A man who went from fighting flu symptoms to becoming paralyzed in just 15 minutes now fears he may never walk again. Tinus Greyling, a 35-year-old software engineer from Centurion, South Africa, had been battling flu for nearly two weeks before he was rushed to hospital with a severe fever. Within a quarter of an hour, he was paralyzed from the chest down and lost control of his bladder and bowels.
The Sudden Onset of Paralysis
Greyling and his wife Megan, 32, fell ill with severe flu symptoms after attending a wedding in July 2025. After three days, he returned to work, but by the second week, his condition worsened dramatically. “It was the worst fever I’ve experienced. My muscles were sore—whether I sat or stood I was in pain,” he said. Suspecting something more serious, he saw a different doctor who prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Hours later, his right hip began to ache, and he knew he needed hospital care. Within 15 minutes of arriving, he felt his legs draining of life as paralysis set in.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors eventually diagnosed Greyling with transverse myelitis, a condition causing inflammation of the spinal cord and nerves. Medical reports indicated that the flu likely triggered an autoimmune reaction. “I had the influenza A virus and my body thought it had to fight against it. My spine swelled and compressed the vertebrae,” he explained. He spent three months in hospital receiving high-dose steroids, immune therapy, and plasma infusions, followed by six weeks in rehabilitation learning to dress, brush his teeth, and use a wheelchair.
Despite the grim prognosis, Greyling remains positive. “I choose to stay positive, especially for the people around me. Because I can see how hard it is for them too,” he said. His wife Megan struggles with the sudden change: “How could flu cause this? I was sick too but here I am now, healthy.”
Hope Through Stem Cell Therapy
Technology plays a crucial role in Greyling’s recovery. He has had his spinal cord and stem cells harvested, believing that stem cell therapy offers hope. “Conventional medicine stabilised me, but stem cell therapy is where hope lies. My expectations are realistic, not wishful thinking,” he said. However, the costs of stem cell therapy, catheters, chronic medication, and therapy exceed his medical aid coverage. A colleague started a fundraiser that has received generous support.
Greyling still believes he will walk again. “Our dream of having children is what encourages me to get up every day and fight this illness,” he said. He is grateful for his ability to work from home and use his arms and hands. “Yes, I can’t walk, but I’m alive.”
