Living With The Impact Of Meningitis

Sue BurkeJuly 2010

22 NDAPRIL 2004Cieran and Connor were born at 17:13 and 17:14

Weighing a healthy 7lb 3oz and 6lb 3/4oz

After a fairly uneventful twin pregnancy of 38 weeks and 1 day

MONDAY 31ST JANUARY 2005

Cieran awoke with a temperature of 41 degrees and was shivering

10 am Attended GP’s Surgery and asked could this be meningitis as I’d seen this Before

Told to give CALPOL , this was nothing more than a virus...

14:30 Visited another GP without Cieran for my own routine appointment and was told to give juice crisps and nurofen.

19:30 Spoke to NHS Direct a doctor called back at 21:30 and told me of course my child would be drowsy, give nurofen, if temp reduces don’t call back

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2ND

2005Didn't appear to know who I was

Returned to G.P’s and was told 90% sure he was fine

Requested paediatric input at hospital

Under duress was referred to the hospital and asked did I want a taxi phoning or did I have transport.

Lumbar puncture

Original diagnosis no meningitis but treatment for meningitis started.

SUNDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2005

Admitted to Pendlebury Childrens PICU following 2 hour seizure

Christened

Cerebral Atrophy

SYMPTOMSVery high temperature 41 degrees Centigrade

Vomiting

Drowsiness

Pain upon Nappy Change

NO RASH

INITIAL PROGNOSIS

22lb Newborn

No head control / floppy

Hearing test referral

Wheelchair assessment

AFTER EFFECTS TO

DATEProfound Bilateral Deafness no reaction before 110 db,

Cochlear Implant Sept 2005

Epilepsy

Global Developmental Delay

Hypertonia

Brain Abnormalities

? Autism ? ADHD

THE TWIN THING The Benefits

A Role Model to copy

I want to do that No time to wrap in

cotton wool A Friend

The Disadvantages A constant

comparison A permanent what

if A continuous

reminder A brother that has

to grow up too quickly

MY FEELINGS

Meningitis

GUILT

Determination

Fear

Helplessness

THANKYOU

Questions?