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Wisconsin newlywed left paralyzed after contracting polio-like illness on honeymoon

Posted at 11:31 AM, Nov 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-25 16:05:59-05

A newly married man hasn't had much time to celebrate his marriage as he's been in the hospital with the rare condition acute flaccid myelitis for more than 100 days.

Bridget Williquette and Adam Spoerri got married July 21, 2018. They left for their road trip honeymoon a few days later. But on August 5, Adam had to be taken to the emergency room with a respiratory disease that was affecting his breathing.

Adam's body became increasingly paralyzed while in the ER, leaving his chest, arms, lungs, throat, facial muscles and neck without feeling. 

He was admitted to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit that same day and has since been on life support.

Adam and Bridget now communicate through writing on paper, as Adam's hands and wrists were not affected by paralysis as much as other areas of his body.

He has been doing daily occupational and physical therapy and has made progress in being able to hold his head up on his own.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Adam and Bridget. So far $8,538 has been raised.

Acute flaccid myelitis is a rare, polio-like condition that affects the nervous system, and specifically the spinal cord, causing muscles and reflexes in the body to become weak according to the Centers for Disease Control

Less than one in 1 million people in the U.S. get AFM every year.