Kansas woman relies on resilience during recovery at Madonna
In the News, Patient Stories
April 10, 2023What started as pneumonia turned into a months-long recovery for Zena Schmelzle. About a week into her illness, Zena realized her tongue had gone numb, and she started to feel weak. A visit to the ER and several diagnostic tests later revealed she had Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder in which the immune system damages nerves. The 51-year-old arrived at Madonna unable to walk or eat solid food, but she came armed with two secret weapons: a supportive family and a resilient spirit. You can learn more about her recovery here.