Jess, from Surrey, recounts the story of contracting meningococcal septicaemia as a two-year-old in 2008.
“I’m Jess Louise and I had meningococcal septicaemia when I was 23 months old. My mum noticed I wasn’t eating or drinking properly, I was significantly hot and even a bath wouldn’t cool me down.
“She decided to take me to the doctors a couple of times, each time she was sent home and told to give me Calpol. On the third or fourth visit, I was found to have two spots along my nappy line, which turned out to be a non-blanching rash.
“It was only then that I was considered to have meningitis which turned out to be meningococcal septicaemia.
Hearing loss
"At the age of six I was diagnosed with partial hearing loss. I had lost my high and low frequencies in my right ear, and middle frequencies in my left, basically meaning I had about half the hearing of anyone else.
“Then, when I was around fifteen, in a short space of time, I was diagnosed with an acquired brain injury and also autism. When I first found out about these disabilities, I didn’t understand much about them, and due to my autism, this led me to researching absolutely everything I could about them.
"Fast forward 18 years, after many setbacks, like being told I wasn’t going to pass my GCSEs or A Levels and not being able to drive despite a year of practice, all it took was some willing teachers and a new driving instructor to get me on my way to university, driving in my own car.
“This was a very big achievement for me, as it would be for any other 18-year-old, but for me it felt so surreal because I’d been doubted by many people.
Studying creative writing
“I am now going into my third year of university, studying creative writing, and as a front of house waitress, I have exceeded expectations of not only everyone else, but myself.
“I am currently in the process of writing and editing a novel inspired by my experiences growing up as different and am constantly trying to find new ways to share information about meningitis as well as neurodiversity and disabilities, and one day, hopefully I can become a voice for adversity.
“Meningitis Now has made a significant difference to me over the years as I have made some lifelong friends in the Believe & Achieve programme for young people affected by meningitis, and have received support through the Rebuilding Futures Fund, which has helped fund counselling and creative therapy sessions and an iPad to help me take notes more efficiently in my lessons.”
