Lucy shared her lived experience of herpes simplex virus encephalitis

At the ‘My Brain: My Story’ event in 2023, Lucy from London shared her experience of herpes simplex virus encephalitis. Lucy began experiencing flu-like symptoms in the spring of 2006 and was hospitalised, she had several seizures on the day she was admitted. Thankfully, the consultant recognised her condition, and she was immediately treated with Acyclovir. Lucy was off work for 3 months and had a slow recovery, losing her short-term memory and the ability to do simple maths. She would forget names, faces, and places. Her hearing was also affected and, as a result, she has tinnitus. In 2014, Lucy became a volunteer for Encephalitis International and has become a key support volunteer with the charity, helping to raise awareness through her lived experience of encephalitis.