What started as tingling in his feet quickly took a turn for the worse when Matt Rawluk was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
As a PhD in Biochemistry and a former University of Alberta football player, Matt Rawluk was used to understanding his body — whether through science or sport. But in March 2023, while attending a mining conference in Toronto, that body he knew so well began betraying him in ways he couldn’t explain.
After a long first day, Matt felt tingling in his feet. By morning, his legs were weak, cramping, and heavy. “It felt like somebody had pulled the plug and let all my energy out,” he recalled.
Just weeks earlier, Matt had been recovering from strep throat and a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic. He thought he was nearly better, until walking became nearly impossible while boarding his flight home.
Two days later, he was admitted to a hospital in Edmonton where he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition where the immune system attacks the nerves.
For nearly fifty days in acute care, Matt fought through pain and paralysis, describing every inch of his skin as burning. His face, eyes, and mouth felt aflame; even the weight of a bedsheet was unbearable. His breathing weakened to the point he required oxygen, and with little mouth or tongue function, he relied on a feeding tube to eat for nearly two weeks. Unable to blink, his eyes were taped shut at night and he couldn’t even smile when his family visited his bedside.
Yet, despite it all, Matt refused to give in. “My number one focus was to get back to my family, get back to work, and get back to being a dad as soon as possible,” he said. With three young children at home, including a baby only six months old, he worked tirelessly with his physio team, starting small and working his way up.
“My wife was left suddenly without a husband to help with the house or the kids, and had no idea when I’d be back home,” says Matt. “She’s my hero and our family couldn’t have made it through without her.”
By late April, Matt stood up for the first time with a sit-to-stand machine. Days later, he was transferred to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.
“I was thrilled with the environment when I finally got to the Glenrose,” Matt says. “The focus here is on the treatment and returning to full function as much as possible. They’ll get you as far as you can go.”
At the Glenrose, Matt found healing not just through physical therapy, but through the hospital’s holistic approach to rehabilitation. Guest speakers shared stories of reintegration, psychological support helped him prepare for life beyond the hospital, and his therapy team tailored every step of his program to his needs. The facility was also family-friendly, with warm and inviting spaces nestled between clinical units where Matt and his family could feel more at home while visiting.
One program in particular stood out: aquatic therapy at the hospital’s therapeutic pool.
When Matt first entered the water, his body was still in constant pain. Yet the moment he submerged, he felt relief. “The second I came into the pool, it alleviated the pain. I was able to pull myself to the railing and get to the parallel bars. I took my first unassisted steps in that pool. I’ll never forget that moment and how much it meant to me.”
For Matt, the pool became more than therapy, it was a sanctuary. “The pool was so reassuring. I could float. It was very calm and peaceful. For the first time in months, I had quiet and serenity. I could mentally recharge and my skin felt as normal as it could. It made me feel like everything was going to be ok.”
Pool days quickly became the highlight of his week. “When I heard it had been shut down, I knew I had to help.”
With determination and the support of his care team, Matt’s progress accelerated. By the time he was discharged on May 31, he walked out of the hospital on his own.
Reflecting on his journey, he’s filled with gratitude. “I met a lot of folks that made me feel very fortunate, many of those folks facing permanent impairment. I knew for me, it was going to come back, and it made me extremely grateful for the fact that I would recover.”
The moment he left, Matt walked beside his wife most of the way to the car, folded up his wheelchair, and handed it back — a symbolic, full-circle moment.
Today, he carries with him a deep appreciation for the Glenrose. “I can’t say enough good things about this hospital. The pool, the people, the entire experience, it gave me my life back,” says Matt. “The pool gave me hope and peace during some of the most difficult and painful moments of my life. Your support of the pool is a gift to so many others who need comfort while they heal.”
