J.P. Rosenbaum, former star of The Bachelorette, has been diagnosed with a rare nervous system disorder. The father of two revealed that he has been suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome.
J.P. was a standout on season 7 of The Bachelorette. From their first meeting, he and Ashley had unmistakable chemistry. J.P. made his intentions toward her crystal clear. He vigorously pursued her throughout the season, all the way to the finale. As he popped the question, Ashley responded with an enthusiastic "Yes" and shortly thereafter, the couple married in a televised ceremony. J.P. and Ashley, more or less, disappeared from Bachelor Nation, trading fame for a normal marriage and family life. Their son Fordham was born in 2014. He was followed by sister Essex in 2016. With J.P.'s current diagnosis, caring for the kids could prove difficult. However, the couple is committed to helping each other in sickness and in health.
The 42-year-old made the shocking admission on his Instagram Story last Sunday when he posted a series of photos from his hospital bed, including pics with his wife Ashley Rosenbaum chronicling his diagnosis and initial treatment. Guillain-Barre is quite uncommon, as it affects only one in every 100,000 people annually. This neurological disorder affects the peripheral nervous system which controls the brain's ability to read information from the limbs, muscles, and joints. He wrote, "Things you do every day… picking up this phone, buttoning buttons, tying shoelaces, putting on deodorant… [you] just can’t do it." He continued, "Picking up my kids? Can’t do it. Wiping your a**? That may be T.M.I., but I might have Ashley assist on the next one." Maintaining his sense of humor is just one of the ways J.P. plans to see his way through this ordeal as well as learning as much about his illness as possible.
The former Bachelorette star said that having Guillain-Barree is "very surreal and humbling," and that he "just can't really believe" the news. However, it's not all bad news for J.P., as he revealed, "I feel pretty much the same as I have all day, which I think is a good sign." J.P. continued, "From what I’m, told, my symptoms have hopefully plateaued and not gotten any worse, then hopefully I’m on the road to recovery." He also mentioned that while sometimes the disorder can take a sudden turn for the worst, he's hoping that it won't be the case for him, saying that, "Hopefully I’m fortunate enough where we caught it early enough, to start a treatment early enough where we can now start recovery. But I will know more tomorrow once I speak with the doctor." He also noted that there will be a lot of physical therapy in his future. J.P. has been vague about the exact symptoms he's experienced, but for most, they can range from tingling in the fingers and limbs to weakness on both sides of the body.
It's never an easy thing to be confronted with one's own mortality. However, for J.P., he seems to have the perfect support system to get him through this difficult time: his family. Guillain-Barré syndrome is elusive and manifests differently from patient to patient. With it being diagnosed in so few people each year, the reality star will need to use the coming New Year to brush up on his new normal. Thankfully, by sharing his prognosis with his fans, this former Bachelorette star will also be able to inspire others to get checked if they begin to feel the same symptoms linked to Guillain-Barré.
Source: People