Dan pounds the streets to mark remarkable recovery
23.08.10
WHEN Swindon student Dan Wilson was struck down by meningitis earlier this year, doctors warned his parents to expect the worst.
The 20-year-old was in a coma fighting for his life for four days as the deadly bacteria overwhelmed his body.
But, thanks to expert care, Dan has made a miraculous recovery and is now in training for the Chippenham Half Marathon on September 12.
He's aiming to raise over £400 for Meningitis UK in support of the charity's work to find a vaccine for the killer disease.
Dan, who is studying Sports Education at the University of Gloucestershire, remembers how he fell ill on February 21.
He said: "I came home from university to play football that weekend. I had a bit of a sore throat but it didn't feel like anything unusual. I played football during the day and was fine.
"My little brother cooked dinner that night and at midnight I started being sick so we blamed him for giving me food poisoning.
"But I continued to be sick and in the morning woke up with a headache which got worse throughout the day."
Dan rang NHS Direct who said it was probably a bad case of the flu - a diagnosis which was repeated at a walk-in centre where Dan went at 3pm.
As the day progressed and his head "felt like it was going to explode", he complained to his parents that he felt so ill he needed to be rushed to hospital.
Dan explained: "By this point I couldn't stand the light and was still being sick. My parents knew something serious must be wrong as I would normally battle through a bug without complaining.
"I was able to walk to the car but once we arrived at hospital I was staggering everywhere. I could barely walk and was sick in the waiting area.
"By this point a rash was developing on my arms. I can't remember much more until I woke up four days later."
Dan initially had to be sedated as he was thrashing out and doctors instantly suspected meningitis.
They warned his parents that the next 24 hours would be critical and that he might not pull through.
Dan was in intensive care for two days and in a coma for four, with no one knowing what condition he would be in when he woke up.
Thankfully he'd been treated in time for meningococcal septicaemia, which occurs when meningococcal bacteria enter the blood stream and multiply uncontrollably, poisoning the blood and completely overwhelming the immune system damaging the blood vessels, tissues and organs.
Dan was allowed home from hospital after eight days and had to gradually build up his strength before returning to university to complete his first year.
He added: "The doctor told me not to do any sport for four months so I'm the most unfit I've ever been.
"But I was determined to do something to raise money for Meningitis UK as I don't want others to go through what I did. I feel so lucky to have survived with no lasting affects so running 13.3miles seemed a suitable challenge."
All money raised through Dan's Chippenham Half Marathon efforts will go towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to make £7million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B - the most common form of the disease in the UK.
Dan will be part of the Meningitis Musketeers team, with the motto ‘All 4 One and One 4 All' - to highlight the devastating fact that meningitis can kill in under four hours.
Meningitis UK's Chief Executive Steve Dayman said: "Dan's running efforts are really remarkable given that he was so ill just six months ago. We're very thankful to him for taking part in the Chippenham Half Marathon and we hope he enjoys what should be a great day.
"Every penny raised will go towards our single focus - to find a vaccine to eradicate meningitis. Continued support from the public 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."
To sponsor Dan, please visit www.justgiving.com/Daniel-Wilson5
For more information on meningitis, or to support Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, please call 0117 373 73 73 or visit www.meningitisuk.org.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
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