Meningitis
Tracey Chambers' daughter, Courtney, was diagnosed with meningitis septicaemia. She talks about the short-term and long-term effects of Courtney's illness.
"Courtney woke me at 2am saying she had a pain in her left arm. I rubbed it and told her to go back to bed, but 10 minutes later she was moaning that her neck hurt. As I went to touch her, I realised she was burning up.
"I gave her some medicine, but she vomited immediately. Her hands and feet were ice cold to the extent that I wrapped her feet in a dressing gown and covered them with a duvet, but I could still feel the cold through them.
"Courtney was saying she wanted to die because everywhere hurt so much. She kept being sick and her hearing was unusually acute. I knew that something was really wrong.
"She had a spot in the middle of her tummy, so I phoned NHS Direct. I was told to do the tumbler test over the spot, and when it didn't disappear I called an ambulance." [NHS Direct has been replacedby NHS 111 .]
"Later on, Courtney had a headache, stiff neck and she was talking rubbish. Shewasn'tmaking any sense,and she was showing all the Meningitis .
"After she got out of hospital,the Meningitis Research Foundation helpline told me everything I needed to know. They were brilliant and my saviour for about 2.5 years. They gave me any help that I needed.
"Courtney's condition didn't just suddenly improve after two weeks. It still affects her now, years afterwards. My main worry was that she'd neverwalk again, because for some unknown reason she couldn't walk.
"The doctorshad to keep her leg in a particular position and plaster it, then take the plaster off and put her leg in a different position and replaster it. This was followed by intensive hydrotherapy.
"Her behaviour also got worse. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but couldn't help herself. She still sees a counsellor to help with her anxiety .
"She has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) , too, and if she's stressed it really flares up.She's got a fear of death and thinks she's ill all the time when she's not. She needs constant reassurance. Her therapist is helping her with that.
"For all the problems though, it's amazing how far she's come from intensive care to running around playing football. She doesn't sit still she loves activity and just loves life."
Read about meningitis, an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Find out about the symptoms, vaccines and treatments.
Read about the main symptoms of meningitis, including the meningitis rash, and find out when and where to get medical advice if you have any concerns.
Read about the main causes of meningitis and how the infection is spread.
Read about how meningitis is treated, including what tests may be needed and whether treatment is hospital will be necessary.
Read about the main risks associated with meningitis, including hearing loss, loss of limbs, and problems with memory or concentration.
Read about the different vaccines that can help prevent meningitis and when they're usually given.
Read the story of Tracey Chambers, whose daughter Courtney was diagnosed with meningitis septicaemia.
Read the story of Mary Baron and her grandson Kyle, who developed bacterial meningitis during a holiday in Tenerife.