“All I can say is always get your children checked out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Sophie’s young baby Harvey became ill with meningitis at just two-weeks-old in 2013. He’s now 12 and doing well, as Sophie, from Cardiff, tells us here. But her frightening experience has scarred her emotionally as a mum.
“Meningitis took hold of our two-week-old baby boy, Harvey. Once diagnosed, we were told that the next 24 hours were crucial to see how he responded to treatment. We thought we might lose him. No parent should ever have to go through that.
“Harvey started making grunting noises in his sleep the day before he was diagnosed. We contacted our doctor who said he probably had colic. Within hours, Harvey turned grey, had cold hands and feet, a high temperature and stopped feeding.
“We rushed him to the hospital, but it wasn’t until we arrived at A&E that he had developed a rash that wouldn’t disappear in his nappy area. A nurse called for an emergency children’s doctor straight away and thankfully they quickly gave Harvey an antibiotic drip.
Grateful for mum’s advice
“This disease can kill within hours so getting antibiotics into the system as fast as possible gives the best chance of survival. Being a young mother, I am so thankful to my own mum for telling me to go straight to A&E with Harvey. If she hadn’t done that, Harvey may not be here today.
“When we first arrived at the hospital, I just remember the doctors constantly asking us if we had heard of meningitis? All I kept thinking was there was no way that my two-week-old baby could have contracted meningitis. However, results came back within hours, showing Harvey did indeed have bacterial Group B Streptococcus meningitis.
“Harvey had to stay on the high dependency unit for one week and then spent a further two weeks on the children’s ward. He experienced seizures during the first few days of his diagnosis. Seeing my tiny baby laying lifeless for days on end, being prodded with more needles and cannulas than I can count, will haunt me forever.
Three long weeks in hospital
“He also underwent loads of tests during his stay for his hearing, brain scans and constant blood tests.
“After three long weeks in hospital, Harvey was able to come back home. We are so grateful to all the amazing doctors and nurses who helped to save his life.
“As Harvey was so young when he contracted meningitis the doctors couldn’t tell us how it would affect him in the long-term, but Harvey is now 12-years-old and he is doing everything he should be for his age. He did suffer with epilepsy as a result of his meningitis between six months and 4-years- old. He was however discharged from his consultant when he turned 5-years-old and was seizure-free.
Worry so much and fear the worst
“Talking about his experience still brings tears to my eyes. It was such a frightening time of our lives, and something that has definitely scarred me emotionally as a mum. I worry so much about illnesses now. I fear the worst as soon as any of my children are unwell.
“All I can say is always get your children checked out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Meningitis Now’s website provides so much information about meningitis. I always pass on the information I have read to fellow parents, making them aware of the signs and symptoms. The stories are an amazing read and very inspirational.
“We are so much more aware of the symptoms of meningitis now. Before Harvey contracted meningitis, I only ever knew about the rash, but there are other symptoms to watch out for.”
