From Paralysis to Purpose: Trent Fielder's Inspiring Medical Comeback

Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast covered the inspiring story of Trent Fielder, a man who suffered from a debilitating series of medical setbacks. Within a year, Fielder developed symptoms of both Guillain-Barre Disorder and CIDP, two auto-immune disorders that attack peripheral nerves. He was left paralyzed from the waist down, and due to the resulting immobility (and perhaps a botched surgery was a contributing factor), Fielder suffered from back-to-back embolisms that left him with extremely diminished lung capacity. Considering the facts that Fielder could barely breathe on his own, he was a paraplegic and at risk of further blood clots, his doctors gave him a grim prognosis.

Fielder admits that he attempted to take his own life (I won’t spoil all of the fun: IMO it’s worth listening to the podcast to find out why he didn’t succeed). The interview doesn’t spend a lot of time on this part of his story, but certainly Fielder’s physiological and autonomy needs were suffering (he was feeling hopeless).

And yet when Fielder was at his lowest and could have simply given up, he suddenly had a perspective shift. With nothing left to lose, he decided that he was not completely without control (autonomy). He could fight. He could take an active role in his own treatment. The first place he could start was finding the right patient advocate. They then got to work training to increase his lung capacity (I love that he used music as a therapy tool).

In the course of taking control, Fielder also identified his purpose (“The mission has always been hope.”) (growth, autonomy). Additionally, through the Adaptive Training Foundation he found a community of people who were facing their own challenges, who inspired and supported him, and who gave him treatment ideas (social). I won’t give away everything, but though not easily, he found his way back from death’s doorstep.

If you’re in need of some inspiration, especially if you are dealing with your own physiological challenges, I recommend listening to Trent Fielder’s story. Have you come out the other side after dealing with an acute or chronic medical problem? If so, what in terms of the Right Hand of Long-Term Happiness helped you?