J.P. Rosenbaum from The Bachelorette revealed that he can’t hold his children anymore after receiving his rare diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Rosenbaum disclosed his health scare on Instagram last week. Since then, he's detailed his daily battle with the disorder and has become the new face of living with chronic illness.
As a contestant, J.P. was a standout on season 7 of The Bachelorette. From their first meeting, he and Ashley had obvious chemistry. He vigorously pursued her throughout the season, all the way to the finale. As he popped the question, and the couple celebrated their love in a televised ceremony. Both J.P. and Ashley disappeared from Bachelor Nation's radar, trading fame for a normal marriage and children. The couple welcomed their son, Fordham in 2014 followed by their daughter Essex in 2016. With J.P.'s current diagnosis, caring for the kids has proven to be more difficult. However, the couple is staying committed through sickness and in health.
Despite his newfound role of raising awareness for the neurological disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, one of the saddest outcomes from the news is that the reality star is unable to hold his children. His children may be too young to understand the intricacies of their father's ailment, but for children, missing out on familiar interactions often proves emotionally taxing. Guillain-Barré syndrome can result in tingling of the extremities. It can also lead to weakness on either side of the body, making simple tasks feel like an uphill battle. For J.P., who has built a career in real estate and as a construction manager, working with his hands is a must. However, being plagued with an illness which hinders that dexterity is something that J.P. will have to adapt to and quickly. He has a long period of physical therapy ahead of him, although he still has a wide range of motor functions.
J.P. revealed via People, "As you can see I’m up and walking, albeit gingerly." The former Bachelorette star continued, "I still can’t hold myself up, I still can’t hold my kids." He then revealed more actions he is still having trouble performing, saying, "I still can’t manipulate things in my hands, I can’t open a bottle, I can’t turn a key. What else can’t I do? There’s lots I can’t do. But, there’s still lots I can do." To date, there's no cure for Guillain-Barré. In some cases, patients have been known to make full recoveries within months. For others, they manage the ramifications with a number of available treatments as well as rehabilitation. J.P. already knows that he has a fight ahead of him. For now, he's leaning into the love and support he's received since going public with the news.
It's wonderful to see The Bachelorette's J.P. sharing his story so openly with viewers and fans. One of the saddest fates is to feel like there's no one else experiencing our same hardship, sadness, or pain. His transparency about his day-to-day obstacles will help others who may have the same disorder but feel too hopeless or scared to talk about it. J.P.'s unique platform could also result in more funding for research since he's a public figure who even admitted that he's got a lot to learn about his ailment. In any event, this holiday season will be especially poignant for the Rosenbaum family. J.P. is living proof that we all have so much to be grateful for, especially in the face of adversity.
Source: People