Undressed by the Earl (37 page)

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UTHOR
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T
he mysterious illness that plagues Christine Hartford in
Undressed by the Earl
is a rare illness that we now know by the name Guillain-Barré syndrome. It was not documented until 1859 by Jean Landry, but it certainly mystified many physicians prior to that.

In most cases, it follows a respiratory or digestive ailment. Nerve endings are attacked by the immune system, causing paralysis that slowly spreads throughout the body. It can reverse itself as long as it does not progress to the lungs, which can be fatal.

There still is no cure for this syndrome, but in modern medicine, blood plasma exchange and high doses of immunoglobulin can speed recovery. Dr. Paul Fraser’s decision to exercise her limbs was an effort to encourage blood flow and to prevent muscle atrophy.

Special thanks to Dr. Deena Obrokta for her story suggestion.

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

2010 RITA
^®
finalist and bestselling Kindle author Michelle Willingham has written over twenty books and novellas, set in medieval Ireland, Scotland, and Victorian England. Her books have been translated into languages around the world and have been released in audiobook format. She has consistently received four-star reviews from
Romantic Times
magazine, and
Publisher’s Weekly
called her stories “A truly emotional read.” She has also been nominated for the Booksellers’ Best Awards
, and she won an Award of Merit from Virginia Romance Writers for historical romance.

She lives in southeastern Virginia with her husband and three children. Her hobbies include baking, reading, and avoiding exercise at all costs. Visit her website at:
www.michellewillingham.com
for more details.