In the span of a few weeks, 22-year-old University of Victoria student Darbi Aitchison went from being a competitive soccer player to completely paralyzed, locked in her own body and unable to communicate beyond “yes” or “no.”
It was right after a soccer game in March that Aitchison felt a numb and tingly sensation in her fingers and toes, and suffered from a headache and back pain. By the end of the week, Aitchison’s face had started to droop and she couldn’t walk.
The previously healthy Aitchison received a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare auto-immune disorder that can cause total paralysis.
Aitchison spent three months in the intensive care unit. At one point, all she could do was blink her eyes.
“My hands were still paralyzed, so I had no way to communicate to people other than yes or no questions,” she said. “It was extremely frustrating.”
Before her health complications, Aitchison, who plays soccer for Cowichan’s Division 1 women’s team, had plans to watch Sunday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup final with a friend who had tickets.
That dream was looking near impossible until two of her intensive care nurses at Victoria General Hospital took it upon themselves to get her to the big match at B.C. Place in Vancouver.
Sarah Yager and Libby McMullen set up a online fundraising account to raise the $2,000 needed for Aitchison’s transport to and from Vancouver. Both are donating their time to accompany her there.
Medi-Van has donated a vehicle to get Aitchison and her specialized wheelchair to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, but there’s still the cost of transportation on the other side.
By Friday night, donations had reached almost $5,800 — more than double the goal. Any money beyond the cost of the World Cup trip will help pay for Aitchison’s ongoing care.
Aitchison’s mother, Debbie, who lives in Maple Bay, has been by her daughter’s side almost every day and she said she was thrilled her daughter will get to see the U.S. play Japan at B.C. Place.
“It’s going to be a phenomenal break and a real uplift for her in the middle of a very long period of rehabilitation that still has to come,” said Debbie Aitchison, who is also attending the game.
Aitchison, who is studying kinesiology at the University of Victoria, said she’s been overwhelmed by the support from her soccer team, her classmates, people from her church and wider community.
“The generosity and love people have shown is amazing, I’m speechless,” she said.
Aitchison is now at Royal Jubilee Hospital, waiting for her medical status to stabilize so she can begin her rehabilitation and relearn how to walk, write, open doors and, she hopes, play soccer again.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is extremely rare, affecting one person in 100,000. The body’s immune system attacks parts of the nervous system, rendering certain muscles completely useless.
“The prognosis was good in getting back to full health but it will take a long time,” Aitchison said.
The online fundraiser can be found at gofundme.com/y6xgp8r.
