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Walk in memory of baby Kaitlyn

02.11.10

A YOUNG woman who was left devastated when her baby girl was fatally struck down by meningitis is today doing a sponsored walk to mark what would have been her daughter's third birthday.

Kaitlyn McLeod was only 22 days old when her mum Elyse McLeod, 19, was forced to take the painful step of agreeing to switch off the ventilator she was put on within days of contracting the deadly brain bug.

But since that tragic day on November 21, 2007, Elyse has been determined to keep her baby girl's memory alive while also highlighting the seriousness of meningitis and the catastrophic impact it can have on people's lives.

"My major fear is that people will not just forget about Kaitlyn but also the seriousness of the illness because people just don't think about it any more. When I meet new people and explain to them about what happened they don't really understand it," she said.

Kaitlyn began to fall ill when she was 18 days old and was admitted to the High Dependency Unit at Hull Royal Infirmary.

But by the early hours of the following day her condition had worsened, she started having seizures, and was quickly moved onto the Intensive Care Unit where she was put on a ventilator.

Just hours later she was moved to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Leeds General Hospital but the disease had left her brain damaged and her ventilator had to be turned off.

Kaitlyn was moved to St Martin's Hospice, in Grimsby and it was a further three days before she passed away.

With the help of friend Leo Everest, Elyse, organised a sponsored walk from Hutton Cranswick, through Nafferton, and into Driffield Town Centre last Friday.

All funds raised from the 10 mile walk will go to Meningitis UK - the charity Elyse has been keen to support ever since her loss.

Elyse is no stranger to taking part in sponsored events, having twice taken part in the Meningitis UK Walk of Roses which has seen her joined by family and former classmates at Bridlington School Sports College to cover the distance between Bridlington and Driffield on foot.

Meningitis UK founder Steve Dayman has paid tribiute to the fundraising efforts in memory of Kaitlyn.

He said: "Everyone's efforts in memory of Kaitlyn are really remarkable. Although it will be an emotional occasion, we hope the walk goes well.

"What happened to Kaitlyn sadly illustrates the speed at which meningitis can strike, with very few symptoms to distinguish it from more common illnesses.

"The devastation experienced by her family reinforces the importance of finding a vaccine sooner rather than later."