Bed Number Ten

A Houston housewife, mother of two teenage daughters, Baier endured a virtual living death when she contracted Guillain-Barre syndrome. Suddenly and without apparent cause, her body was entirely immobilized; meanwhile her mind remained alert and her nervous system lost none of its sensitivity to pain. At first able to communicate only by moving her eyelids and laboriously ""spelling'' key words, she slowly improved until she was released from the hospital and returned home. Herefive years after the trauma, which has left her handicappedshe thanks her husband, family and members of her church and community for the support that compensated for bouts of depression and the occasional callousness of hospital personnel. Baier's chronicle of courage offers hope to victims of the catastrophic disease. (February 28)