Gillian Barr Syndrome

In Pictures: Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards night

Everyone's a winner in the eyes of the audience at the Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards with Specsavers.

Our 15 fantastic finalists epitomise the true grit, courage and talent of the ordinary folk doing extraordinary things in communities across Northern Ireland.

Our celebrity guests and audience raised the roof with cheers and applause for all of the contestants in the three award categories.

Here are the stars in the UTV/U105.8FM Young Persons, Specsavers Overcoming Adversity and Sunday Life Unsung Hero categories who made our gala awards a special night to remember.

1. Dr Dickie and Janice Barr — parents of overall Spirit of Northern Ireland Award winner, Charlene Barr accept the top trophy and bouquet of flowers from Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and Specsavers NI chairman, Tony McGinn.

The loving legacy of Charlene’s fundraising work lives on with the opening of a £120,000 school and water well development in Uganda.

2. Nicknamed the ‘Sunshine Boy’ by his mum, Jane, 12-year-old Paul Russell is delighted to win the UTV/U105.8FM Young Persons Award.

Sports and music loving Paul, who plays piano, while living with the rare genetic condition, Apert Syndrome, is pictured with (L-R) mum Jane, singer-actress Niamh Perry and UTV presenter Julian Simmons.

3. Former soldier, turned globe-trotting basketball and tennis champ, Jason Black won the Specsavers Overcoming Adversity Award. He is pictured with singing trio, The Priests and Tony McGinn.

4. UTV Young Persons Award finalist, Dempsey Andrews who has won countless ice skating medals shares a smile with UTV’s Julian Simmons after receiving her finalist award.

5. North Belfast teenager Shona Cosgrove, who is a champion hip-hop dancer in spite of a hip bone operation and other health problems, receives her Young Persons finalist award from Julian Simmons.

6. Saintfield girl Bronagh Mullan who took care of her seriously-ill mum while still at school also received her Young Persons finalist award from UTV star Julian Simmons.

7. County Fermanagh breast and brain cancer-survivor Beulah Irvine — pictured with her Specsavers Overcoming Adversity finalist award.

8. North Belfast man and boss of suicide prevention training group, PIPS Programmes, Philip McTaggart is presented with his Specsavers Overcoming Adversity finalist award by UTV’s Pamela Ballantine and Tony McGinn.

Mystery solved: Bill Collins diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome

Mystery solved: Bill Collins diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome

Bill Collins had symptoms at Sacramento nationals last year and was hospitalized this year. Now we know why. Doctors have diagnosed Bill, our superstar sprinter, with Guillain-Barre syndrome, according to a note sent by his wife, Stephanie . She wrote some friends: “Bill has been sick and has been hospitalized, but he’s doing much better now. Bill’s been sick since Memorial Day and as of this past Thursday, the doctors finally diagnosed his illness to be Guillain-Barre syndrome. … It’s unknown what triggers it and it can occur at any age. The symptoms can get worse very quickly and if remained untreated, one can become paralyzed.”

Some of the symptoms are tingling in feet/hands, starts effecting the respiratory system, your nervous system is effected.

In Bill’s case, his weakness occurred over a couple of weeks, the tingling sensation started in his feet, then to his hands, then he started walking with a dragged gait pattern and he couldn’t rise up on his toes. Some of the examinations showed that his reflexes decreased or were not there, like in the knee jerk and when they touched the bottom of his feet, his feet didn’t move. That truly was hard to watch, I just prayed that he didn’t come in too late.

The therapy the neurologists decided on is called “immunoglobulin therapy,” which blocks the antibodies that cause inflammation and I’m happy to say it’s working!! His tingling is gone, he’s walking so much better and he’s almost back to his normal weight. I truly believe had he not been in such great shape……this would have hit him hard, and he wouldn’t be recovering so fast.

The doctor said he could be home by Sunday, so we’re going to have a really nice 4th of July.

We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends. Thank You so much for all your concerns. Thank you for your prayers!

Bill-best wishes for a quick and full recovery. Last summer my son developed Guillain-Barre and he went through the plasmaphersis treatment. When he was admitted he could barely stand up and his breathing started to falter. After 3 of the plasmaphersis treatments, he was able to leave the hospital 10 days later, and recovered fully by the end of the summer.

Looking forward to seeing you on the track again soon.

Practical strategies in pediatric diagnosis and therapy

BMJ, British medical journal

Marquette medical review

Immunological and infectious diseases of the peripheral nerves

Clinical intensive care and acute medicine