Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving 

8 years ago Isabeau contacted bacterial meningitis two weeks after I wrote the post I have copied at the end this information. I am so lucky to still have Isabeau happy and healthy in my life. This year I wanted to so something to help others who have been affected by meningitis as well as raise awareness. 

Isabeau wants to join me in a year of fundraising so there will be many little updates throughout the year. 

Then in July I have entered Race to to Stones with the pledge to raise £450 My furthest run to date is 18 miles and that was a while ago. 100k in two days is going to be a challenge. Thanks for the support in advance. I will need it not only on race day but also through the training. I will post regular updates on here I'm the upcoming months.

25.11.2013

Hi world, I have not updated my status recently as it has been a very traumatic time for my little family as some of you know. I am however going to share the story of this past two weeks with you all in the hope that someone somewhere will take something from it that will help them.

So where to begin. Almost two weeks ago Isabeau became ill, I like any diligent mother trooped up to my g.p with her. I was told she had a viral chest infection and there is nothing much to do but nurse her until she gets better. This Scott and I did, but by Thursday/Friday she had stopped eating solids, she had previously been a 10mnth old budding foody.

Saturday morning she woke up with conjunctivitis so we rang 111. We were given an appointment at Ilkeston walk in centre. At the walk in centre we met a wiry gp who gave her a minimum examination, proscribed antibiotic eye drops and sent us on our way. A long nap and a dose of eye drops later Isabeau awakes with a worse eye infection and a temperature. So 111 again, another appointment a different walk in centre. Her we see a GP who tells us off for not administering capol. ( Isabeau will only take it forced down her by syringe.) she is given capol and asked to wait in the reception to see if her temp goes down. It does, not as much as the GP would like but we are sent on our way.

So in the middle of the night Isabeau is sick and has a temperature again. She is vacant and pale. 111 is called again, after being patronised about being new parents we get an appointment, we then go to a walk in centre in derby where we are sent on to a&e. Here Isabeau is drinking water again and is given capol. While we wait for her to give a urine sample she perks up as the capol kicks in. When we are seen by the doctor we are told it is a viral infection to give capol and to use ibuprofen if that doesn't work and to come back if we are still worried.

4am we return home. 7.30 Isabeau has her next dose of capol. 8.30 she is very sick, but goes back to sleep. 9.00 we bring her downstairs to cool her fever and give her ibuprofen as instructed. It has no effect, she is dosey but responsive, throwing up all liquids and running a temperature. 111 again, Ripley walk in centre again, this time her pulse is high, her blood oxygen low and she is burning up. We are booked directly into derby and told to drive there or we can have an ambulance if we need it. I say I will drive.

As we pass through reception Isabeau is sick, the reception staff just looked blankly at us and offered a box of tissues to clean it up with. I add this because it is probably the worst thing I have seen a hospital receptionist do to obviously distressed parents of an ill child.

Once we arrive at Derby we are sent directly through to the main part of children's a&e where after a brief attempt to get her to drink fluids she is taken to trauma. Here the Drs and nurses worked to try and get fluids into her, they succeeded in the end by drilling into the bone in her leg. Her body had shut down which meant any other way of getting a vain had become impossible. She was given antibiotics, anti virals, steroids and a catheter fitted. It was this point we were told it was likely that Isabeau had meningitis.

Isabeau is stabilised and given a chest xray, cat scan and a multitude of blood tests. I am given box after box of tissues and both scott and I struggle to come to terms with what is happening. Isabeau is transferred to the high dependancy unit, where she is constantly monitored. She is very still and no longer seems able to move her head. Now we wait.

The cat scan showed nothing in the brain and Isabeau gradually improved. They were then able to complete a lumber puncture. Which later confirmed the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

As the days dragged by Isabeau got gradually better and the number of drugs/monitors reduced. On Friday we were able to take her on home leave and she only had to go in once a day for her antibiotics. On Sunday we were discharged with a follow up care plan and hearing test scheduled. She is not 100% better but a different baby from the weak and ill child in hospital on Sunday and getting better everyday.