Proper care for rural patients in America poses a real challenge. Imagine suffering a brain injury and the nearest city of 100,000 residents or more is 3 hours away. I use this specific population because in the U.S., it almost always requires this size of city to fully represent the sufficient amount of healthcare disciplines […]
Blogs
Encephalitis: The Cone of Uncertainty
While we’re on the topic of hurricanes in the “cone of uncertainty,” let’s talk about how encephalitis (swelling of the brain) mimics this uncertainty. The unexpected will happen – we’ve been watching Dorian, and he’s quite the beast of destruction while moving at a snail’s pace, making everyone wonder if Dorian will strike them. Encephalitis? […]
12 Days of Encephalitis
On the first day of encephalitis, this virus gave to me, A migraine that brought me to my knees. On the second day of encephalitis, this virus gave to me, 2 broken lobes and a migraine that brought me to my knees. On the third day of encephalitis, this virus gave to me, […]
10 Years Post Encephalitis: Finding Meaning
Today marks 10 years since my life was changed by what I would later learn was encephalitis. Looking back, I had no idea how it would impact me. Nor did I ever imagine good things that would come of it. Top 10 list about the impact of encephalitis A sense of belonging: my circle of […]
Home for the Holidays: Revisiting What Was Before Encephalitis
Nostalgia can be so heart warming. When I suck in a deep breath and close my eyes, I can clearly smell the abundance of foods prepared by grandparents and family during the holidays. I see the vintage bubble lights on their Christmas tree, the colors mesmerizing to a child. I hear dishes clanging in preparation […]
Advice I’d Given Myself Before Brain Injury
Advice I’d given myself before brain injury. Accept. Embrace. Laugh. Advocate. Live.
12 life-changing letters: encephalitis
Encephalitis. What a mouthful of a word. Ever heard of it? I hadn’t heard of this 12-letter word until 6 years ago. When the doctor said it, I kinda shrugged, thinking “thank God it wasn’t a stroke.” His expression changed as he explained that encephalitis is a form of brain injury, quite similar to a […]
What Is “Recovery” from Encephalitis?
When death stared me in the eyes 8 years ago this week, I never contemplated survival from encephalitis. I fast forwarded to milestones I assumed I’d miss … my son’s graduation, his career, his choice in who he’d marry. Being with my family during holidays. Traveling to new countries. Retiring. If I were to survive, […]
56 Years of Mistaken Identity Post Encephalitis
Warning to readers. This is a story of 56 years of a “mistaken identity.” A miracle, if I may proclaim it. In this fourth issue of a series on “success post encephalitis,” you might find yourself amazed by the resilience of the human spirit. In November 2011, I had the momentous occasion to meet Carol […]
Success Post Encephalitis Vol. 3 – Memory
In this third series of “success post encephalitis,” I’d like to open by acknowledging some of the great comments that survivors and caregivers have sent in response to these stories. A few remarked that it took some pressure off the need to work so hard to hide the residuals. Others said it reminded them to […]