When my son was three months old and my daughter was due to start reception class at school, I was taken into the hospital with an extremely rare but life threatening condition. Although the symptoms had been present for weeks before the illness had really taken hold of me. For months doctors and nurses were baffled by the illness, unable to determine a cause behind the symptoms I was experiencing. My symptoms included memory loss, confusion, and hallucinations to name just a few.
I was in intensive care for weeks fighting for my life while doctors struggled to come to a diagnosis. However after multiple attempts of what was mainly trial and error suddenly a breakthrough was found in the form of a diagnosis: Anti-NMDA encephalitis. I was then sent to a specialist hospital in Oxford where they were able to start the treatment to get me back to my old self. Whilst in the hospital I caught pneumonia and also was diagnosed with a micro cancer of the thyroid. I spent a total of two years as an inpatient at various hospitals away from my beautiful children never really knowing if I would see them again. My doctors, nurses, employer, friends, and family were amazing and I am now back at work full time and appreciating every minute of the life that I nearly lost.
Shelley
England
Submitted 11/09/2013
The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
