Bradford man paralysed by rare illness spent weeks in coma

Asam Iqbal, a dad of four from Keighley, told how his life came to a complete stop in February after he woke up from a nap unable to stand.

In a matter of hours, Asam’s condition drastically deteriorated as he lost the use of his arms and couldn’t swallow anymore.

A day later, doctors at Airedale Hospital placed Asam under a coma for six weeks.

He fought off several potentially life-threatening complications, marking the start of his long journey to recovery.

Airedale Hospital patient Asam Iqbal pictured (left to right) with Dr Eleanor Checkley (Intensive Care Consultant), Richard Cuthbert (Intensive Care Charge Nurse) and Tom Woodcock, physio team member on ICU (Image: UGC)

The diagnosis was Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a serious condition which affects the nerves and often starts with symptoms in people’s feet and hands.

It can quickly spread to people’s arms and legs and, in the most severe cases, impact someone’s ability to move, walk, breathe and swallow.

Recalling Asam’s first symptoms, his brother Asif said: “His wife rang me and said, ‘He’s not feeling well, he’s upstairs in bed’. She goes, ‘The last few days he’s not been eating right’.

“It must have been half an hour before he was sat downstairs playing with his kids.”

Asif, who lives in the Daisy Hill area of Bradford, added: "No one would ever imagine it would spread like that."

The family were told to prepare for the worst many times in the months that followed.

Asam's complications included pneumonia and an overactive thyroid.

Meanwhile he became reliant on a pacemaker due to an irregular heartbeat and the extreme anxiety caused by his sudden illness.

Asam’s traumatic ordeal did not end once he awoke, as he hallucinated people and underwent a tracheostomy.

“I came to my senses and the first thing that went through my mind was, ‘Wow, I must have done something right for God to test me this much’,” Asam said.

Asam Iqbal pictured with members of Airedale Hospital's physio team Kathryn Webster, Kirsty Baldus, Lisa Stinchon, Olivia Wootton and Niamh Wardman (Image: UGC)

“That’s what’s got me through.

“I cannot thank the whole team on ICU enough for guiding me through some of the darkest days for me and my family, and caring for me with such compassion.

“Things started to slowly improve and eventually I was stable enough to have my tracheostomy removed and breathe for myself.

“The speech and language therapists helped me regain my voice and ability to swallow.”

Asam was moved to ward five to begin his rehab journey and relearnt how to talk, drink, eat, hold his head up, propel himself in a wheelchair and more.

At the beginning he needed five people to help him sit comfortably – but months of practise has meant he’s now found a new sense of freedom.

As Asam turns 36 on Saturday, he has been given the best gift of all – being able to move his left and right legs forward with assistance.

“This felt amazing,” he said.

Airedale Hospital patient Asam Iqbal pictured in his wheelchair with ward manager Shinta Joseph, junior sister Becky Skinner, staff nurse Mel Scott, advanced clinical practitioner Mark Forsyth, staff nurse Eva Hanley, and healthcare support workers Rachel French, Jose Joseph, and Samila Kauser (Image: UGC)

“My family have had to learn to live and adapt in a different way since my diagnosis. My kids have had to grow up quicker.

“My wife has been by my side throughout, looking after our four children and my elderly parents at home, whilst always making sure she travels by bus twice a day.

“This has been, and still is, a physical and emotional journey. I am having to adapt to a different way of living. I have come a long way but still have a long way to go. With people’s prayers, the will of Allah and determination, hopefully my condition will improve.

“By sharing my journey, I hope I can help people understand this condition more.

“Ultimately I want to return back to my life before all this happened but know that I have more of this journey to go yet.”

• Read more like this: Little boy born with rare life-limiting condition is a fighter, family says

GBS is thought to be caused by a problem with the immune system, according to the NHS.

Normally the immune system attacks any germs that get into the body. But in people with Guillain-Barré syndrome, something goes wrong and the immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves.

The condition often occurs after an infection, the NHS website reads.

Asam has now set himself a triathlon-style challenge to travel the distance up and down Everest in one month.

He will propel himself in a wheelchair, walk in the hydrotherapy pool and cycle with a floor therapy bike.

It is hoped the donations will be used towards new specialist equipment.

“No matter how many times I say thank you or how much money gets raised, nothing I do will show enough appreciation,” he said.

To donate, visit the Just Giving page via www.justgiving.com/campaign/asamseverestchallenge

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