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Recovering Wayland Woman Gets More Time At Spaulding Rehab

BOSTON (CBS) - Eight months ago, Heather and Gary Wood were on top of the world. They had good jobs, a new house and—best of all—a new baby boy.

But a week after Heather gave birth to Wesley, she felt tingling in her fingers. It spread throughout her body. She became weak. And when she woke up with double vision, she and Gary raced to the emergency room.

Within days, Heather was paralyzed and on a respirator. She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a mysterious and rare disease that attacks the central nervous system.

It would be six weeks before she would even be able to open her eyes. She began to regain her facial muscles in the fall. Her speech returned around Thanksgiving. And, since Christmas, she has been able to move her shoulders, hips and torso.

Heather Wood
(WBZ-TV)

Her insurance company, Tufts Heath Plan, wanted Heather to go to a nursing home. But she and Gary fought for Spaulding Rehab. They knew of the hospital's reputation and saw, for themselves, the level of care Heather would receive there.

Tufts agreed to send Heather to Spaulding but has only agreed to cover her stay through May 8th. The couple is hoping, on that date, Tufts will reconsider and cover Heather's care at Spaulding at least through May.

She is working hard to recover in three-hour physical therapy sessions six days a week. Gary and Wesley visit every day. And Heather tells WBZ's Lisa Hughes, her most powerful motivation, as she tries to regain her mobility, is the hope of holding Wesley again. "I just want to hold my baby," she says, tearfully. "I want to get home and I just want to go back to live the life I dreamed about in August."

Heather Wood
Heather Wood and Wesley. (WBZ-TV)

Doctors can't tell Heather why she got the disorder or even how completely she will recover. She and Gary expect, when she does return home, they will have to modify their house for her wheelchair. But the couple is taking each day as it comes.

"Every day we look forward to the little tiny advancements—moving this, feeling that. It's the little, little things," Gary says, "that add up to progress. I would love for her to be walking. It would be awesome! But we will be happy with her making steady progress every day."

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