You can watch an animated version of Gilley here:
Gilley the giraffe
Gilley is the star of our children’s storybook “Gilley the Giraffe . . . who changed”. This book was written by a mother for the siblings of her child recovering from encephalitis. It follows the journey of Gilley who had encephalitis and it is helped in his recovery by family, friends and teachers.
Medikidz explain encephalitis
This is a comic book aimed at children in primary school which explains in their language what happens when somebody has encephalitis. The main characters are the Medikidz.
The Medikidz are superheroes who live on Mediland, a planet shaped like the human body. They are experts in health and illness, and their mission is to teach you all about your brain and how encephalitis affects it.
When Savi’s brother Mani got sick and their parents were worried, the Medikidz helped Savi understand what was happening.
Request a paper copy of this comic book from our office.
Read the digital copy of the book.
Many thanks to Jumo Health for producing the digital version of this book!
Siblings of children affected by encephalitis
Depending on their age, children may be aware of how seriously ill their sibling has been. They may be afraid that they too will become ill or that they are in some way to blame for their sibling’s illness.
There’s a real danger that your child’s siblings may lose out because of all the extra attention your child affected by encephalitis needs.
Your other children may have very mixed feelings, alternating between love, protectiveness and jealousy, and resentment and irritation.
For your other children, playing with a brother or sister affected by a brain injury can be frustrating as they may not remember rules of games, their behaviour may be disinhibited and ‘silly’, they may soon lose interest or become tired.
Adolescents may be embarrassed about their sibling’s behaviour. You may be concerned that your other children are missing out
because you don’t meet their needs or that you don’t give them enough time. Dealing with sibling rivalry can be very challenging.
What parents/carers can do
- You will need to address their concerns and answer their questions. If they do not want to talk to you, find somebody
else who they can confide in. Or find another way they can express their feelings, such as keeping a diary. - Lead by example. Let them know how you feel and that it is okay to feel that way. This will encourage them to express
their feelings. - Let the teachers at school know what they are going through, so they may be able to help.
- In some areas there are groups for brothers and sisters (sibling groups) that provide emotional support and social
activities. Ask your local social services/family doctor about them.
Watch Tilly talking about her experience when her brother Jake got encephalitis.
THANK YOU to Masonic Charitable Foundation and The Nikki Waterhouse Trust for their support with this animation!