Steven, a teacher, a son, and someone who has faced immense challenges with resilience and hope spoke at the My Brain: My Story: My Family event in Newcastle October 2024.

My journey took an unexpected turn when encephalitis struck my family, taking away my beloved mum. It was a devastating blow that changed my life in ways I never could have imagined.

At the same time, I was learning my craft as a teacher, trying to support my students and navigate the complexities of the classroom, all while the world was in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In my talk at My Brain: My Story: My Family, I share the deeply personal and emotional story of how encephalitis affected my family and how I managed to keep going as a teacher during one of the most difficult times of my life.

I talk about the grief, the challenges, and the small victories that helped me find my way forward.

My story is one of resilience, of learning to cope with loss, and of discovering the strength I didn’t know I had. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can offer support and inspiration to others who may be going through their own struggles.

This journey has taught me so much about the importance of compassion, self-care, and the power of community, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to share it with you.

Watch Steven’s story on our YouTube channel