ENCEPHALITIS CASES

Encephalitis Cases

Shelly

It was May 1995, my wife and I had just gotten married, and Shelly was an outgoing 22 year old from Ontario, Canada. We had decided to spend our honeymoon in Niagara Falls. After enjoying many of the local attractions over a 4-day period Shelly started to complain of severe headaches. We decided to cut our honeymoon short and head home early. After getting home Shelly was getting worse, she seemed confused, and was suffering from mild hallucinations. I decided we should go to the emergency room at the hospital. After examination the doctors said she had a sinus infection, gave Shelly some medicine and sent us on our way. That night Shelly was getting worse, so I decided to take her to another hospital in Barrie for another opinion. She continued to get worse and was admitted for observation. That night was the worst night of my life. Shelly was slipping away, unaware of her surroundings and by now hallucinating constantly.

This began Shelly's long battle against what would eventually be diagnosed as viral encephalitis. Shelly would eventually be transferred to St. Michaels hospital in Toronto where she spent many months in the I.C.U. in an induced coma because of her violent movements that doctors said were because her brain was misfiring and causing seizure like episodes.

After many procedures including MRI's, ct scans, multiple spinal taps, and a brain biopsy Shelly was transferred back to Barrie still in a coma like state. It was X-mas 1995, Shelly was still comatose, it had been 7 months, she was still very fragile, doctors had said if she was to get pneumonia she may die. It was a very difficult time for all of us. Shelly however continued to hang in there.

We never gave up hope and continued to visit her every day and spend as many hours with her as we could. Shelly was transferred to another floor after spending a considerable time in the ICU in Barrie where they attempted reduce her medication to see if she would come out of her coma without the violent seizures she had experienced many months earlier. The doctors were successful and after some time Shelly was on very little medication but the damage had been done. Shelly was unable to recognize anyone, she had a tracheotomy and could not breath on her own, she had lost about 60-70 lbs and was unable to walk, she couldn't read or write and her memory was non existent. The family stayed strong, helping her relearn the basics. Shelly was transferred to Chedoke Mcmaster rehabilitation centre in Hamilton where she learned to walk, read and write. After many months in rehab Shelly was allowed to return home. Her memory was horrible to say the least, she tried so hard, but it was useless. Shelly worked hard at walking, reading, writing, eating, and her memory, having to keep a journal along the way to remember what she had done or had to do. Those days are behind us now, Shelly, my beautiful wife of almost 9 years has recovered, we have 2 beautiful children, Shelly has returned to working as a residential counselor (her previous career) caring for the mentally/physically challenged.

As a husband and a father I would like to give this word of advice to those of you who may be losing hope or have been told by doctors and/or specialists that you may lose your loved one or that this is the best that may ever get. Hang in there, talk to them, read to them, kiss them, and just love them. Hope and Love are wonderful things. Shelly is a shining example of what these two things can bring.
Bless you all.

Darrell Emberley
Ontario, Canada

Posted: May 19, 2003

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