6 days ago
Pune Wildlife Expert Rebuilds Life After Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Sushil Chikane is a wildlife expert from Pune who became seriously ill with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
This illness makes the body's immune system attack the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
His body became so weak that he could not walk or move many parts of it.
He also had trouble sleeping and needed help with basic activities.
At one point, he felt hopeless and wanted to give up.
His mother encouraged him to keep fighting.
Chikane remembered the mountain-climbing lesson of taking one step at a time.
He shared his recovery online to help other patients understand both the medical and emotional challenges of GBS.
He is now improving and hopes to return to the wilderness.
Sushil Chikane was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome in 2025 after rapidly losing control of his body.
The illness left him unable to walk, use his fingers, close his eyelids, or manage basic personal needs independently.
After a severe emotional crisis, Chikane drew on his mountaineering experience and focused on recovery one step at a time.
He documented his physical and emotional experiences on social media to help other GBS patients avoid confusion, misinformation, and superstition.
Chikane has since regained significant movement, taken a flight and safari, and hopes to return to the wilderness.
- Who
- Sushil Chikane, a 38-year-old Pune-based wilderness expert and travel company director.
- What
- He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and documented his severe illness and recovery.
- Where
- He became ill in Pune after returning from travel in Sikkim and other mountain regions.
- When
- He developed symptoms in September 2025 and posted a widely personal account beginning on November 7, 2025.
- Why
- GBS occurs when the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves; Chikane shared his experience to support and inform other patients.
Key facts
- Patient
- Sushil Chikane, 38
- Diagnosis
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome, diagnosed in 2025
- Initial symptoms
- He quickly lost the ability to click a computer mouse and stand from a chair.
- Severe effects
- He could not walk to the washroom, turn in bed, move his fingers, or close his eyelids.
- Recovery approach
- He used physiotherapy and focused on recovery one step at a time.
- Public outreach
- He shared videos and posts about the physical and mental effects of GBS.
- Recent progress
- He took his first flight and went on his first safari to Jhalana Leopard Reserve.
Quotes
Kumudini Chikane
Sushil Chikane’s mother and a former school teacher
“The only thing that I cannot do today is climb steps without a walker or some assistance. A big thing that we achieved yesterday was to get up if I fall. It might take half an hour, but I will get up on my own.”
indianexpress.com
“When I started mountaineering, I was told, ‘never look at a peak as this will stress you out’. You look down, and take one step at a time.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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