Support Nikki Finch’s Recovery from Encephalitis

Nikki was admitted to the ER on Dec. 31 for confusion, dizziness, and memory loss. At the ER she had a seizure that left her semi unconscious for several days. The results of an MRI and spinal fluid test revealed encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) as the cause. She’s home now, but spent a little over 3 weeks in the hospital recovering.

While her physical recovery has been great, it’s her memory that’s posing serious issues. She has almost no short-term memory, no memory of the weeks leading up to being admitted to the hospital, and a fuzzy recollection of the last few years. Her lack of short-term memory is the biggest obstacle and will likely keep her from living independently until she recovers. She is making small improvements each day, but this will likely be a long road.

We’re fundraising to help pay for medical bills and her other expenses while she’s out of work.

Update: Nikki is living in Pittsburgh while she recovers. Her neurologist noticed that she had strokes that may have preceded the seizures and encephalitis. She thinks that the “tincture of time” and cognitive therapy will help her heal, but her prognosis is still uncertain.