Round Rock resident struck with rare condition in Italy discharges from rehabilitation hospital

Sept. 29, 2025 - In September 2024, Liberty Hill, Texas, resident Joe Pearson started his year-long work assignment in Italy. However, eight months into his job, he started experiencing odd symptoms, including tingling in hands and feet and inability to walk.

"I can see them [my legs], but I can't feel them," Pearson told the Austin-American Statesman newspaper.

Pearson was eventually diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). GBS is a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves causing weakness, numbness or paralysis. After two months in a hospital, Pearson felt stuck in Italy - not improving and knowing he needed to return to the U.S. if he was to recover. Due to his condition and the language barrier, returning to the U.S. became more difficult than expected.

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Round Rock worked directly with Pearson's care team in Italy to have him medically transferred to the rehabilitation hospital - first relying on Matt Schirber, hospital rehabilitation liaison, to translate emails, phone conversations and medical correspondence in Italian.

"It was intense," Scriber told the newspaper.

Eventually a flight with medical assistance brought Pearson back to the U.S. and to Encompass Health Round Rock. When he arrived at the hospital, he had lost 60 pounds and couldn't sit up unassisted.

By the time he left Encompass Health Round Rock nearly a month later, Pearson was able to sit up by himself and transfer from a bed to a wheelchair. He also was able to stand up using parallel bars, walk with assistance, brush his teeth and mostly feed himself.

"Encompass Health was what I needed," Pearson said. "[My therapists] pushed me to the limit and kept me on task. They wouldn't let me slack off. That's what I needed."

Read the full story on Pearson's recovery journey