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Meningitis strikes Mossley family twice
TWO members of the same family who nearly died after contracting killer brain bug meningitis are urging people to trust their instincts if they suspect the disease.
Pub landlord Richard Duddle, 44, and his seven-year-old nephew Harrison are encouraging people to back Meningitis UK’s awareness raising campaign after both battled the disease.
Two years ago, Mr Duddle, who owns the Rising Sun pub at Mossley had taken himself to bed after suffering a headache for a week.
He awoke from a coma two weeks later in hospital after his family had called an ambulance when they found him ill in bed.
Richard feels lucky to be alive and has devoted the collection from his pub’s Sunday afternoon cheeseboard to Meningitis UK.
His mother Paula also keeps Meningitis UK collection buckets in her pub The Railway Inn across the Penines in Greenfield.
Richard said: “I would not wish meningitis on anyone. All I remember is feeling ill and then waking up in hospital. I am fully backing Meningitis UK’s Trust Your Instincts campaign. My mother trusted her gut feeling when she suspected there was something wrong and came to check on me which probably saved my life.
“I am also raising money for this charity because I don’t want anyone else to go through this horror. If they can find a vaccine to protect future generations – then that is the ultimate goal. People in the area have been so generous.”
Five years ago, Richard’s nephew Harrison contracted meningitis.
Harrison’s mum Gina was worried about her 15-month-old son who had seemed unwell and off his food.
She thought he had been suffering from the same virus that his twin Ryan had come down with and was monitoring him.
When she checked on Harrison, straightway the nurse practitioner could tell he had suffered a seizure and rang an ambulance.
Harrison was taken to Tameside Hospital and then transferred to Steppinghill. Doctors were ready to send him home and had not given him any blood tests, but Gina insisted he stay for observation. Hours later, he suffered a 40-minute seizure and was then treated for meningitis.
Harrison stayed in hospital for eight days and eventually made a full recovery.
Gina said: “I am supporting Meningitis UK’s Trust Your Instincts campaign as I think it’s a very important message. If I had taken Harrison home and ignored my gut instinct, I dread to think what would’ve happened.
“I urge people to learn the symptoms of meningitis as spotting this disease early and seeking medical attention quickly could save a life.
“Harrison is a really happy little boy – he does Ju Jitsu and does well at school and I know just how lucky we are to still have him in our lives.”
Meningitis UK founder director, Steve Dayman who lost his son Spencer to the disease some years ago, met the family on Sunday, March 11, in Richard’s pub.
Steve said: “Everyone at Meningitis UK is so heartened to hear what a good recovery both Richard and Harrison have made and we are so grateful for this family’s incredible support. Sadly many people are not so lucky and we work closely with people everyday who have experienced the devastation of this awful disease first hand. That is why we are solely focused on finding a vaccine against every type of meningitis.
“In the absence of protection against all forms of the disease we are encouraging to trust their instincts and get to the doctors or A and E straight away if they suspect the disease.”
Meningitis can strike down anyone, of any age, in less than four hours.
The classic signs of meningitis are a headache, stiff neck and dislike of bright lights. Other symptoms include fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, and confusion and drowsiness.
Symptoms typical of septicaemia which can also occur are cold hands and feet, leg pain and abnormal skin colour.
The early symptoms of meningitis are often confused with the common cold and the specific symptoms such as the rash often appear late.
Babies and young children can’t say how they’re feeling so it’s important to look out for other symptoms such as a high pitched cry, dislike of being handled, blotchy skin, pale or turning blue, a bulging soft spot on the baby’s head or poor feeding.
The charity is offering the public a free fridge magnet which, for the first time, separates the specific and general symptoms of the disease.
To request your free symptoms fridge magnet or to find out more about Meningitis UK’s Search 4 A Vaccine Campaign, call 0117 947 6320 or visit: www.meningitisuk.org
Remember your loved ones
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