The stark reality of my situation hit me with full force as I looked down at my hands and feet. They were black, a chilling, unnatural hue, and felt alien – stiff, cold, and strangely unreal. It was November 2018, just six weeks into my journey at the University of Southampton, and I had just emerged from a coma, completely unaware of the two weeks that had slipped by while I was unconscious.
Doctors soon delivered the devastating news: I had contracted meningitis, specifically Meningitis B, or MenB. This is the very same strain currently associated with the outbreak in Kent. Meningitis, a dangerous infection, attacks the delicate membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord. But my ordeal didn’t end there. The infection had progressed to meningococcal septicaemia, a severe form of blood poisoning that had pushed my organs to the brink of failure. The compromised blood flow had caused patches of my skin and my extremities to die.
Staring at my blackened hands and feet, a profound numbness washed over me. It was as if my mind couldn’t quite grasp that this was now my body. I understood that the damage was irreversible, that my fingers were beyond saving, yet I felt so detached, so spaced out, that no real emotion surfaced. Today, I live with two prosthetic legs and have undergone a hand transplant. While I’m on a much better path, I feel compelled to share my story to highlight the very real and life-altering dangers of meningitis.
A Promising Start Dashed by Illness
Getting into university to study medicine was a dream realised. After the intense pressure of applications, interviews, and A-levels, I had finally made it. I was relishing my new friendships and the independence of living in a city away from home. My life was on an exciting trajectory, but that trajectory was about to take a sharp and terrifying turn.
The first signs of illness appeared subtly. I had a normal day, but in the early hours of the morning, I woke up feeling violently ill, experiencing relentless vomiting. Fortunately, my friend Niamh was staying with me. After a couple of hours of continuous sickness, both of us realised something was seriously wrong. The vomiting simply wouldn’t stop.
Understanding the Threat: What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which leads to inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. While it’s more commonly seen in infants, young children, teenagers, and young adults, it can affect people of any age. Caroline Hughes, support services manager at Meningitis Research Foundation, explained that early symptoms can be easily mistaken for common ailments like a hangover, freshers’ flu, or other mild illnesses. However, she stressed that meningitis can become life-threatening within a matter of hours.
The symptoms can escalate rapidly. The bacteria can invade the bloodstream, leading to sepsis, a dangerous and life-threatening immune response that causes symptoms like clammy skin, pain, and chills.
The Descent into Crisis
Niamh, rightly concerned, called emergency services. An ambulance arrived, and I was rushed to the hospital. Initially, I received medication that helped with the vomiting, but my condition rapidly deteriorated. I collapsed, becoming increasingly confused. I was clammy, shaky, and burning with a fever. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, who tried to cool me down with ice packs and fans, nothing seemed to work.
My heart rate was dangerously high, and my blood pressure had plummeted. My friends stayed by my side, offering comfort, but my confusion meant I was largely unaware of the severity of my symptoms. Within a few hours, as my condition worsened dramatically, I was placed in an induced coma and transferred to intensive care. At this stage, doctors suspected sepsis. It was only later, when a rash appeared while I was in the coma, that the medical team began to suspect meningitis, a diagnosis that was soon confirmed.
A Long Road to Recovery and Resilience
I remained in a coma for two weeks. During this terrifying period, my family was prepared for the worst, as my organs were failing. This incredibly challenging time was made slightly more bearable by the support I received from Meningitis Now, an organisation Becca describes as “amazing.” They provided crucial support, including counselling and peer support through their Believe & Achieve programme for young people. Becca has since become an Ambassador for Meningitis Now, dedicating herself to raising awareness, fundraising, and campaigning for MenB vaccinations.
When I finally woke from the coma, the immediate life-threatening danger had passed, thanks to the timely intervention of antibiotics. However, the damage was undeniable. My hands were completely black and stiff. The doctors delivered the heartbreaking news: my fingers would have to be amputated, a decision I knew was necessary but struggled to comprehend. The thought of my future was overwhelming. After the surgery, I was so heavily bandaged that I didn’t know what remained of my fingers. I asked the surgeon to draw on my godmother’s hands to give me a visual of what was left of mine. That was the first time I remember crying.
Over the next several weeks, surgeons worked tirelessly to save my feet, but ultimately, the decision was made to amputate both legs below the knee. In addition to losing my legs and fingers, I underwent extensive debridement and skin grafts to repair the severe skin damage, a process that was often painful, leaving my skin raw and my entire body bandaged. The result is extensive scarring that resembles chemical burns.
I spent nearly four months in hospital, followed by seven weeks in rehabilitation, learning to navigate life with prosthetic legs. My recovery continued at home, where I focused on resting and rebuilding my strength. I was determined to reclaim my life, but the simplest daily tasks became immense challenges. Getting dressed was a lengthy ordeal, tying shoelaces felt almost impossible, and I was still extremely weak and prone to fatigue.
It was nearly a year later that the possibility of a hand transplant emerged. The process was extensive, spanning two years of consultations, medical and psychological assessments, and finally, being placed on the transplant list. In 2023, I was fortunate enough to receive a hand transplant, an experience I describe as absolutely amazing.
Returning to Education and Advocating for Change
In 2020, I returned to university to complete my degree. Now 26, I am a medical student once again, with aspirations to graduate as a doctor in 2027. The experience has fuelled a deep desire to support other families affected by this devastating disease, especially in light of the current meningitis outbreak in Kent.
It is absolutely vital that young people are fully aware of the risks associated with meningitis. They need to understand the signs and symptoms, not only in themselves but also in their friends. Crucially, they must know that the MenACWY vaccine, often administered to teenagers, does not offer protection against MenB. This underscores the importance of learning the symptoms of meningitis and seeking immediate medical help if you feel unwell.
I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to live my life again, but I know that not everyone is so lucky. I wouldn’t wish this devastating disease, or its cruel long-term consequences, on anyone.
