Greenville Hospital System Office of Philanthropy : Patient Stories

Allen Funk is a changed man thanks to rehabilitation at Roger C. Peace Hospital.

Giving begins with a story. Please let us share a few amazing stories from people right here in your community. It is our hope that you will find these true stories inspiring enough to become involved in our ongoing effort to provide state- of-the-art health care to the Upstate community.

Allen Funk moved from Spartanburg to Keowee Key several years ago. In 2008, he expected family and friends to join him for a beach vacation, but those plans would be interrupted by a disease that only one or two people out of 100,000 experience in a lifetime – Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves and can cause paralysis in hours.

It began as a tingle in his feet and then spread. Over the next two days, Allen would become paralyzed from the neck down.

The cause of Guillain-Barre is not known, but for many affected people it’s triggered by a respiratory infection or common flu virus. In most cases, GBS sufferers eventually make a full recovery but have a risk of relapse and loss of mobility or motor skills. In Allen’s case, a trip to Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital of Greenville Hospital System was in order after 10 days in Intensive Care at Georgetown Hospital.

“The crew that worked with me at Roger C. Peace went above and beyond. I always felt like I was the only patient they were working with,” Funk said.

Allen’s medical team included a neurophysiologist, recreational therapist, occupational therapist, physician, and physical therapist. His family and friends were also essential in his healing experience. Neighbors helped build a ramp for his wheelchair, and his family cared for him and encouraged him every step of the way. In addition to his continued therapy at Roger C. Peace, Allen’s trainer at Keowee Key, David Dale, works with him to continue his recovery.

Allen Funk can now walk without assistance, and while he has some difficulty with a few everyday tasks, he considers himself fortunate.

“When I see my nurses and physicians and trainers, I know they saved my life," he said. "How do you say thanks for that? The simplest blessings in life have a whole new meaning now."

“If you are given a second chance, you think, is there a purpose? I think so. You have a very special opportunity to give back.”

Get Involved

Please click here and make a gift to help the patients, families, and nurses at Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital!

To find out more about rehabilitation programs, contact Michelle Shain, Director of Academic Services in the Office of Philanthropy and Partnership, at (864) 797-7737 or mshain@ghs.org.