Brain On Fire

A plethora of tests is run on Cahalan. All the results say she is normal. Dr. Siegel is no longer on her team of doctors. His replacement is Dr. Najjar. Najjar wants to try a form of immunotherapy that is experimental. Other doctors on her team are giving up on Cahalan. They are not stopping by or following up and are asking for help from other doctors to replace them.

Cahalan says that, “[o]n April 2, the nurses started [her] first round of five intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions” (116). It is too early to tell whether the treatment is working or not. Cahalan’s health is slightly worse than before, but not dangerously so. Everyone is concerned about the presentation of a new symptom, catatonia, which is characterized by rigidity, disinterest in eating, staring, quietness, and mimicking other people’s words automatically.

Cahalan’s father and Stephen bond over their commitment to fight for her, whereas before, they were not on good terms. This chapter includes further presentation of immunology-related science.

Cahalan’s test results continue to return as normal. The experimental therapy is not working. Her team of doctors is giving up, and, in some instances, do not show up for appointments. Cahalan is again showing signs of psychosis, which everyone fears.