Bella, a vibrant 17-year-old girl from Middlesbrough, faced an unexpected and life-altering challenge when she contracted a disease in July 2022. Previously "perfectly healthy," Bella's condition began to deteriorate over the course of ten months, resulting in a partial diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis, a serious inflammation of the brain.
As Bella's health declined, she experienced a range of distressing symptoms. Despite having an above-average IQ, she struggled to retain new information, although everything she had learned up to the age of 17 remained intact. Her personality underwent a dramatic overnight change, leaving her family unsure about where to turn for support regarding her education.
"She was exhausted, she'd have periods of being really confused, she developed facial paralysis, double vision and then ultimately in March 2023 she lost her ability to swallow." – Adele Wilson-Hope
In their search for assistance, a colleague recommended that Bella's family reach out to Matrix Neurological, a charity dedicated to supporting children with brain injuries. The family found themselves attending numerous hospital appointments and received "great care" at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, which helped Bella begin to make progress. Despite the severity of her condition, which had left the family uncertain about her survival, they persevered with hope.
Matrix Neurological provided invaluable support by developing a tailored learning plan in collaboration with Bella. This initiative allowed her to re-engage with learning in a way that suited her new needs, significantly boosting her confidence.
"It's given her a real sense of being normal," – Adele Wilson-Hope
"She has been able to re-engage with learning in a way that suits her and it's just brought on her confidence so much – and being able to know how her new brain works." – Adele Wilson-Hope
The emotional toll on Bella's family was immense. Her mother, Adele Wilson-Hope, poignantly expressed the family's distress during the ordeal.
"It's kept telling the consultant 'someone's stolen my daughter' and obviously we now know that was because of what was going on in her brain." – Adele Wilson-Hope
Looking to the future, Bella will attend a new school for children with acquired brain injuries. This institution is being established by Matrix Neurological with funding from the Postcode Innovation Trust. The school promises to provide a supportive environment tailored specifically to meet the needs of students like Bella.
