When Danko Pike of Ashland began to notice strange symptoms in early November 2024, he initially thought the zinging feeling he experienced while eating was just a problem with a crown on his tooth. After visiting his dentist, however, his symptoms progressed to include numbness at the top of his ear and swelling under the earlobe. 

“I thought it was weird, so I went to the doctor but didn’t get any answers,” recalls Danko. “Two days later, my ear felt like it was on fire, so I went back to the doctor again. I was prescribed antibiotics and stayed home for a week feeling miserable, hoping to feel better so I could get back to work.”

Unfortunately, the ordeal was far from over. By November 11, Danko returned to another medical facility for a chest X-ray and CT scan. A pneumonia diagnosis led to a new antibiotic and prednisone, but he continued to feel worse. Now, the tingling in his toes and feet that he had noticed worsened, accompanied by increased difficulty breathing. 

After another trip to a local hospital, Danko was told that the tingling and numbness were due to anxiety and that bloodwork showed low potassium. At this point, he and his wife, Corri, knew something was wrong. 

The next day, Danko’s condition deteriorated further. He and Corri drove to the emergency room at Nebraska Medicine, where the staff suspected something neurological was going on.

After emergency and neurology teams observed his rapid decline and progressing neurological issues, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) was suspected. Treatment began based on his symptoms while testing to confirm the diagnosis, including a lumbar puncture to assess cerebrospinal fluid and electrodiagnostic studies to evaluate peripheral nerve function.

Danko was moved to the neuroscience ICU for urgent specialized care. “He was able to walk into the ER on Saturday, and by the time we got admitted into a room, he was no longer able to walk, and other muscle functions were rapidly diminishing,” Corri recalls. 

“In a short hour and a half, I went from the emergency room and a thorough exam from the neurology team to being quickly admitted to the Neuro ICU,” adds Danko. “The staff took me seriously from the moment I walked in, and I immediately knew I was in the right place. They saved my life.”

AIDP, or Guillain-Barré Syndrome, is often triggered by an infection or other events. While fighting the infection, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves. This causes inflammation and nerve damage, leading to weakness, numbness, respiratory failure, or paralysis.

“AIDP causes rapid, symmetric weakness and can progress to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation,” says neurointensivist Subin Mathew, MBBS. “Mr. Pike initially experienced numbness and tingling, which quickly advanced to severe weakness and the need for ventilator support within days—an unusually rapid course for AIDP. He was intubated and started on plasma exchange therapy (PLEX), a treatment similar to dialysis that helps remove the antibodies attacking his nerves. Our team provided continuous, intensive monitoring—tracking his breathing, vital signs, and neurological status around the clock.”

“The care I received was excellent at every step,” Danko says. “Every time Dr. Mathew came into the room, he had a team with him, and he was very informative and reassuring. Being on a ventilator was a scary thing, but I remember a resident doctor named Jonathan talking me off the ledge after the ventilation came off for good. He reassured me that I would be okay, and I needed to hear that.”

To the amazement of the medical team, Danko was discharged just two weeks and five days later. 

“Mr. Pike’s case was a miraculous recovery situation,” says Dr. Mathew. “Typically, we see people with AIDP on a ventilator for months, not a few weeks. I've never seen anybody recover this quickly! This kind of turnaround – from nearly paralyzed to being strong enough to go home a short time later – makes this kind of work so meaningful for us.”

Physical and occupational therapy were a crucial part of Danko’s recovery, which began in the hospital and continued in outpatient rehabilitation and at home. He continues working to regain muscle mass after losing 64 pounds during the experience.

Thankfully, Danko feels well these days, and the outlook looks promising. 

“I had so many people praying for me, my wife and family by my side the whole time, who were my constant support, mentally and emotionally. Family and friends came and went daily. I don’t remember everything, but I do recall the care of the staff and the people who came in to pray with me, especially Pastor Jeremiah Ndichafah from the hospital. The second I heard his voice, I knew God’s hands were on me.”

Corri agrees that from the moment they arrived, the care was outstanding, not only for her husband as a patient but also for her and her daughter. “Every single person we came in contact with went above and beyond. The nurse concierge case managers, Dawnelle Martin and Taylor Danley, assisted me with paperwork and gave me daily hugs and encouragement. ICU nurses Taylor Schmitt and Abby Gronau (Danko’s guardian angel) were amazing, as was one of the night nurses who sat with me and comforted me during a particularly difficult moment. Dr. Brown and Dr. Mathew were reassuring and answered so many questions. We’re so grateful!”

“Many centers lack dedicated neuroscience teams or a specialized Neuro ICU,” says Dr. Mathew. “What sets our program apart is the presence of a true Neurocritical Care Unit staffed by a multidisciplinary team. This includes a highly trained neurointensivist, advanced practice provider, neuro-trained ICU nurses, trainees, dedicated pharmacist and nutritionist, physical and respiratory therapists, who specialize in managing critically ill patients with complex brain and nerve conditions. In AIDP, a person may be walking one day and feel like their body is shutting down just days later. Early recognition and rapid treatment in a Neuro ICU setting can make all the difference in recovery.”