“Encephalitis lethargica causes you to slowly ‘survive’ – but not ‘live’. After bouts of deep sleep, where patients can be woken very easily but fall immediately back into the deep sleep, they’re left with post-encephalitis symptoms. The main one being that their minds are fully aware and conscious, but they can’t physically function – a bit like locked in syndrome, and they display extreme apathy.

They even KNOW they’re displaying apathy but can’t express any emotions. So they’re completely stuck – UNTIL someone throws a ball at them, which they then can immediately catch. OR until someone holds their hand and walks alongside them, then they can suddenly walk. Otherwise nothing. “