'Blessed to be back'

After spending nine months at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, local Dennis Bishop returned home last Thursday. Bishop, pictured above with his wife Trish, developed Guillain-Barré syndrome after contracting COVID-19 last October. He had been in Minneapolis since November 5th.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a serious autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system. Guillain-Barré is extremely rare, affecting only about 1 in 100,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The syndrome leads to weakness, numbness and tingling, and can eventually cause paralysis.

Bishop was flown from Minneapolis to Baker last Thursday where he was picked up by local EMTs and brought back to Ekalaka in an ambulance. Upon arriving, he was welcomed by family, friends and community members who were lining Main Street in Ekalaka. After a tour down Main, he was taken to his home.

Bishop's incredible story is far from over as he will now continue physical therapy sessions and rehabilitation.

"I wouldn't change a thing about what happened to me," he said when asked about his rare disorder.

"I might have lost my walking, but I'm blessed to be back in this beautiful community."

More on Bishop's journey will be published in the coming weeks.