Paityn Castillo's life paused last fall, when she was struck by full-body paralysis. Six months later, her recovery moves many.
Patch Staff
OAK FOREST, IL — An Oak Forest teen has defied what doctors projected could have been a year-long recovery from sudden paralysis. Just six months later, Paityn Castillo has reclaimed use of her body, and bit by bit, is getting back to life as she knew it before Oct. 22, 2024.
The Oak Forest High School freshman was struck last fall by a rare autoimmune condition that left her intubated and paralyzed, hospitalized for months with family and friends rallying around her, hoping for the best.
In mid-March, Paityn stunned many by leaving the rehabilitation center—on foot.
"Every bit of her milestones has been so exciting," mother Sandra told Patch. "Standing, taking a step by herself.
"... It’s been a really long journey."
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Paityn—who was diagnosed in October 2024 with Guillain-Barré syndrome—has missed out on a lot of her freshman year, but last week began to take some of it back. Regaining strength and agility each day, she recently returned to her high school for a visit with friends.
It almost feels surreal to Sandra, who can so clearly recall being perched at her daughter's bedside, terrified and overwhelmed in the early days of her condition.
"I just remember not being able to breathe," she said. "Your head's spinning and scared. ... What just happened?
Paitytn's illness started with a common cold, and a strep diagnosis. Then came the pain in her calves, tingling in her hands and numbness in her feet. In just three days, their athletic, volleyball-loving 14-year-old went from a little ill, to "really sick."
"She walked into our pediatrician, and then left in a wheelchair," Castillo said. "Her body just continued to shut down ... she was more like a rag doll. As the weekend went on, everything was so scary."
First examined on a Friday, by Monday, she was on a ventilator. Just three days after her initial symptoms, doctors labeled her symptoms as the rare autoimmune response to an illness causing nerve damage. The nerve damage can cause weakness, numbness and paralysis. Paityn's case was severe, Castillo remembers being told, and complicated by three bouts with pneumonia.
"One of the doctors who came in, said it was one of the most severe cases he’d ever seen," Castillo said.
Things came to a screeching halt for the Castillo family, who rallied around Paityn. Sandra, a preschool teacher at Prairie-Hill School District 144, took FMLA leave time to be with her. Husband Reggie, a firefighter with Arlington Heights, took occasional sick days and juggled shifts with other crew members to be available.
The shock of Paityn's condition was cushioned by the support shown by their community. Her friends visited, and together they and family worked to keep Paityn's Snapchat streaks going—a refreshingly teenage concern amidst the heaviness of the unknown they all faced. Her sister Kamryn, a junior at Oak Forest High School, also lingered by her side throughout.
A self-professed Swiftie, Paityn was to have seen singer Taylor Swift at one of her Indianapolis shows. When that couldn't happen, nurses and medical staff went all out to lift her spirits, even bringing in a life-sized cardboard cutout of the songstress herself.
Castillo had been looking forward to returning to her club volleyball team, and trying badminton at the school. All of that, too, hung in the lurch for the graduate of St. Christopher in Midlothian.
As far as doctors can deduce, the condition was brought on by Paityn's strep.
"It could be anybody," Castillo said. "With this condition, there’s no rhyme or reason. It’s just insane.
"The doctors did stress—she was so healthy, and so strong before this, that it was one of the things that helped her recover, push through. Having that attitude where, 'I’m not going to give up, just keep pushing.'"
In January, signs of hope surfaced, as movement returned to her legs and feet. Even that, though, proved painful for Paityn.
"Once your body is shutting down, everything hurts in your body," Castillo said. "Back in October, she was in so much pain, until she was fully paralyzed. When your body starts to wake back up, it’s also very painful."
After six weeks at Advocate Christ Hospital and with recovery seeming more within grasp, Paityn was moved to the Shirley Ryan Agility Lab in December 2024. There, she worked to re-learn how to walk, talk—even swallow and eat.
Finally, on March 14 after 20 weeks—140 days—away from home, Paityn got to sleep in her own bed.
"She has made amazing progress," Castillo said. When she first came home, she was using a walker, with us nearby. Then she graduated to a one-arm crutch for her weaker side. Then she was cleared not to use the walker, crutch and leg braces, unless she was in a terrain that might need it.
"She’s been doing really, really well."
Castillo's relief—to have her family together again, for her teen to get back to her "normal" life—is palpable.
"I’ve been by her side since Day 1," she said, "but it’s nice to see her with her friends."
The teen soaked up her first days back home—requesting meals from her favorites.
"She wanted to go get (Raising) Cane’s," Castillo said. "For the longest time, she wasn’t able to eat and drink. She wanted to go to Uncle Julio’s for dinner. She was just really excited to finally be home in her own bed. Snuggle in bed with her sister, they’re very close."
Paityn in March paid a visit to the pediatric intensive care unit, where her recovery moved medical staff to tears.
"Most of them had never heard her voice," Castillo said, alluding to the paralysis that had even impacted her ability to speak.
Paityn is also back to what she loves—volleyball. Still attending occupational and physical therapy several days a week, the therapists have incorporated it into their sessions with her.
"Seeing her in day rehab now, last week, she was bumping a volleyball, with knee pads," Castillo said. "Getting her strength back, her endurance—it’s great, and what a wonderful way to use the sport that she loves to be able to do that.
"... We did not anticipate that we would be here six months later, and she would be bumping the volleyball, walking up and down our steps."
They're hopeful Paityn can be back on the court in August. In the meantime, she's visiting the school on lunch periods to reconnect socially, and is tackling schoolwork to stay on track with her class. She's on an AP/Honors track, and Castillo is hopeful she can maintain that. She'll have some classes to make up next year, but the school will work with her to splice those into her schedule.
"She’ll be on track and be able to graduate with her class," Castillo said. "Her track might look a little different ... We’ve got some things to play with. We'll see how she adjusts going back in the fall."
For now, they're busy making up for lost time. Paityn's birthday is in May—she'll be 15. They're working on family plans for the summer, Castillo said. Paityn missed so much with them—Taylor Swift, the Harry Potter musical and more.
"We definitely want to do something to celebrate how far she’s come," she said.
Castillo stressed the community's support for the family was instrumental in carrying them through. A GoFundMe established early on raised $35,000. Oak Forest High School also held its "Pennies for Patients" initiative and raised over $2,000 for the family, Bremen District 228 Public Relations Specialist Yasmeen Sheikah said.
"We are just so thankful," Castillo said tearfully. "Everyone in the community has been amazing. The notes that we got, cards in the mail from people we do not know. The GoFundMe was huge ...
"Really, really kind, and overwhelming, and we just appreciate it so much."
Paityn was a little shy during her mom's interview with Patch.
"It’s great to be home," she said.
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