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| Leo |
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My name is Leo. I am 41 and from Vancouver BC, Canada. I first got
Encephalitis in Feb. 1990, and I got it again in Feb. 1996. The first time, I came down
with a flu and after a few days at home in bed with a fever my wife noticed I had stopped talking, I would
just sit and stare. She didn't waist any time getting me to a hospital. I was slipping into a coma and had to
be restrained because when I was touched I would become irritated. Eventually I did go into a coma and
was in this void for 5 days. My stay in the hospital was 10 days and at home for about 3 months before I
was able to return to work. I continued to have some symptoms, memory loss, upper body pain,
vertigo, and very sensitive emotions. I tend to cry quite easily.
I got Encephalitis again Feb. 1996, and the stages were exactly the same.
This time I was in a coma for 10 days and in the hospital for 30 days. This
time the doctors almost lost me within the first week. My family was called
in because I was so close to death. I can't imagine what it was like for them, my
wife, and young son. They all had been through this before but this time
was much, much worse. The last ten days at the hospital I was able to make
some good progress and was walking with a walker. I did the rest of my
recovery at home with the help of my family and seeing a lot of doctors. I
was at home for over a year before I was able to take on some part-time
work.
I was still left with the same symptoms as before, except this time with fatigue. If I tire myself mentally I
tend to shut down, my speech is impaired, I become very confused and must sleep. It has been over 3
years now since my last bout, and at this time of the year I tend to worry and watch
out for colds and flu's. I have no complaints. Everyday is a great day. I have grown as a person in so many
ways. I am a different person than I was before Encephalitis. I am quite
different than the man my wife married twenty years ago. I am a much happier
person. I am balanced and live each day with a sense of peace. People can feel
this peace when they are round me for some reason, especially kids. I have
changed careers and now am a employment counselor. Along way from the
shallow business person I once was. My story is a good one all in all. I
have chosen not to waste any more time and do the things that are important
to me.
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Leo
Vancouver BC, Canada
Posted: June 30, 2000 |
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