LSU Grad Turns Brain Illness Into Film About Second Chances

Jacob Savoie was weeks from graduating LSU in 2007 when what seemed like the flu turned into a medical crisis that erased his memories and nearly took his life.

Encephalitis, a rare brain inflammation, struck so suddenly that the 22-year-old couldn't recognize his own mother. He lost the ability to eat, drink, or speak coherently, left with what he describes as "the common sense of a 6-year-old" trapped in an adult body.

The disease permanently changed parts of his personality in ways he can't even perceive himself. But Savoie survived, rebuilt his life, and now lives in Houston with his wife and two children.

Nearly two decades later, he's bringing his story back to where it began. "My Missing Mind," a documentary screening at Baton Rouge's Varsity Theatre on January 23 and 24, chronicles his journey from catastrophic illness to recovery.

Why This Inspires

Savoie didn't just make a film about trauma. He created a love letter to the Louisiana landscapes that helped him heal.

The documentary features sweeping shots of Baton Rouge, his hometown of Carencro, Lafayette, and Alexandria. "We wanted to make sure people see how beautiful southern Louisiana really is," Savoie explained, weaving the region's culture into every frame.

His recovery wasn't something he faced alone. Savoie now serves on the board of Encephalitis 411, a nonprofit that supported bringing his story to the screen and helps others facing similar battles.

The documentary shows that second chances aren't just about survival. They're about finding purpose in what tried to break you, and using that experience to light the way for others walking through darkness.

"I'm just glad to live my life and be who I am and just get a second chance," Savoie said, a simple statement that carries the weight of nearly losing everything and choosing to make that loss mean something.