I was diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in 2016. At that time, I was a manager for a sports department in a holiday park; I LOVED working with children and I was extremely happy.

My first memory after Encephalitis is of me being told I would “never go back to work,” and that I was very ill. I was later told I had in fact had several seizures, a lumber puncture, been put into an induced coma, and I was lucky to be alive let alone speaking.

I was told ‘this is as recovered as I could ever be’, but for me it just wasn’t enough.

After the harsh realisation of my new disability, I knew I had to fight to get back to work and become the person I used to be. Within 6 months I was using SATNAV to retrain my brain to remember locations, I had tried ice skating again, and I was learning to read and write along with music and the fun things that used to make me who I was.

Within 9 months I was back at work on a phased return which meant there was, at that moment, no proof that I wasn’t fit for work. I was constantly being told that I would suffer with fatigue (which although I recognise is very common, but none of these people knew me or knew what I was capable of.)

Everyone told me I didn’t understand what my own body was doing. I understood perfectly. I was advised that I could not work unsupervised; so I handed in my notice.

Within a year, I had earned a placement on an NVQ level 3 in childcare which, unfortunately again, didn’t work out for similar reasons. This lead me to change nurseries and go on to complete my NVQ 9 months early.

I passed my driving test, started competing in figure skating again and became 29^th in Britain. I held a fundraiser for the Encephalitis Society and raised over £1250. As well as finally writing and releasing music again. All of these things lead me to my full recovery in 2018.

I still have memories missing from before I became ill, but I am confident that these will return. After lockdown, I finally became a manager again working with children for a local charity, and I now work as a grants officer in Scotland. I eventually got a scholarship to do my masters in Audio Engineering, Music Business and Songwriting and continue to train for the British Figure Skating Championships of 2026.

I also have a gorgeous little boy who turns three years old soon, and he inspires me every single day.

It’s taken me such a long time to get over what happened to me, but for anyone else who has been through or is going through something similar, I just wanted to remind you that YOU know your body and your brain better than ANYONE else.

If you are tired; rest.

If you want to carry on; go.

Never give up. You got this <3

 

If you would like support for encephalitis please get in touch.

Published May 2025