Our Miracle: How Encephalitis Changed Our Son’s Life

In February 2023, our lives changed forever.

Our son, Elis, was just two years old when he became unwell. It started like so many childhood illnesses do – a temperature of 38 degrees and a general sense that he wasn’t himself. We weren’t overly alarmed at first. It seemed like a normal viral infection.

When we couldn’t get an appointment with our local doctor because they were fully booked, we took him to the emergency department at the hospital for reassurance. That visit turned into four separate trips to the hospital over the following days as his condition continued to worsen.

Each time, doctors were convinced he had Strep A. He was given antibiotics, but instead of improving, he deteriorated. As parents, we knew something wasn’t right. Watching our toddler lose his ability to walk and talk was terrifying. He went from being an active little boy to struggling with the most basic movements.

Further tests and diagnosis

Eventually, doctors agreed further tests were needed. He underwent an MRI scan, a lumbar puncture, and numerous other investigations. On February 23rd, we finally received the diagnosis: Rhombencephalitis – inflammation of the brain.

By that point, our son was critically unwell. He slept almost continuously for three days and had lost both speech and mobility. We were faced with enormous uncertainty and fear, not knowing what the outcome would be.

Small improvements

After about a week, we began to see small signs of hope. With the support of the physiotherapy team, he started to make tiny improvements, gradually relearning how to move his body. Those small milestones meant everything to us.

We spent three and a half weeks in hospital. A follow-up MRI scan showed that while there was still swelling on his brain, it had reduced. It was the first real sign that he was turning a corner.

Today, our son is five years old and has returned to his normal self. Because he was so young when he became ill, we don’t yet know what the long-term effects of encephalitis may be. That uncertainty still exists. But what we do know is how incredibly proud we are of him.

He is our miracle.

By sharing our story, we hope to raise awareness of encephalitis and highlight how easily it can be mistaken for something far less serious. We want other parents to trust their instincts, ask questions, and push for answers when something doesn’t feel right – because sometimes, what looks like a simple illness can be something far more serious.

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Story published April 2026