Sufjan Stevens, whose next album is due out October 6, has revealed he has Guillain-Barré syndrome. The attack left him bedridden and he has to undergo physiotherapy to learn to walk again.
Sufjan Stevens woke up one morning last month having lost all feeling in his hands and feet, Billboard and Deadline report, citing the artist’s Instagram page. He had no strength in his arms or legs, which prevented him from moving and walking. After a battery of tests, neurologists diagnosed him with an autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The World Health Organization describes the disease as a “rare condition in which the patient’s immune system attacks peripheral nerves.” In the worst cases, this disease can cause complete paralysis, but most people make a full recovery.
Sufjan Stevens began his rehabilitation at the beginning of September. “Most people with Guillain-Barré syndrome learn to walk again within a year, so I’m hopeful,” the artist wrote on Instagram. I am determined to get better, my morale is good and I am surrounded by a very good team. »
Javelin, Sufjan Stevens’ first composition album since 2020, is released on October 6. “Be well, be happy, stay healthy, stay safe, I love you,” concludes the artist, specifying that he writes while sitting in a wheelchair.
