One morning when he was 8-years old Chris couldn’t get out of bed for breakfast. He couldn’t move. That’s how sudden it was. His parents rushed him to the hospital, and despite a battery of tests the doctors could not determine what was wrong. His parents were told he might die. The hospital in North Carolina flew in a specialist from New York and he was able to diagnose Chris with the rare neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

His ability to walk and talk was severely impacted. The treatment and recovery process for Chris was grueling. He spent the better part of a year in a wheelchair or using a walker and spent two years learning how to walk and talk again. There is no treatment or cure for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but Chris was determined to return to his version of a normal childhood and that meant playing sports again.

Chris managed his syndrome and was safely cleared to resume his version of a normal childhood after three years of recovery. He was able to play sports and eventually became a starting safety at the United State Naval Academy. He shares his story with others and serves to inspire others through his journey. His message is always the same: do your best to remain positive.