A devastating diagnosis of brain inflammation caused by autoimmune encephalitis, led Lisa to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of recovery.

In 2017, forty-five-year-old Lisa Lauter experienced mysterious neurological symptoms. For months, she didn’t feel herself and doctors had no answers. A mother of three preteen boys, Lisa had many reasons to explain away her odd symptoms. In her situation, what parent wouldn’t be tired, forgetful, and sleep-deprived? But that didn’t explain the weakness in her left side, the tingling feeling, and numbness. It didn’t explain why, on a relaxing summer day, Lisa had her first tonic-clonic seizure.

Her new book, Songbirds Keep Singing: How I Recovered from Autoimmune Brain Inflammation, blends memoir, research, and her public health background as she searches for answers following her first big seizure. It provides the knowledge and tools needed to approach brain healing comprehensively, by combining holistic and conventional approaches. From multiple therapies to trying different diets and exercises, Lisa tries them all. As she researches the environmental, hormonal, and lifestyle factors that contribute to inflammation, she also learns how to listen—and advocate—for herself.