Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

by

Susannah Cahalan

Emily Character Analysis

Emily is a college student who begins experiencing many of the same symptoms Susannah did when she first became ill. Her illness ebbs and flows for several months while her father attempts to convince doctors to test her for anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis. Finally, while Emily struggles with seizures, a neurologist agrees to test her after reading Susannah's New York Post article. Emily makes a full recovery, and her father credits Susannah's article for the fact that she survived.
Get the entire Brain on Fire LitChart as a printable PDF.
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness PDF

Emily Character Timeline in Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

The timeline below shows where the character Emily appears in Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 48
Storytelling, Memory, and Emotion Theme Icon
Love and Family Theme Icon
Responsibility and the Medical System Theme Icon
...her life was when a man called her to share the story of his daughter, Emily. Emily, a college student, became paranoid, spent time in the ER and in a psychiatric... (full context)
Identity and Illness Theme Icon
Responsibility and the Medical System Theme Icon
Emily's dad shoved Susannah's article at a neurologist, who agreed to test her for the disease.... (full context)