Just to say that if you want to know more about Adam's story and our experiences with GBS, feel free to visit my blog where it's available in detail.
The address is walkingforadam.blogspot.com
This condition is entirely preventable and the NHS need to change their policy on GBS testing!
Thanks for posting the link to your blog. I hope you will add in here too. Pounce has added her submission to the NSC which I hope will guide anyone else thinking of doing it. Powerful reading as Adams story is told to the NSC and the photos tell the story graphically.
walkingforadam.blogspot.co....
Just a reminder that there's less than a fortnight to go for submissions. Use the links on the GBSS website.
How does GBS affect a family? In one word...........massively.
My grand-daughter survived but it was several days before the doctors would state that she would be ok. As a result of her illness my daughter (just 18 at the time), lost all confidence in her ability to care for her when they returned home. She was so worried to be left alone with her own daughter in case something happened or the infection recurred. As a result, her partner had to turn down extra shifts at work increasing the financial pressure on a very young couple doing their best. Several evening a week I would travel over after work to stay with her whilst he went to work evening shifts so saw little of my husband as he was working long days and couldn't often come across too.
My daughter ended up on anti-depressants at a rather high dosage which meant she could no longer breast feed. Not helpful in an already fragile relationship with her daughter. Her relationship with her partner deteriorated until they split up, so she moved into our home with baby. Our lives were taken over completely as if it was our baby not hers. I would come in from work and the baby would be handed over immediately. After another 5 months things calmed down and she felt well enough to move out into a place of her own. Just after this, having struggled with a number of infections, exhaustion, pain and cognitive issues for several months, I developed ME and as a result lost my nursing career. Two consultants have stated that my health problems are due to burning myself out. It may still have happened but all of this can't have helped. 4 years on and I am still bed or house bound on a regular basis and my wonderful husband has had the patience of a saint looking after me and doing the cooking, cleaning and housework after getting in from work every day. Sorry, lots of doom and gloom but you did ask..........
After 6 years there is another baby on the way. All this had been forgotten and shut away in the past, but now is all back in clear and worrying focus. We are hoping this time, with IV antibiotics during labour, things will be much better, the baby will be well and the experience will be all that our daughter could hope for. However, the starting point is from a place of anxiety. We will all be doing our best to help keep things calm, but as my grand-daughter informed a random stranger this week (having witnessed numerous recent conversations with midwives and doctors), 'Mummy had LOADS of problems with me!' Couldn't put it better myself. Our fabulous, clever, wonderful, funny girl. Where would we be without her?
