I was diagnosed with encephalitis on the 12.12 1999. I don't know what type it was as I thought there was only one type.

I got appendicitis in November 1999 just after my 21st birthday and had to go into hospital to have it removed. When I was discharged from hospital I went and stayed with my mum and dad for a few days so that I could recover from the operation. I then moved back into my flat.

On Friday 10th December 1999 I went out into town with some friends and at the end of the night I went back and stayed at my friend's house. The next day I was complaining that I wasn't feeling well, it felt like I had got a hangover but my friend said that it couldn't be that as I only had 1 pint to drink all night. She thought I must have been coming down with the flu or something. I decided to phone my dad and ask him to come and pick me up but he said no I must get the bus so I did. When I got to my mum and dad's house all I did was go to bed and sleep until the next day.

On the Sunday my mum and dad went out and I stayed at home. When they got back my dad came up to my bedroom as he could hear noise. Dad thought I was singing but when he came into my room he found me flat on my back and unconscious. Apparently I was making a funny groaning noise and my eyes were wide open. My dad shouted downstairs to my mum and told her to ring for an ambulance.

The ambulance came and I was rushed to Coventry and Warwickshire hospital where I was put in intensive care. After about 2 days I was transferred to Walsgrave intensive care where I stayed for a further 5 days. When I eventually came round I didn't recognize anyone not even mum and dad but then after about 2 weeks I started to recognize people and be like my old self. After spending 2 weeks in a side room on C5 east they moved me into a main ward where I stayed for another 4 weeks. Altogether I was in hospital for about 6 and a half weeks.

• Part brain damage.
• Communicating with people.
• Difficulty with walking.
• Migraines
• Muscle spasms
• Bladder problems