Hi my name is David; I was diagnosed of Mumps Encephalitis December 1962. I am now 44 years old have done my bit through school at a mediocre level good in some subjects poor in others. I have had various jobs from sales assistant to traffic officer and even a T.A. stonemason. I will give you a brief run down from Christmas Eve 1962 till best recovery possible considered.
24th December admitted to Geelong Hospital with unknown complaint- symptoms were vomiting, fever and loss of balance.
I had mumps 3 weeks prior. After a week in Geelong Hospital then transferred to Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital (Melbourne): to obtain a confirmed diagnosis and carry out treatment. Diagnosis was probable Mumps Encephalitis.
On the day of arriving at Fairfield I took a turn for the worse, while attempting to be fed, I vomited and collapsed on to pillow. From that day on I was paralyzed from head to toe. I was then placed in a room where 24hr monitoring was received.
After about three days was transferred to the Royal Children's Hospital for further tests. I returned to Fairfield after a 24-hr period with little or no hope of recovery. My condition was considered critical for the next few weeks.
One day whilst visiting (mother) noticed movement of my head on the pillow. From then on over the next few days movement gradually extended from the head through the body. Once the movement returned Physiotherapy began and placement into a shared
ward until able to walk and function unaided. This was approximately 3months after the first symptoms occurred.
Physiotherapy continued at home daily with weekly checks from visiting Physio from Melbourne until it was decided that recovery was complete.
This is as told to me by my mother, who looked after me daily while leaving the rest of our family in Ballarat to be looked after by my father and grand mother. I still walk different to others and have a lot of back problems as my spine is slightly out of alignment and curved more than it should be. I am married to a wonderful lady and have one son who is 18 and has
recently left home to live in Brisbane. I am currently trying to obtain the medical records from the hospital and
await any information. At the time of illness I was 7 years old. Lived in Ballarat Victoria Australia, and at the time of illness was vacationing at Point Lonsdale.
