In December 2005, I learnt the devastating effects that encephalitis can have on many of the things that we take for granted.

Encephalitis is a group of brain diseases about which little is known.  It is an inflammation of the brain that comes on suddenly and produces serious neurological disease and often related brain injury.  It can have a variety of causes of which a virus infection is the most frequent and important.

For me, whilst some things are now more difficult than they were before, I am one of the lucky ones and am now back doing all the things I enjoyed before.  Many sufferers are not so lucky and there is a pressing need to increase the general awareness of this disease, and to improve significantly the rehabilitation of survivors and support both for patients and their carers facing what can be a lifelong disability.