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On the 19th of November 2016, my wife experienced a challenging medical situation. She started having gaps in her memory and experienced severe migraine. Not knowing what was going on, we went to the neurologist, did an MRI of her brain, and the results showed there was nothing wrong with her neurologically, but the migraine never stopped.
A week later, she experienced multiple seizures and was admitted in ICU, and soon she was intubated and ventilated. The last time we spoke was on the 20th of November 2016 when we prayed together holding on to each other. I could see that her memory was fading away and the clinicians trying to diagnose her were struggling to understand what was going on.
Within the same week, her treating doctor miraculously concluded the diagnosis as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis causes severe brain inflammation that occurs when the immune system attacks special proteins on the surface of nerve cells in the brain called NMDA receptors. These receptors control various cognitive functions, mood, and behavior and personality traits—so when they are compromised, the brain malfunctions, progressing onto multi-organ failure and death in 30% of the patients.
This disease is largely unknown, having first been reported in the medical literature only 10 years ago. It can strike both genders, though more than 75% of those affected are female.
The literature on this disease also indicates about a certain type of ovarian tumor called a teratoma that appears to play a key role, particularly in females of childbearing age. This teratoma is not only hard to find, but also difficult/ sometimes impossible to be detected using MRI or CT.
Despite the expanding knowledge base, there aren’t any effective treatments . The little available information on management focuses primarily on tumor management and immunotherapy to control the antibody response. Limited information is available on the management of psychiatric symptoms in these complex, often critically ill patients. Only a few hospitals in the world continue researching in this area of Autoimmune Disease, NHNN is one of them.
This fundraiser is for the Neuromedical Intensive Care Unit staff at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) who look after the people diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis passionately, and to support the NHS with necessary funds to help them continue researching for effective treatment protocols.
This journey continues to be excruciatingly painful for our family and I am hopeful my wife will wake up! For now, me and my daughter will continue battling in prayers for her.
The Bible says “be boastful in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”
Thank YOU for creating the awareness, your contributions will help the team at UCLH continue helping others like my wife – God Bless You ALL!
A week later, she experienced multiple seizures and was admitted in ICU, and soon she was intubated and ventilated. The last time we spoke was on the 20th of November 2016 when we prayed together holding on to each other. I could see that her memory was fading away and the clinicians trying to diagnose her were struggling to understand what was going on.
Within the same week, her treating doctor miraculously concluded the diagnosis as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis causes severe brain inflammation that occurs when the immune system attacks special proteins on the surface of nerve cells in the brain called NMDA receptors. These receptors control various cognitive functions, mood, and behavior and personality traits—so when they are compromised, the brain malfunctions, progressing onto multi-organ failure and death in 30% of the patients.
This disease is largely unknown, having first been reported in the medical literature only 10 years ago. It can strike both genders, though more than 75% of those affected are female.
The literature on this disease also indicates about a certain type of ovarian tumor called a teratoma that appears to play a key role, particularly in females of childbearing age. This teratoma is not only hard to find, but also difficult/ sometimes impossible to be detected using MRI or CT.
Despite the expanding knowledge base, there aren’t any effective treatments . The little available information on management focuses primarily on tumor management and immunotherapy to control the antibody response. Limited information is available on the management of psychiatric symptoms in these complex, often critically ill patients. Only a few hospitals in the world continue researching in this area of Autoimmune Disease, NHNN is one of them.
This fundraiser is for the Neuromedical Intensive Care Unit staff at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) who look after the people diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis passionately, and to support the NHS with necessary funds to help them continue researching for effective treatment protocols.
This journey continues to be excruciatingly painful for our family and I am hopeful my wife will wake up! For now, me and my daughter will continue battling in prayers for her.
The Bible says “be boastful in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”
Thank YOU for creating the awareness, your contributions will help the team at UCLH continue helping others like my wife – God Bless You ALL!
Organizer
Reely George
Organizer