Lilly's story..

[ingridm]

On 15 Dec I went to our local Dr surgery for the 2nd time with my 11 month old daughter as she was poorly again and was told she had a viral infection and sore throat and ears.. They advised me she wound not get any antibiotics as she didnt need them.. so I took her home and spent the next few days praying and worried about her as she was so sick. I finally took her to A&E on the 18 Dec when she was so sick she wouldn't eat or drink any more as I had called the local dr for the third time and they were closed due to staff training. I spent 4 hours in A&E with a listless baby who was vomiting bile and had a temp of 40.

They gave her diralite and calpol and sent her home after 4 hours as they didnt have a bed for her and she seemed ok. I was home for an hour and by then I had called 111 and they had sent a dr and I was back in the hospital...I had to go through A&E again and was sent into the back of the hospital into a cubical with a chair and that is where I spent the next 9 hours sitting in a chair with her in my arms as she got worse and worse. None of the Dr's knew what to do with her and they eventually put her on a drip and she was basically unconscious by then and really sick.. At 6.45 am they told me to pick her up and run through to Resus by then and put her on a bed and before I knew it 5 Dr's and an aneathatist were trying to save her life. I was told to call my husband and he was to come to the hospital as soon as he could as she was so sick...She was on oxygen and they started antibiotics straight away and that was the start of our christmas nightmare... I can say with the love and prayers of so many she recovered its taken a few months we have lived through Lumbar punctures, thrush, mouth ulsers, hearing tests and so much more... I know I am one of the lucky ones and I am so grateful... but I can't seem to get over it... just reliving this and I am crying my eyes out like a crazy mother... people told me to complain about the local surgery and do so many things I just haven't i cant be bothered .. I am so grateful for my childs recovery but I am a mess inside .... she is well and all we pray for is that her hearing in one ear will get better... I am one of the lucky ones I know that I cant seem to get past it all......

[SilverCharm]

Your story is heartbreaking in that the suffering could have been much much less if only a doctor would have recognized the symptoms earlier. I am so sorry to hear of your daughter's suffering. I hope this community can help you find peace.

[StrawberryCream]

Gosh what a terrifying and distressing situation to have gone through with your precious daughter so ill. But what a wonderful outcome. It is not unusual to now be struggling to move on from all the trauma you went through because at the time, as a mother of your child, you would have had to stay as strong as you could for your daughter to be with her and see that everything was being dip one to help her. It is only now that you are getting in touch with the full impact of the fear, trauma, panic and upset. Talking about what happened and what you went through is definitely a good thing to do to help you process it and hopefully at some point being able to remember it without such a shocking impact. Meningitis in the early stages does present with similar symptoms as other illnesses and is so easily overlooked until it has progressed. Am so relieved to hear that you your daughter has come through it and you have her growing up ahead to love and cherish her. x

The Meningitis Now helpline is great for support and understanding and talking through what happened and how you are feeling - crying is ok! Also you have found this forum which can also be a good source of support and understanding.

[sopie]

I am so sorry to hear of your story. Watching an ill child is the worse nightmare a mother can experience, when others don't seem to "get it". I hope your child continues to heal and recover completely.