Singer Sufjan Stevens announces that he suffers from Guillain-Barré syndrome and cannot walk

Singer and songwriter Sufjan Stevens has released a very emotional statement.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
21 September 2023 Thursday 11:19
9 Reads
Singer Sufjan Stevens announces that he suffers from Guillain-Barré syndrome and cannot walk

Singer and songwriter Sufjan Stevens has released a very emotional statement. The indie rock musician is recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disease that has caused paralysis, and whose recovery has prevented him from promoting his upcoming studio album.

"Last month I woke up one morning and couldn't walk," Stevens writes on his website. The singer-songwriter, 48, explains: "his hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling, he had no strength, no touch, no mobility."

The artist was subjected to several medical tests, spending "two weeks trapped in bed", after which neurologists ended up diagnosing him with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

It is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to damage nerve cells, causing some muscle weakness, and in severe cases, paralysis. Being a rare disorder, the cause of this disease is unknown.

Far from giving up, the singer-songwriter has decided to begin his treatment: "They have given me immunoglobulin infusions for five days and they are praying that the disease does not spread to the lungs, heart and brain," he shares with his fans.

Likewise, the creator of Javelin assures that he is receiving rehabilitation therapy focused on strengthening the body, and that he is also learning to walk again, a challenge.