https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5872404/signs-meningitis-mother-pictures-son/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5530819/Mother-six-releases-horrific-photos-18-year-old-son.html

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-releases-harrowing-photos-teen-12230533?utm_source=google_news&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=google_news&utm_content=sitemap

Today is a snow day in March. Children all over the country are building snowman and sledging. My day has been very different, my son Ben, aged 18, was admitted to hospital and is in Intensive Care. After lots of tests I have been told that he is in a critical state.

Ben has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, we don't know how this has come around, earlier this week he said he felt ill and had a sore throat. Then all of a sudden everything changed so quickly... yet the day feels so long as his sister, brothers and I wait for test results and improvements.

Today Ben has had to be placed into a medical coma and placed on a ventilator, due to the strain on his body. Once stabilised he has then had to have a lumbar puncture (to take fluid to test to find out the strain of meningitis he has) and a CT scan to look for signs of swelling with his brain.

Yesterday morning, I knew nothing about the distress we were all about to go through. That Island Roads would make a special trip to grit the road so I could get to the hospital for vital antibiotic injections for myself and the children, to avoid any potential contagious contact. My world then is totally different to my view tonight, with Ben in ICU and his sister being observed in hospital.

Lots of Ben's friends, my friends, and of course family are equally concerned and worried. I've had so many supportive messages and offers of help. The reality is that Ben is in the best care, right now all I can do is be there for him.

I want to be able to let him see all the wonderful messages of support, and how much people care about him. So I have set up this page so that he has something to look forward to when he recovers.

Perhaps you could make a small donation to help Ben to do be able something special when he recovers, to give him something to look forward too.

All of us thank you very much for your messages and support.

xxx