A SOUTHAMPTON mum whose son suffered encephalitis, which has left him with brain injury, is helping to raise awareness about the lifethreatening condition.

Alice Brown and her son, Dylan, who was diagnosed with encephalitis at the age of two and endured a five month spell in hospital, will be at an Encephalitis Society roadshow in Southampton on Friday.

“Dylan has been left with an acquired brain injury, epilepsy, severe learning difficulties, global developmental delay, a hyperactivity disorder and short term memory loss,” says Alice.

“Luckily he has regained his personality and is able to walk again.

However the Encephalitis has left much of his brain scarred and he cannot talk nor do anything for himself.

“He cannot regulate any of his emotions and understands very little.

He needs constant care and supervision. It is not known whether Dylan will be able to regain any of this and if he does to what level.”

Dylan is now nearly five years old and functioning at the level of an 18-24-month-old.

He attends a specialist school and has weekly therapies to help maximise his potential.

“Our lives have changed and every day gets more and more difficult as Dylan gets bigger and stronger,” adds Alice.

“Even going out has become challenging with Dylan’s lack of understanding or awareness of any dangers.

“Unfortunately due to Dylan’s complicated type of encephalitis, intensity of seizures and delayed treatment he has been left with the life-long effects of encephalitis.”

Encephalitis is a life-threatening brain condition which affects thousands of people each year.

The Encephalitis Society is marking its 21st anniversary by visiting 21 cities in 21 days to raise awareness about the little-known condition that can strike at any age.

Survivors and families affected by encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, will speak about how it has stolen the person they once were – often robbing them of their memories and leaving them with an acquired brain injury that in some cases means returning to work or education can be difficult.

The free event, dubbed The Big Brain Roadshow: Uncovering Encephalitis, is aimed at all ages and will include brain puzzles, giveaways, and more information about the condition and the charity.

Alice and Dylan will be at the Southampton event on Friday, along with Tim Bond, a regional Raising awareness of representative with the Society.

Tim was taken ill with encephalitis whilst on a business trip to Spain.

Having been medically evacuated back to the UK, Tim began the slow process of recovery.

He had lost many of his memories and even basic skills such as how to cook.

He has made a surprisingly good recovery but the trauma of nearly losing his life is still with him.

Tim says: “One minute I had a great life, great job, and was to all intent and purposes living the dream.

The next minute I was in an intensive care unit, fighting for my life. That was bad enough but to be honest the hard work really starts when you leave hospital and realise all the things you have lost. I had photos of me on holidays that I can’t even remember being on!”

Tim remains incredibly grateful for the support he received from The Encephalitis Society and his recruitment company Upfront and Personnel is a sponsor of the roadshow alongside Hampshire based solicitors Moore Blatch.

The Encephalitis Society’s hope for the UK roadshow is to spread the message about the condition which affects more than 6,000 people in the UK every year – a figure considered to be conservative.

Estimates suggest it costs the NHS around £40 million a year – not including the costs of rehabilitation and long-term care – and yet is less well known than Motor Neurone Disease and certain forms of Meningitis, even though it affects more people each year.

“Most people have not heard of Encephalitis unless it has happened to them or a loved one and we are determined to change that,” said Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of The Encephalitis Society.

“Encephalitis is a thief – robbing families of their loved ones or, if they survive, the person they once knew.”

The Encephalitis Society’s 21st Anniversary Roadshow will be at Bargate North, Southampton, on Friday, August 21, from 10am to 4pm.

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