A Month of Madness with a ‘Brain on Fire’: UK HealthCare Helps Extinguish Teen’s Rare Disorder

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Witness the inexplicable transformation of a person seemingly overnight. A young teenager doing things they can’t explain, from contemplating jumping out of a moving car to aggressive outbursts uncharacteristic of their typical behavior. Approximately one in 1.5 million people will encounter this phenomena — a rare disorder resulting from the production of antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). This condition, primarily affecting young women, evolves over the course of days to weeks and is referred to as anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis.

From Bright Prospects to Unimaginable Terror

Among the hundreds of thousands of teenagers, Allayna, the oldest daughter of Amanda and Michael Oliver, was struck with this disorder in spring 2022. Aloofness, insomnia, hallucinations, erratic outbursts, and incapability to accomplish normal tasks turned Allayna into someone her parents hardly recognized. The Olivers rushed her to their local emergency department after witnessing her blank stare and incomprehensible mutterings.

The Diagnosis

While admitted to the behavioral health unit, Allayna’s condition continued to worsen, confounding the medical staff. After twelve days, a new doctor suggested testing for the anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks itself, suspecting that it was causing Allayna’s peculiar behavior. The test came back positive.

The Road to Recovery at the Albert B. Chandler Hospital

Allayna was immediately transferred to UK HealthCare’s Albert B. Chandler Hospital, recommended by her local medical team who had never treated such a condition. Here, her treatment consisting of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), steroids, plasmapheresis, and Rituximab began to minimize the heightened state of her immune system induced by this disease, and to treat her seizures and agitation. Her family was prepared for the long road to her recovery.

Allayna’s Triumph: Overcoming Anti-NMDA-Receptor Encephalitis

After a month of rigorous treatment and therapy at the Chandler Hospital, Allayna returned home. She had to relearn how to walk and talk, and even small tasks overwhelmed her initially. However, her perseverance shone through as she regained her abilities over a few months.

Identifying the Cause

The medical team shifted their focus to identifying the cause of Allayna’s disorder. An underlying ovarian teratoma, a rare type of germ cell tumor was suspected and later found, which is often the trigger for NMDA encephalitis in young women.

Continued Medical Support

Allayna, now 21, is back to her normal life, working full-time for Keller Williams Realty and playing the piano at her church. She continues her follow-up visits and checkups at the Chandler Hospital. Doctors appreciate her exceptional progress and the Oliver family is immensely grateful for the continuous support from the medical team.

Saluting the Unyielding Spirit

Allayna’s story of triumph over the one in 1.5 million condition reaffirms the belief in medical miracles and never-giving-up spirit of the patients. As coined by one of her doctors, Allayna is truly ‘one in a million’. Her story gives hope to others battling similar rare disorders, and serves as a reminder of the incredible advancements made in healthcare.