LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Grammy- and Oscar-nominated indie musician is relearning how to walk after the autoimmune disease Guillain-Barre Syndrome left him immobile, representatives confirmed to The Associated Press.
On Wednesday, Steven shared the news on . In the post, he explained that he has been hospitalized, which is why he has been unable to participate in the promotion for his forthcoming album, 鈥淛avelin,鈥� his first since 2020's 鈥淭he Ascension.鈥� 鈥淛avelin鈥� will be released on Oct. 6.
鈥淟ast month I woke up one morning and couldn鈥檛 walk. My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility. My brother drove me to the ER and after a series of tests 鈥� MRIs, EMGs, cat scans, X-rays, spinal taps (!), echo-cardiograms, etc.,鈥� he wrote. Neurologists finally diagnosed with him Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
鈥淟uckily there鈥檚 treatment for this 鈥� they administer immuno-hemoglobin infusions for five days and pray that the disease doesn鈥檛 spread to the lungs, heart and brain. Very scary, but it worked,鈥� he continued, adding that he spent about two weeks 鈥渟tuck in a bed, while my doctors did all the things to keep me alive and stabilize my condition. I owe them my life.鈥�
On Sept. 8, Stevens says he was transferred to an acute rehab to undergo intensive physical and occupational therapy, and to learn how to walk again.
鈥淢ost people who have GBS learn to walk again on their own within a year, so I am hopeful,鈥� he wrote, thanking his caregivers. He signed the message, 鈥測ours truly from a wheelchair XOXOXO Sufjan Stevens.鈥�
Stevens, 48, is perhaps best known for his 2005 album 鈥淚llinois,鈥� which brought both indie and mainstream acclaim, le)d by the single 鈥淐hicago.鈥� His song 鈥淢ystery of Love,鈥� written for the 2017 film 鈥淐all Me by Your Name,鈥� was nominated for both a Grammy and an Oscar.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
