‘Unable to communicate, move, or even smile’: Young Irish man, 24, paralysed ‘from neck down’ after sudden illness

A fundraiser has been set up for a young Wicklow man who has been left paralysed “from neck down” after a sudden illness.

Zach Murphy Kenny, aged 24, was suddenly left paralysed from the neck down after suffering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. It can cause weakness, numbness or paralysis.

To help the family of the young man, who is expected to remain in hospital for several months, a fundraiser was set up.

Prior to last week, Zach was a “typically active and healthy” 24-year-old.

“It started as tingling in one of his legs, and within 24 hours he was paralysed from the neck down, unable to even breathe on his own. He was put in a medically induced coma and underwent a tracheostomy and is undergoing daily blood transfusions. Our vibrant, social, life-loving Zach is now laying still, unable to communicate, move, or even smile.

“When Zach pulls through this devastatingly horrible part of his illness, which we know he will because of his strength and downright stubbornness, he will have a very long road to recovery,” explained Megan Hannon, the organiser of the fundraiser.

“The medical professionals have cautioned the family to expect him to be in the hospital for several months. Once he does regain the ability to move his limbs he will have to undergo extensive rehabilitation learning how to simply talk and walk again. He will have to endure physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and may need mobility aids. Please help us help Zach by alleviating the financial stress of this already unimaginably stressful shock,” she added.

So far, €22,190 have been raised to help the family with medical costs.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.