Though the connection between the two still isn’t proven, Robertson said one hypothesis is that there’s something on that virus — like an abnormal protein — that, in someone who is susceptible to it, triggers this response.
“Something about that virus looks like the myelin, the sheath that covers your nerves,” he said.“And so when it goes to attack the virus, your immune system does as it's supposed to do.
[Then] all of a sudden, your immune system which previously did not recognize your nerves as abnormal now thinks your nerves are still that virus, and now is causing this immune attack.”.
While his case was fairly mild, and stayed in his hands and feet, the effects were still challenging, like when he tried to dress Norah.Like, if she moves suddenly or jerks back and forth — which little kids can do a lot — will I have the reflexes and the strength in my hands to hold her and not let her fall?”.