Newark United Methodist Church

NUMC member Regina Roth pens inspiring story of family health crisis

Professor Roland Roth felt numbness in his toes and fingers as he taught a mammalogy lab at the University of Delaware. Three days later, he was hospitalized and unable to feed himself or walk without assistance. He was a victim of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder that strikes suddenly, independent of age, sex, or race. The story of how Roth and his wife, Regina, dealt with this life-altering illness fills the pages of Regina Roth’s published (2005) diary The Darkness Is Not Dark: Overcoming Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Regina believes that with increased awareness of GBS, future victims might be more quickly diagnosed and better informed of what’s happening, enhancing their chances for a better recovery. That mission is at the root of her story. In this journal of her husband’s ups and downs from onset to recovery, Roth shares her private reflections in a way that will prompt tears and laughter, inspire hope, and build your faith.

Few have heard of Guillain-Barré Syndrome or known anyone stricken by it. Affecting eight out of 100,000 persons—including Andy Griffith—the disorder can be misdiagnosed as various other auto-immune illnesses and other maladies with symptoms of numbness and tingling extremities. GBS, which usually follows an infection, occurs after one’s defending antibodies mistakenly attack nerve tissue for invading proteins, causing nerve damage, interrupted message transmission, and a creeping paralysis of varying degrees. The paralysis of extremities, trunk, and part of his face meant being on breathing support and unable to close one eye, but after six years only mild limitations in his hands and lower legs remained.

Regina is a reserved, private person who believes that her story can help victims and supporters challenged by unexpected events. The Darkness Is Not Dark documents the day-to-day events in living through her husband's illness and developing a faith in God that she had talked about but never deeply lived. Through their trials, Roland and she learned how vitally important is the community of family and friends. Sharing her feelings of fear, anger, and despair as well as hope, joy, and gratitude, Regina wants her book to give hope to others facing any life challenge. Regina also hopes they will believe that God loves them and will never desert them. Her prayer is that the battle Roland and she won will inspire patients and caregivers who struggle with neurological or any other disorders. Regina and Roland live in Newark, Delaware, where they are active members of Newark United Methodist Church, their church home since 1971. The Roths have three adult children -- Karen, Sherry and Chad. In addition, Regina and Roland have been blessed with sons-in-law Dennis Aniunas and Tom Hershberger, and six granddaughters—all of whom contribute to the strength and joy of their family.

Availability: 302-369-4089 or reg@udel.edu (book costs $10, plus $1 shipping); 1-866-909-2665; www.amazon.com; or www.xulonpress.com/bookstore.

Regina donates book profits to the GBS/CIDP Foundation.