One moment I was living a normal life and the next everything changed. I remember everything up until the second it all happened.

Ambulance called

I was 16 when I became unwell in April 2019. I was feeling rather unwell at work and was told I was looking very pale, I didn’t feel anything more unwell than the flu but I decided to go home. My dad picked me up from my workplace, as I arrived home, I sat down and got hit with a horrid sickly feeling right at the pit of my stomach.

Everything hit so suddenly when I was in the shower. I felt incredibly dizzy, I tried to shout for help, but nothing came out. My grandad heard heavy, laboured breathing, it was me. My younger sister found me having a seizure on the shower floor, gasping for air as my right lung had collapsed because my head was directly under the shower head. An ambulance was called, and I was taken to hospital.

Placed in a coma

Because of the severity of my condition, I was placed into an induced coma as my brain was  swollen. I spent two weeks in a coma and required intensive care. I was treated for everything they could thought was wrong with me.

I was later diagnosed with Herpes Simplex Virus encephalitis (HSV-1). Early tests were unclear, but further investigations confirmed the diagnosis. I was treated with three weeks of intravenous antiviral medication and monitored closely in intensive care.

Family support

During this time, my family supported me in every possible way. My Dad, sisters, Mum, stepdad, family and friends came up to see me every single day, without fail, surrounding me with love and encouragement. They were absolutely wonderful and carried me through the darkest moments. My grandad also took care of me in his own special way once I was able to eat again, he would cook home-cooked meals and bring them up to me. Their love and dedication meant more to me than I can ever put into words.

When I eventually was brought back around from the coma successfully, I spend a week longer in the hospital then later discharged, but recovery was far from over. I was extremely weak and very underweight. I had to relearn how to walk and slowly rebuild my strength. Simple, everyday tasks took enormous effort at first, but gradually my body began to recover.

Living with the after effects

Although I was left with scarring on my brain, I have been very fortunate. I do not have long-term physical or cognitive difficulties from the encephalitis. A significant area of my brain was left badly damaged and no longer functioning. The healthy parts of my brain learned to take over roles they were never meant to do. This took time, patience, and persistence, but it shows just how adaptive the brain can be.

Encephalitis has not completely disappeared from my life. In March 2025, I experienced another seizure, which doctors believe is linked to the original brain injury. While frightening, it was also a reminder of how far I have come since 2019.

Now I work on a farm, something that once felt impossible after leaving hospital so weak and underweight. I manage my condition with medication, and I never take my recovery for granted.

To anyone experiencing encephalitis or supporting someone who is please remember there is hope, even when things feel terrifying and uncertain. Recovery can take time, and it may look different for everyone, but progress is possible. The brain and body are capable of incredible healing. Hold on to hope! Even when it feels small.

Get in touch if you would like to connect with others who have experience of encephalitis.

Story published April 2026