Albury resident Mikaela Craven is battling a rare brain syndrome since mid-December

The young mum and hospitality worker from Albury in NSW, spent two days vomiting and severely disoriented.

Within three days, she couldn't walk or talk despite hospital treatment for her symptoms.

The 27-year-old mother-of-two, including a baby who was breastfeeding, was taken to The Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she was diagnosed with acute cerebellitis (AC).

AC is an inflammatory syndrome characterised by the onset of ataxia, nystagmus or dysmetria, often with fever, nausea, headache, altered mental status and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities of the cerebellum (the part of the brain at the back of the skull).

Mikaela's mother Sandra Douma said the shocking diagnosis came after three weeks of tests from infection, haematology and neurology specialists.

"It's a very rare condition in adults; it's more common in children," she said.

Within six weeks, Mikaela was stable enough to return home, but her mental health declined rapidly.

When the rehabilitation halted, she was flown back to The Royal Melbourne for further tests.

Mrs Douma said her health-conscious and active daughter was in the fight of her life, and progress was painstakingly slow.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mikaela was admitted to the acquired brain injury unit at The Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre at Kew, where she has remained since.

"We don't know if and when she's going to recover," Mrs Douma said.

"She still can't walk on her own or shower herself; she can speak a little and she's slowly making progress."

Mikaela's partner Brad Kneebone and their children, Ahren, 4, and Lonnie, almost nine months, had to return to Albury after six weeks while Mrs Douma stayed in Melbourne.

The boys visited on weekends.

Mrs Douma said Brad was an apprentice and the family no longer had income from Mikaela's beloved hospitality jobs.

"It's a big financial strain on the family," she said.

"The bills don't stop coming just because our world changed."

Having grown up and been educated in Wodonga and Beechworth, Mikaela practised yoga and pilates and hiked in the high country.

She was now applying herself to every therapy offered at the brain injury unit.

"She's doing hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, music therapy, upper limb work and co-ordination," Mrs Douma said.

"She can't use her phone but we read out messages of support and they help."