Alice, 20, from Orpington in Kent, is now doing a firewalk to raise money for Meningitis Now. She told us her story.
“I was a second year university student when I contracted meningitis.
“I was out the night before and I woke up early the next morning with flu-like symptoms, a severe headache and extreme sensitivity to light. I tried to sleep it off as I wondered if it was a bad hangover from the night before, but after continually feeling worse and worse I decided to call my mum and asked her to drive to my university and take me home.
“It's around a two hour drive from home to university so she didn't arrive for a couple of hours, and in that time my symptoms continued. Once she arrived, we put it down to a very bad case of the flu and so packed me into the car and decided to drive me home.
“After an hour of driving I soon became unconscious in the car and began having convulsions, it was at this point my mum knew there was something seriously wrong. She drove me straight to the hospital where the doctors discovered a rash on my stomach and then multiple tests were done, including a lumbar puncture.
Fight for my life
“I was placed into an induced coma and after around 3 days I woke up in ICU. I had developed meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia and was in hospital for two weeks on antibiotics. It was a very scary time as, at 20 years old, I never thought I would have to fight for my life.
“I had heard of meningitis as I received the MenACWY vaccine before I started university, but I didn't know the symptoms and I never realised how serious and deadly it could be. As incredibly unlucky I was to get meningitis, I know I am incredibly lucky to still be here and now 5 months on I am doing much better and am on my way to making a full recovery.”
