Indie singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens announced that he’s relearning walk after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease.
Stevens — whose first name is pronounced SOOF-yawn — announced the news in a Tumblr post.
The 48-year-old musician explained why he was unable to advertise his newest album “Javelin,” which is about to be released Oct. 6.
“Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk,” the “Chicago” singer wrote in a post.
“My hands, legs and arms 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 — MRIs, EMGs, cat scans, X-rays, spinal taps (!), echo-cardiograms, etc. — the neurologists diagnosed me with an autoimmune disorder called Guillian-Barre Syndrome,” he added.
Stevens explained that the disease will be treated by administering immuno-hemoglobin infusions for five days, so long as the disease doesn’t reach the brain, heart and lungs.
“Very scary, but it surely worked,” Stevens wrote. “I spent about two weeks in Med/Surg, stuck in a bed, while my doctors did all of the things to maintain me alive and stabilize my condition. I owe them my life.”
The singer-songwriter was transferred into an acute rehabilitation center on Sept. 8, where he’s learning walk through intensive physical and occupational therapy.
“It’s a slow process, but they are saying I’ll ‘recuperate,’ it just takes a whole lot of time, patience, and labor,” Stevens wrote.
“Most individuals who’ve GBS learn to walk again on their very own inside a 12 months, so I’m hopeful.”
Stevens is best known for his song “Mystery of Love,” which was written for the 2017 film “Call Me by Your Name.”
His albums “Illinois” and “Carrie & Lowell” were each met with critical acclaim.
“Mystery of Love” was nominated for each an Oscar and a Grammy.
