Dan Norris

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to share with folks what life has been like since March for Dan and me.  I have been sending e-mail updates to family and an increasing number of friends,  but so many people hadn't heard that we have started this site so everyone can catch up!  Long story short:  Dan contracted Guillain Barre, an auto-immune disease that attacks the conductive sheathing around the nerves and the nerves themselves.   Guillain Barre is rare, but can strike anyone at anytime regardless of age, race, or gender.  (Side note: If someone tells you they know exactly what causes it, they're lying!) The best news is that Dan is expected to make a full, or nearly full, recovery.  While it progressed quickly (2.5 weeks or so), it will take about 18 months to fully resolve.  Dan went from walking into OHSU to being on a ventilator, paralyzed from the neck down, and having his heart stop in 16 days.   He is now in a rehabilitation center,  no longer has the trach, and can move all parts of his body except for the knees down.--and we are expecting that to come back, too.  The best news is that his big, beautiful brain is entirely intact and he is looking forward to returning to work. (Side note 2: he has not had a stroke.  The facial nerves were affected, but we are also looking forward to those coming back, too.)  I've uploaded the 19 updates from mid-February through August, if you would like to start at the beginning and work up.  Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or comments!  Dan's personal cell is working and he's answering it.  He is also 100% up for visitors or for meeting for an adult beverage somewhere that doesn't have stairs.   We are hoping that this will help you understand why we've been slightly out of contact for the last 6 months!  We'll post future updates here, if you want to check back.  Thanks and love, Dan and Elizabeth