From Joy to Coma — My Journey Through HHV-6 Encephalitis

 

In 2024, I went to South Korea full of dreams—to study, to work, to grow, and to live a life I was proud of. I was genuinely happy. I was attending university, making new friends, and working part-time jobs to support myself. Life was moving forward beautifully.

But then, everything changed.

It started with a simple fever—nothing unusual, or so I thought. I expected to recover in a few days. But the fever didn’t go away. It worsened. My urine suddenly stopped, and I couldn’t understand what was happening to my body. I went to the hospital, expecting a small issue.

Soon, things became blurry.

I lost consciousness and slipped into a coma. I was later diagnosed with Human Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6) encephalitis, a rare and dangerous virus that attacks the brain. I stayed in a coma for over a month. I don’t remember those weeks—but I know my family and doctors were fighting to keep me alive.

When I finally woke up, I couldn’t walk.

I couldn’t urinate.

I couldn’t recognize my own strength.

I had to relearn everything—how to stand, how to move my legs, how to feel like myself again. My legs were paralyzed. I had to rely on a catheter to empty my bladder. Later, I underwent plastic surgery for a large bedsore that developed during my coma.

It was the hardest time of my life.

But I never gave up.

With time, therapy, and a deep will to return to life, I started to walk again. First with support. Then, slowly, on my own.

Now, I can walk independently around my home. I can jump again.

My bladder function is slowly recovering too.

My voice, once affected by the ventilator, is now clear again.

I am Sameer —a survivor of HHV-6 encephalitis.

I want to share my story not just to express my pain, but to offer hope. Encephalitis changed my life, but it also revealed my strength. I am not the same person I was before—but in many ways, I am stronger.

If you’re reading this and you’re in the dark moments—please don’t give up. Healing takes time. Your body and your spirit are more powerful than you know.

 

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Story published August 2025