Well not quite, it begins in October 2002 when my Dad died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Andrew (my husband). Luke and David (my son's) and I were living in California, so I received this news over the telephone from my brother Peter. We flew back to England the next day.

I stayed in England for 4 weeks helping Mum and my brother and sister, Dad's funeral was organized and attended.

Christmas 2002 delivered another trauma when a cousins' baby daughter died from Meningitis, a few months later that babys' grandparent, my Dad's brother died.

It felt like our family was on a boat that was going down.

On Jan 19th 2003 I went to my PCP for a regular health check and received a Tetanus Vaccine.

There begins one of the greatest chapters/tests of my life.

Over February and March I became increasingly ill, until on April 1st I had an MRI which showed inflammation and multiple lesions. I was immediately admitted to hospital and treated with Medrol for 5 days. I was discharged and took recovery into my own hands.

Gradually the diagnosis of ACUTE DISSEMINATED ENCEPHALOMYELITIS due to an allergic reaction to the Tetanus and Diphtheria vaccine became evident.