An actor left paralysed from the neck down by an immune disorder is back in the gym a mere six months after falling ill.
Cody Hively began suffering from tingling and numbness in his feet in January this year and within weeks lost feeling in most of his body, couldn't talk properly and was only able to make slight movements with his head.
The 27-year-old was diagnosed with a severe form of the Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the patient's nerves.
Cody spent three months in hospital where he received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a treatment for patients with antibody deficiencies.
But he is now back in the gym, just six months after falling ill and learning to walk again.
The symptoms started mid-January, and by February 6 Cody was hospitalised after feeling completely numb up to the shoulders.
Two weeks later, he was completely paralysed and had to be intubated because he was unable to breathe or swallow properly.
The symptoms were so severe that he was only able to nod his head slightly and nurses had to use an alphabet board to talk to him.
Cody, an actor based in Los Angeles, USA, was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and within a few weeks, his condition started to improve.
He said: "Every day the doctors said the same thing, this could stop tomorrow, or it could just keep getting worse."
Cody's treatment was successful and the attack on his nerves stopped.
He was moved to a in-patient rehabilitation clinic on March 17, where he began recovery.
Cody had to re-learn to use most of his muscles and underwent four hours of physical therapy a day.
By early July, he was able to walk short distances with some help.
He added: "It was my discipline and determination to recover that helped me get back on my feet so quickly.
"I'm a person who enjoys being physical and active, so I'm used to working for things like this.
"It was really disturbing. I was a prisoner to my own body, minutes turned into days turned into weeks turned into months. My whole body felt like it was on fire.
"When I began walking it felt like I was alive again, each week I would make progress even if it was a couple of extra steps."
In August 2022, Cody was back in the gym lifting weights and cycling.
"I never thought I was going to die, 1 in 20 people die from what I had, but I never lost hope," he added.
