Last year, I was taken to hospital with bad headaches and without the ability to swallow very well. I was kept in overnight and started to have facial seizures, I moved rooms so the doctors could keep an eye on me to make sure nothing got worse and soon enough, I had another seizure and I was unable to breathe.

I woke up a few hours later not knowing what had happened, without the ability to speak. No one knew what was wrong with me so I had an MRI scan to have a closer look at my brain. I soon found out that I had viral encephalitis which is an inflamation of the brain caused by a virus.

I was moved to intensive care in Southampton, where they put an NG tube in and I was covered with canulars all over my hands. The next few days were my worst and as I couldn‘t speak, I used notes to speak to my mum, I still read over it now, staring at the words, ‘am I going to die?’. I didn‘t really have much hope but my parents knew I was a fighter and that I was going to get through it.

I lost the ability to speak, swallow, walk, and eat. I really thought it was the end of my life. All I’ve ever wanted was a dog but my parents had always said no, but after i had a PICC line put in my arm I asked my dad again if we could get a puppy and he said ‘If you don’t give up, you are doing so well, you are so strong, if you get through this, you can get a puppy’.

Physios helped me out of bed and got me moving around again, my dietition was helping me with my eating, and i was making progress. A few weeks later I was still in hospital, but in a different ward. The NG tube was scraping against my throat which was preventing me from eating a lot, so a nurse whipped it out of my nose, and thats when I knew that I was really starting to get better. Soon enough I was running up and down the corridors waiting for me to be allowed home again.

When I found out I was allowed home I was so happy I started to cry. My mum videoed my running down the corridor and out of hospital, I was so pleased that I had actually beaten this brain infection and I was ready to get back to my life.

How I am raising money

I am going to be raising money for Southampton Children’s Hospital by running everyday for 22 days because this is how many days that I was in hospital. I would love if you could donate and follow along with my journey!

I want to raise money for Southampton Children’s Hospital because they saved my life. When I was at my worst they were always my side reassuring me that I would be okay. They were so kind to me and clapped when I was finally allowed home. The doctors and nurses are such amazing people and I want do something for them, because without them, I wouldnt be here.

Update

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, I never thought I would be able to raise this much money for the hospital and I am so grateful.

I have now completed all of my runs, safe to say I am not keen to run any time soon! Really pleased with my achievement, overall I ran just over 100km! I can't wait to give the money I raised to the team that looked after me

Here are some photos of my runs...

My 22nd run, final one!