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Oscar-nominated indie singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens has been hospitalized with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and is learning to walk again after the neurological disorder left him with what he says is “no strength, no feeling and no ability to move.”
in Share your tumblr todayStevens addressed his slow recovery and constant hospitalizations, explaining why he was not involved in the “press and promotion” for his upcoming album’s October 6 release. Spear.
“I’m so excited to have new music to share,” he writes, “but I just wanted to let you know that one of the reasons I haven’t been able to participate in the press and promotion leading up to the release of Spear is bc I’m in the hospital. Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk. “I felt numbness in my hands, arms, and legs, and I had no strength, feeling, or ability to move.”
He signed the post, “Yours truly from the wheelchair, Sufjan Stevens.”
Read the entire message below.
Stevens, who also posted a photo of himself in the hospital, continued: “My brother drove me to the ER and after a series of tests – MRI, EMG, cat scans, x-rays, spinal tap (!), echocardiogram. Etc. – Neurologists diagnosed me with an autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Fortunately, there is a cure for this, where they inject immune hemoglobin for five days and pray that the disease does not spread to the lungs, heart and brain. Very scary, but it worked. I spent about two weeks on Med/Surg, stuck in bed, while my doctors did all the things to keep me alive and stabilize my condition. “I owe them my life.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barré syndrome is “a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your hands and feet are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can spread quickly, eventually paralyzing the entire body.”
On September 8, he was transferred to an “acute rehabilitation center,” where he is now undergoing intensive physical and occupational therapy “to get my body back into shape and learn to walk again,” Stevens writes.
“It’s a slow process, but they say I will recover, and it takes a lot of time, patience and hard work,” he writes. “Most people with Guillain-Barre syndrome learn to walk again on their own within a year, so I’m optimistic.”
Stevens’ first solo album since then Boarding In 2020, Spear It includes two singles released in recent weeks: “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?” and “So you’re tired.” The singer, songwriter, and guitarist had a major breakthrough in 2005 illinoiswhich included the hit single “Chicago”, a song featured in the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine It was later used as the opening theme for the 2019 Netflix series The politician. “Chicago” was also used in a 2022 episode of FX The bear.
Stevens received an Academy Award nomination in the Best Original Song category for the song “Mystery of Love,” which was featured in the 2017 film. Call me by your name. He performed the song at the 2018 Academy Awards.
Here’s the full post:
“Hey friends. Quick update on my life. I’m so excited to have new music to share, but I just wanted to let you know that one of the reasons I can’t participate in the press and promotion leading up to the release of Javelin is because I’m in the hospital. Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk I felt numbness and tingling in my hands, arms and legs and had no strength, feeling or ability to move. My brother took me to the emergency room and after a series of tests – MRI, EMG, CT scan, X-ray, spinal tap (!) , echocardiogram, etc. – The neurologists diagnosed me with an autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Fortunately, there is a cure for that, where they inject the immune hemoglobin for five days and pray that the disease does not spread to the lungs, heart and brain. Very scary “But it worked. I spent about two weeks in Med/Surg, stuck in bed, while my doctors did all the things to keep me alive and stabilize me. I owe them my life.”
On September 8, I was transferred to the Acute Rehabilitation Centre, where I am now undergoing intensive physical/occupational therapy, strength building etc. to get my body back into shape and learn to walk again. It’s a slow process, but they say I will “get well” and it takes a lot of time, patience and hard work. Most people with Guillain-Barré syndrome learn to walk again on their own within a year, so I’m optimistic. I’m only in my second week of rehab but things are going well and I’m working hard to get back on my feet. I’m committed to getting better, I’m in good spirits, and I’m surrounded by a really great team. I want to be fine!
I’ll keep you posted as I progress. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. And a big shout out to all the amazing caregivers in the world who work day and night to help us heal. They are living saints.
Be well, be happy, be sane, be safe. I love you.
Yours truly from the wheelchair XOXOXO Sufjan Stevens”
