'Mac is back'

Mac Storm doesn't ever again want to go through what he has over the past 11 months. The Northwestern sophomore experienced a long and painful recovery from two rare diseases. It was a long and hard road to recovery.

But what he has been through since contracting Guillain-Barre syndrome has made him stronger in many ways.

"He really is physically and mentally stronger than he was before," said Mac's mother, Rachelle Storm. "This has made our family stronger. We were close before, but this brought us even closer."

Mac's story began last November. On a Christmas shopping trip to the mall with his brother Shelby, Mac began to lose feeling in his legs. He felt better later than evening and went to school the next day. That afternoon he started to lose feeling in his arms and legs.

He went to the emergency room and by a two o'clock in the morning learned he had Guillain-Barre, an immune system disorder. The cause is unknown, according to the Mayo Clinic web site. It effects 1-2 in one 100,000 people and many cases occur "without triggers."

The symptoms, which can include paralysis of the entire body, usually peak four weeks after they begin.

"It was extremely scary," Mac said. "I didn't know what was wrong.

"When I found out it was kind of bittersweet. I knew it was going to get better, but the long road ahead was scary."

That road included time at the Good Shepherd as well as five days of of painful intravenous immunoglobulin treatments.

Storm, a big, strong young man who excels at sports, was making a quick recovery. He was "up and around" in a few days," he said, and home for Christmas.

Then came his first set back.

"After a few days the paralysis came back," he said. "After Christmas it got worse again."

That meant back to Good Shepherd for therapy. He had to relearn to do things he took for granted, such as writing. He resorted to home schooling and when he couldn't write his tutors taught him and tested him verbally.

On the road to recovery he had an even bigger and more painful set back. He developed a painful disease called Reflex neurovascular dystrophy, a form of complex regional pain syndrome.

RND constricts blood veins and reduces the supply of oxygen to the skin, muscles and bones, causing extreme pain in the affected areas.

"The touch of a finger tip, a blanket, they hurt my skin excruciatingly," Mac said. "The only way to get rid of the pain is to cause more pain."

He went to Lehigh Valley Intensive Therapy for treatment every day from March to June.

"It seemed like it was never going to get better," Storm said.

He spent time in a wheelchair, walked with a walker and then used a cane. Eventually things started getting better.

"The first time he took a step it was like when he was a baby," said Rachelle Storm.

By late August he was able to get back to normalcy, which for the Storm family means football.

He wasn't allowed to practice until just a few weeks ago, but he was listed on the roster as a manager and made every practice from the first day of camp, carrying a clipboard and just being with the team.

He was skeptical at first, thinking that it might be too depressing to watch his teammates practice and not be able to join them. But it turned out to be exactly the right place.

"It was hard at first," Storm said. "But the more I showed up the better I became. Football is a big part of my life. The football team is my family."

Finally, on Tuesday, October 18, his 16th birthday, he was at lunch when he got a text saying he was cleared to practice and play football again.

"I stood up and yelled," he said. "I screamed over to our quarterback (Ty Cunningham). I ran over to the coaches."

A few weeks ago the 6-foot-3, 260-pound lineman played in his first game. The Tigers were shut out by Pen Argyl in Storm's return and surely he was the only Northwestern player on the sideline smiling ear to ear after the game.

"I was happy even though we lost," he said.

Last week he played the full game at offensive right tackle and got some snaps on defense as well. His life was normal again. And the Tigers won got their biggest win of the year, overtaking a big, strong Bangor offensive line.

"This past Friday was one of the greatest days ever," he said.

Looking back on the past 11 months, Storm thanks God for allowing him to get through everything.

"I used to be a regular Christian," he said. "This has made my faith stronger."

It's also brought him even closer to his brothers, Shelby, who is a freshman at Kutztown University, and Jordan, who is a high school sophomore and helped keep a smile on his brothers face during some tough times.

"He's always cheery," Mac said.

Shelby would come visit Mac at the hospital after school and basketball practice and during his football recruiting process with Kutztown.

"He was there every day with me in the hospital," Mac said.

Both brothers helped a lot when Mac's paralysis didn't allow him to move on his own.

"I'm proud of all my boys," said Rachelle Storm.

The Northwestern community supported Mac as well, helping the family with meals and other things.

"Our community was great," Rachelle said.

The Northwestern football family also stayed close as members of the coaching staff visited often.

Through it all Mac drew inspiration from three friends who also have fought battles with diseases at too young an age. They are Brett Snyder, Dylan Roth and Jason Breininger.

"They inspire me," Mac said. "I talked to them and heard their stories. I always knew they were amazing."

After what he's been through Mac now has greater appreciation for things he used to take for granted. He said he goes for walks much more frequently than in the past.

He's also physically stronger. He can run a mile, bench press 310 pounds and leg press 1,240, which are all greater than before he got sick.

"Mac is back," said Rachelle.