News & events

• Latest news
  • News archive
  • Fighting for a vaccine in memory of Kayden
  • Meningitis strikes Mossley family twice
  • Motocross in memory of Kelsey
  • Survivor Louise launches Big Stroll at Giants Causeway
  • Running in memory of Ross
  • Brave parents raise awareness in memory of Kadyn
  • Friends and family unite to remember Joél
  • Pounding the pavements in memory of Hannah
  • Meningitis survivor takes on personal swimming challenge
  • Raising awareness of meningitis in memory of Samantha
  • Runners unite for World Meningitis Day
  • Torch bearer Sally swims for the fight against meningitis
  • Take part in the Great North Run
  • Walking in memory of Stuart
  • Families step out for Big Stroll North East
  • Pub punters help stamp out meningitis
  • Meningitis UK welcomes Meningitis B vaccine trial news
  • Families touched by meningitis help launch awareness trailer
  • Motocross fundraiser in Kelsey Smart's memory raises £900
• Photo gallery
• Video
• Media centre
• Newsletter
• Supporter DVD
• 10th Anniversary
• Information days
• Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign

News RSS Feed

Community makes Time 4 Tea to help beat meningitis

27.09.10

A CAERNARFON mum is organising a community tea party to mark her son's recovery from deadly brain bug meningitis.

Little Owain McGee was just 15-months-old when he fell ill, a "horrific" experience which has prompted his mum Elin to fundraise for Meningitis UK.

She hopes the event, being held from 2pm on Saturday, will raise awareness of the devastating disease.

Everyone's invited to Ysgol Rhostryfan community hall for the Time 4 Tea fundraiser, which features lots of tea and cake, plus stalls, face painting, fancy dress and a raffle.

The aim is to raise vital funds for Meningitis UK, which funds cutting-edge research to find a preventative vaccine for all forms of the disease to save thousands of lives in the future.

Elin, 29, remembers how Owain fell ill a week after they returned from a holiday in Spain and Holland.

She said: "Initially Owain was just a bit flat and had a slight temperature. A slight rash began to appear, which looked like chicken pox.

"Chicken pox had been going around so we weren't overly worried at this point. But at 8pm he started vomiting and was moaning.

"The spots had gone flat instead of raised so we called NHS direct. We did the tumbler test and some of the spots didn't fade."

By 10pm Owain's temperature had rocketed to 40 degrees so his parents Elin and Jason decided to take him to Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor as a precaution.

Calpol had brought his temperature down by this point and he seemed to perk up and even began playing.

Elin said: "The doctor didn't know what was wrong but decided to keep us in overnight because we lived so far away from the hospital.

"It was lucky he did because Owain deteriorated within a few hours. By the morning the rash had got worse and they began treating him with antibiotics.

"He was in the high-dependency ward for four days. It was horrendous. I thought he was going to die."

Despite Elin's worst fears, brave Owain battled back and was allowed home.

He's now three and Elin hopes their nightmare experience will help alert others to the signs and symptoms of meningitis.

She said: "I was so glad I trusted my instincts and decided to take him straight to hospital. He started at school part-time in September and we're confident he's made a good recovery – much to everyone's relief."

Owain was diagnosed as having meningococcal septicaemia, which occurs when meningococcal bacteria enter the blood strain and multiply uncontrollably, poisoning the blood and completely overwhelming the immune system damaging the blood vessels, tissues and organs.

There are vaccines for Meningitis C, Hib and pneumococcal meningitis but there is still no protection from Meningitis B - the most common form of meningitis in the UK.

Money raised from the Time 4 Tea event will go towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to raise £7million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against all forms of meningitis.

Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK after his son Spencer died from the disease, said: "Elin's community Time 4 Tea event sounds fantastic. We're very thankful to her, not just for organising the day but also for sharing Owain's story and helping to raise awareness of this devastating disease.

"Every penny raised will go towards our single focus – to find a vaccine to eradicate meningitis. Every bit of help is so important in enabling us to continue our vital work.

"Our ultimate goal is to spare people the heartache thousands of families have suffered by losing a loved one to meningitis."

The Time 4 Tea at Ysgol Rhostryfan community hall begins at 2pm on Saturday and everyone is welcome. To get involved, or donate something for the raffle, please contact Elin via email – elinmcgee123@btinternet.com

Meningitis UK is offering the public free symptoms information packs to help raise awareness. These include a leaflet with all the facts and frequently asked questions, plus a 'Check the Symptoms' fridge magnet and handy wallet-sized symptoms cards.

To order your free symptoms information pack or for more information about Meningitis UK, call 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org.