  Todd was offered choices of rehabilitation facilities for his follow-up care.  He chose Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation.  When he arrived at the unit, located on the LMH sixth floor, Todd could barely move his feet and bend his knees.  He could not lift his arms to feed himself and also was struggling with swallowing.  “I felt helpless.  I could do nothing for myself, and I was unsure what the staff could do to assist me in becoming independent again,” Todd said.  Todd was evaluated using a graded scale to determine his current abilities.  After a weekend of light therapy, the staff began intensive therapy for three hours a day, five days per week.

The goal of the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation program is to help patients develop the skills necessary to live as independently as possible after leaving LMH.  An interdisciplinary team approach toward rehabilitation is used to focus on the patient’s specific areas of disability.  “The staff members started with small tasks, and celebrated when I succeeded,” Todd explained.  “Their technique triggered a thought – if I can do these tasks, maybe I can do more.”  After just one week, Todd was able to walk and climb a few stairs.  He woke up every day with a desire to find out what new tasks he could accomplish.  While physical therapists assisted Todd in building his strength, occupational therapists helped him regain skills for daily activities such as grooming, dressing and bathing, and a speech therapist assisted with swallowing.

Todd enjoyed spending time with the staff members in the unit and getting to know them personally.  “Everyone on the floor spoke to me and encouraged me, including the dietary and environmental staff, the point of care technicians, therapists, nurses and the attending physician,” Todd said.  “They became as dear to me as family members.  The staff enjoy their jobs and have a desire to care for others, and it is reflected in their actions.”  David W. Koontz, D.O., the physician who oversees the unit, found out Todd was in need of a haircut and arranged for his barber to visit Todd.  He also purchased doughnuts for Todd to celebrate Todd’s discharge from the hospital. 

During his rehabilitation, which took place in February before the COVID-19 pandemic required changes to the LMH visitor policy, Todd’s family was able to visit and witness his progress.  His wife, Terry, and parents, Marilyn and Dean, along with his 89-year-old aunt, Eileen, came every day helping to feed and care for Todd in the first few days of his stay in the rehabilitation unit.  Todd’s entire family, including his sister, Tammy, brother, Tom, children, Steven, Matthew, Kevin, Mike and Chrissy, and grandchildren, Anthony, Samantha and Olivia, all visited and helped motivate Todd to keep progressing so that he could return home.  After three weeks, Todd was able to walk out of LMH.  “I cannot thank the staff enough for what they did for me.  Their knowledge, understanding, and positive encouragement gave me hope and spurred me to action,” Todd said.  After his release, he continued with out-patient therapy, and was released to his primary care physician for further care.  Todd returned to work, performing light duty initially, and returned to full-time status weeks later.