Twenty Years & Six Months

From happy, hardworking wife and mother to non-responsive quadriplegic almost overnight, and her journey back. This is the story of one woman's fight, moving past exceptional obstacles, and finding the strength to push forward despite all odds. Erika Orriss tells of how she fought a battle against a rare neurological illness, Guillain Barre Syndrome, which she had never even heard of before. One day, she was picking her children up from school and daycare, and the next was on a trip to the hospital where she would reside paralyzed for nearly six months, four of which she would be on a ventilator. Aware of her surroundings and unable to speak, Ms. Orriss tells of the countless days and agonizing nights spent in fear and torment. As the memories were so painful, it took her twenty years to put pen to paper with any real intention of sharing her story. Hence the title, Twenty Years & Six Months. She speaks of her journey walking in faith, with family and fortitude. Although it was not always pretty, and most thought she would never make it. She did. Life is not always easy. In fact, many times it can be exceptionally difficult. Life can change forever with a moment's notice. Circumstances change suddenly and in cruel ways. How do we manage then? Do we fight back? Do we give in? Do we pray? How exactly do we accept and move on? Is this even possible? Originally only intended for her children as a reference, Ms. Orriss soon realized that her story might benefit others walking through the ignited flames of life striving to reach the other side. As a licensed mental health counselor, she felt compelled to write for all who might benefit from her story, the triumph of the human spirit, and give a breath of hope to others in times of need.