“Ten years on we just all feel lucky as Albert has fully recovered.”
Albert was seven in 2014 when he fell ill with what turned out to be meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.
Thankfully he went on to make a good recovery and is now a strapping rugby player, as mum Marika, from Ottery St Mary in Devon, tells us here.
“My son Albert was sent home from school, but perked up and ate lunch, so I sent him back. We lived a minute from the school and I was working at home.
“I collected him from school and they said he was fine and had played football. I got him home, but he wasn’t okay, clinging to me and then he was sick. He had spots around his eyes.
“I cancelled my work and went to my local doctor who looked at him, said he seemed fine but didn’t know why he had a temperature. He said to go to A&E just to get him checked.
Couldn’t walk
“By the time I got to hospital Albert couldn’t walk. He went into an observation ward. Within half an hour he got up, vomited and then went back to bed. After another half an hour he was burning up but freezing cold. Another half an hour and he was wired up, unconscious and in intensive care.
“The doctors were amazing and we were lucky – after a week in hospital he returned home.
“He had some issues with flexibility and had to re-learn to swim and breathe with exercise. He also had issues with concentration, but he fully recovered and is now a strapping rugby player. We are so lucky.
Loved Believe & Achieve
“Meningitis Now has helped and supported me with a home visit, Family Day and a Believe & Achieve weekend. Albert loved attending the Believe & Achieve weekend, which gave him space to be able to talk about thinking he was going to die! I found it a great support to talk to other parents who have all been through it.
“Ten years on we just all feel lucky as Albert has fully recovered.”
