Alison’s daughter Jasmine fell ill at 6-weeks-old in 2008 and has been left with lots of lifelong issues. Alison, from Romford, shares their story in support of our No Plan B for MenB campaign.
“My 6-week-old daughter Jasmine was just restless at first and then had a horrible high pitch screech. Hours later in bed in the early hours of New Year’s Eve 2008, I saw three pinprick marks and then she quickly become lethargic.
“We rushed to the local hospital and were told meningococcal septicaemia. She was ventilated, and then blues ‘n’ twos by CATS to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“After what seemed like forever she was taken into a room and we were told she didn't have a percentage chance of survival and it would be a second by second wait. It was suggested we should go home and look after our other children, as she wasn't going to make it.
Multi-organ failure
“She suffered multi-organ failure and needed to go on haemodialysis but was too poorly.
“Eventually, early on New Year’s Day, she stabilised enough to put her on haemodialysis. The ventilator had to be changed to one that shook as she needed more help. She improved eventually and was removed from the ventilator on 5 January 2008. We were told she would probably be physically and/or mentally disabled.
“She had lots of dark purple marks that had blistered all over her and it was feared she would lose fingers and her left leg (due to the haemodialysis, not the meningitis). She improved and was moved to an isolation ward, but it was some more days until we realised that she didn't seem to have any brain damage.
“She was eventually discharged back home, but our local hospital failed us on the aftercare (they didn't know much about what the aftercare entailed, so didn't arrange any follow ups). GOSH took on all the aftercare.
Lots of lifelong issues
“She has been left with lots of lifelong issues – necrosis of the bones, leg length discrepancy, vascular issues, she has hypermobility and Irlen Syndrome (although we are not sure if she may have always had the last two). She's undergone a fair few orthopaedic operations on her legs over the years and recently had a full left hip replacement and reconstruction two weeks before her 16th birthday and is awaiting her right one.
“She is our meningitis warrior and we are so so proud of her. Prior to her contracting this awful disease, all I knew about it was you either didn't survive or lost your limbs. How wrong I was – there is so much more to this horrendous disease and the lifelong conditions it can cause. Our daughter has been left with lifelong issues and the rest of us will never forget how helpless we felt at the time and even now.
“It’s something we all remember like it was yesterday. Never underestimate your instincts, we are so glad we didn't.
“My advice is if you are offered a vaccine then take it; prevention is so much better than having to live with the consequences and catching this awful disease.”