Schuck on a Truck: West Central’s Colin Bigley discusses fight to defeat Guillain-Barre Syndrome

WINCHESTER, Ill. — The videos Colin Bigley posts to Facebook make you smile.

Seeing the Winchester West Central assistant baseball coach play catch at a short distance with his son, Jacoby, and walk up and down a hallway are signs he is on the path to recovery. Less than a year ago, Bigley ended up in Memorial Hospital in Springfield on a ventilator and paralyzed from the neck suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

It is a rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves and leads to muscle weakness, tingling sensations and paralysis.

Bigley spent 45 days in the hospital and is slowly regaining his ability to do daily tasks. In fact, he made enough progress by the spring that he was able to be in the dugout at Winchester West Central home baseball games, doing what he truly loves — coaching and teaching baseball.

Bigley sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor at the Central Valley Sports facility this week to discuss Guillain-Barre Syndrome, his recovery and his passion for baseball and helping student-athletes in West-Central Illinois for this episode of “Schuck on a Truck,” brought to you by Shottenkirk Toyota.