Tori Calaunan AE Story

My name is Tori Calaunan and I was diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in the summer of 2018. Before that time, I was a perfectly healthy 24-year-old. I was going through life, had a job that I loved and was in nursing school.

In April 2018 I was feeling a bit weird. My right leg kept feeling weak but I didn’t think anything of it. Over the next few weeks the weakness continued to get worse so I went to the doctor to get it checked out. I complained of weakness to my right side and feelings of confusion. A neuro test and MRI were done, but both came back normal. As far as the doctors were concerned I was fine. On May 11th, 2018 I drove myself to the ER. The weakness had gotten severe to the point of not being able to feel my leg. I walked into the hospital and I remember not being able to fill out the paper work. I was too confused and dizzy. From there I don’t remember much.

I had stayed in a hospital in Las Vegas for a month and no one knew what was wrong with me. Meanwhile all of my normal functions were diminishing. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t feed myself. I was transferred to UCLA and there I would finally get my diagnosis. I would still be in the hospital for another month as well as rehab after that. It took me a while to become myself again. But I am happy to say that I am back!

#WED2019 #WorldEncephalitisDay #RED4WED