Watching sophomore outside hitter Paityn Castillo play with reckless abandon on the volleyball court for Oak Forest, it’s difficult to imagine the journey she has been through the past year.

She runs, jumps, hits and makes digs for the junior varsity team. It all looks so normal that even people in the Bengals’ volleyball circles have a hard time believing she has returned so strong.

“It was almost like nothing ever happened,” said Zach Kirkilas, Oak Forest’s JV coach.

Castillo spent 98 days in the hospital — paralyzed and told she might not walk again. According to Katelyn Kirkilas, Zach’s wife and a JV assistant coach, Paityn has made a complete recovery.

“I actually forgot what happened to Paityn because she has been so impressive,” Katelyn said of Castillo. “She has come back so well. She’s a normal volleyball player.

“She has rebounded like nothing happened, and that’s very impressive.”

Oak Forest’s Paityn Castillo (4) hits the ball against Reavis during a South Suburban Conference crossover match in Oak Forest on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

What happened actually started almost a year ago. In late October, two days after Castillo finished her freshman volleyball season for Oak Forest, she sensed something wasn’t right.

“I started feeling stiff and weak,” she said. “I thought it was side effects from a cold because I was sick a week before. We went to the doctor to check it out because we just wanted to be sure.

“Then, I was told I should go to the hospital.”

It turned out she had Guillain-Barre syndrome. At one point, she couldn’t breathe on her own and required a ventilator. Her body stiffened to the point where walking was out of the question.

Oak Forest’s Paityn Castillo (4) passes the ball against Reavis during a South Suburban Conference crossover match in Oak Forest on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

After three-plus months in the hospital, friends and family worried if Paityn would survive. If she did, what would her quality of life be like? She went straight from the hospital into rehabilitation.

But things started to get better, with Castillo beginning to walk in February.

“It’s a miracle — it really is,” her father, Reggie, said in July.

Castillo’s determination helped her progress to the point where, in the spring, she got more good news. She would be able to play volleyball again.

Oak Forest’s Paityn Castillo (4) looks up after diving to make a dig against Reavis during a South Suburban Conference crossover match in Oak Forest on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

“When I started to get my balance and walk better and work with my endurance in therapy, they said I could pretty much do anything,” Castillo said. “Then I started going back to club practice and getting reps there.”

While she didn’t play in matches during the club season, she did practice.

“I feel like I was able to pick up where I left off,” Castillo said. “The hard part was endurance and strength.”

The fun part, though, was the heartwarming reception of hugs and high-fives from her club teammates. It was more of the same when she showed up to summer camp at Oak Forest.

“It’s a wild story,” Zach Kirkilas said. “We weren’t even sure she would be coming back. I am pleasantly surprised how well she has done during the season and how much she has improved.”

Oak Forest’s Paityn Castillo (4) and Aubrey McAdams (12) cheer for teammates against Reavis in a South Suburban Conference crossover match in Oak Forest on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Also during the summer, Castillo was honored by the Max Strus Family Foundation by winning the inaugural Gary Strong Award. It’s named for Gary Wimmer, who fought cancer for four years. He and his son, Jacob, were friends of Strus.

Max Strus, a basketball star at Stagg who’s now a starting guard with the Cleveland Cavaliers, also surprised the Castillo family with a $10,000 check.

All of the good and the bad were scrunched into such a small timeframe.

“It feels like a while ago,” Castillo said. “It’s crazy that it happened under a year ago.”

For Castillo, being back on the court and in the classroom and learning how to drive have taken on a whole new meaning.

“I can appreciate the small things in life,” she said. “And I appreciate what I can do now. I appreciate every moment of life because you never know when it could change.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/13/paityn-castillo-oak-forest-ihsa-girls-volleyball/