Describing her mother as “really lively and fit”, Jane said she would exercise daily, help run the family transport business and her own animal feed venture.
But then on 5 September last year, Helen started feeling unwell, experiencing a fever, aches, fatigue and nausea.
A GP suspected a urine infection, but within days she became confused and “behaved really strangely”, according to Jane, 40.
Helen was then admitted to A&E at Ysbyty Bronglais in Aberystwyth where her condition rapidly worsened, with severe confusion, loss of coordination, and increasing drowsiness.
Despite antibiotics, she showed no improvement, with Jane saying she would “have to explain every little step of anything to her”.
A CT scan later revealed brain inflammation, and on 12 September she was diagnosed with viral encephalitis.