Rare brain disease victim out of coma after 16 days

Her family are delighted that she is awake, but acknowledge she has a long road to recovery ahead.

Jeanette Powell, aged 70, enjoyed an active lifestyle before she was hit with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, last October, a condition which almost claimed her life.

Doctors told her family to prepare for the worst, but against all odds, she awoke from her coma.

Rehabilitation for Mrs Powell, aged 70, from Wall Heath, Kingswinford, will be lengthy, and she faces a future of constant care.

Lisa Slater, her daughter, told the Express & Star of her family's terror. She said: "My mum, a fit and healthy 70-year-old, felt unwell with flu-like symptoms.

"She began hallucinating and was admitted to hospital.

"Within 48 hours she was in critical care, in a coma, on a life support machine.

"We were told to live day by day and our lives became an emotional rollercoaster.

"As a family, we prepared for the worst.

"However, 16 days later, mom woke up and opened her eyes, to the amazement of the medical staff.

"We as a family have a long road ahead of us, our lives have changed for eve.

"Mom was paralysed on one side, unable to walk, eat, drink or talk properly."

Survivors of encephalitis can face an uncertain future as it the condition can often rob them of their memories and leave them with an acquired brain injury that means returning to work or education can be difficult.

Abilities such as memory, concentration, attention, thinking, judgement and inhibition, can also be affected, while there can be additional challenges such as epilepsy and fatigue.

Mrs Powell, who used to run Wall Heath Community Centre, has now been moved to West Park Rehabilitation Hospital, and will remain there for many months.

Mrs Slater added: "She has re-learned how to use her left side, and can now eat.

"However, she is very confused and needs to learn to walk again and is under constant care. We do not know what the future holds and whether she will ever be able to come home or how badly her brain has been damaged.

"The last few months have been a difficult and continue to be so for myself, my sister and dad."

World Encephalitis Day is on February 22, and Mrs Powell's family hope that sharing her story will raise awareness and get people to donate much-needed funds for the care of patients.

The Encephalitis Society is encouraging people to wear red as part of the #REDFORWED campaign. Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of The Encephalitis Society, said: "We launched World Encephalitis Day so people affected by this devastating condition can come together to raise awareness about encephalitis.

"We still have a long way to go to make the public and some health professionals aware of a condition which affects more people than motor neurone disease and bacterial meningitis and yet remains less well known. But by having survivors and their families come forward to show the human side of this 'hidden disability' can only be a good thing for informing the public about this condition.

"The sad fact is that not many people have heard of encephalitis unless it has happened to them, a family member or friend. We want to help try and change that."

To find out more about the condition, fundraising activities available and ways of donating, visit the website, which can be found by visiting www.worldencepha litisday.org