Keely Shaw
Great Britain- Biography of Kiley Shaw - A Survivor of Autoimmune Encephalitis
- A Challenging Relationship
- Battling Autoimmune Encephalitis
- Autoimmune Encephalitis - A Life-Threatening Illness
Biography of Kiley Shaw - A Survivor of Autoimmune Encephalitis
Kiley Shaw, a 27-year-old British woman, faced a serious health crisis when she spent six weeks in a coma due to autoimmune encephalitis. Her health troubles began when she blamed the stress of her breakup with her partner for her declining well-being. Little did she know that she would end up in the hospital with autoimmune encephalitis, a condition that can sometimes be fatal.
A Challenging Relationship
"I was with my ex for 11 months," Shaw starts her story. "I was upset, although I understood that our breakup was for the best. The separation wore me out and left me feeling empty. I just felt a bit unwell. I felt weak and had frequent headaches." Blaming her love life for her health issues, Shaw decided to take a trip to London in November 2013 to lift her spirits and forget about the past. "I planned to meet my friend," Shaw says. "He picked me up at the station, and we went to his place. He opened a bottle of champagne and started pouring. But I declined. I had never refused bubbly before. I remember feeling really unwell." A few hours later, Shaw's consciousness started to fade. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors said she had suffered a seizure of unknown origin. Tests were conducted, but nothing serious was found. Shaw returned home to her parents in West Yorkshire, where she experienced six more seizures. Once again, she found herself in the hospital, acting aggressively and shouting at people. She was put into a medically-induced coma. It was discovered that she had a blood clot in her intestine, blocking the blood flow to that area and leading to gangrene – the decay and death of tissues. While in a coma, Shaw underwent an emergency operation to remove the gangrenous part of her intestine, while her family held onto hope for a better outcome. Shaw woke up with a tube in her nose, having no memory of the seizures. "I didn't remember how I got home from London," she says. "I didn't remember that fateful week, I didn't remember the seizures. I didn't understand why there was a tube in my nose."
Battling Autoimmune Encephalitis
After the initial shock subsided, Shaw remained too weak for several weeks to see her daughter Grace, who was staying with her grandparents. Doctors informed Shaw that she had fallen victim to autoimmune encephalitis, also known as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Shaw underwent treatment with cyclophosphamide, an anti-cancer drug, to kill the antibodies – immune system cells that had started attacking her brain cells. "Every month, I underwent chemotherapy," Shaw recalls, "in order to fight the infection that led to the brain tumor. My hair thinned, although it didn't fall out completely, and I was too weak to eat. I was fed through a tube, and I lost 19 kg." Finally, it was time for Shaw to return home. She was overjoyed to be reunited with her daughter Grace. Upon discharge, Shaw focused on gaining weight while continuing her chemotherapy. She also took anti-seizure medication and steroids to address the tumor. "My neurologist told me," Shaw says, "that I could go without medication for three years. So wish me luck." After enduring numerous trials, including adjusting to life with a colostomy bag, Shaw acknowledges that she was fortunate as her case turned out to be reversible. This gives her hope to return to a normal life in the near future. In a few months, the colostomy bag will be removed. Shaw plans to return to work as a financial consultant. "It's just awful when you're not working," she admits. "I've been working since I was 16. It's what I've always done."
Autoimmune Encephalitis - A Life-Threatening Illness
Autoimmune encephalitis is a serious condition that primarily affects women. The immune system attacks NDMA receptors, which control the electrical impulses in the brain. These receptors are essential for sound judgment, perception of reality, learning processes, and memory. They also control unconscious activities such as breathing and swallowing.
