We did at least have a health care proxy and a power of attorney in hand.

Funny story (that I didn't include in the blog) is that I actually wound up in a psychiatric facility for a second time after I was in-and-out of Brigham and Women's on 3 separate occasions. I was in a much better state mentally and physically, and this particular facility (McLean Hospital) was way better than the first one I was in. The circumstances were different and I was happy to be there because things were still very rocky at home. And very dark. So my wife and I felt it better that I be in an in-patient facility at this point, which came right before my official anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis diagnosis.

Anyway, the funny story is that I showed up to McLean, after being transferred from Brigham and Women's, with a physical copy of my wife's PoA over me and a health care proxy. The charge nurse said it was the first time he had ever seen anything like that before.

Oh dear! Medical issues are scary enough without all the red tape (has to be a better word than that) getting in the way of good care. Spreading the word in the hopes that it is more common and fewer people are left out

Thanks for sharing the story so openly! Sorry for everything you went through to get a proper diagnosis and treatment and for everything that the encephalitis itself inflicted on you. Glad you're doing better!