I was 9 when I was diagnosed with Meningitis. I remember I was having a very high fever from last 2-3 days and my parents thought it was a regular flu. I started vomiting so much my dad had to take me to the hospital. I remember vomiting in car, in the clinic and feeling very disoriented. My doctor asked my dad to immediately hospitalize me. I remember enroute to hospital I was thinking I was gonna die.
My head hurt so much I thought it would blast. I would never forget that first night in the hospital. I was writhing and clenching in the agonizing head ache, I couldn't sleep that whole night. I remember my mum sleeping on the sofa in the room and I wanted to scream so much at her for not easing my pain but I couldn't do anything.
I was there in the hospital for 6 days and everyday was a new torture. They would give me 11-12 injections every day and it would burn so much. On the 3rd day I was informed they had to do get some fluid from my spine, I was terrified. My mom and dad were not allowed in the room and there were about 4-5 docs who were holding me and I was lying on my stomach. I was screaming my lungs out as I thought they would operate on me conscious. But surprisingly I did not feel any pain on my back.
After 6 painful days in hospital I was given a green light to go home. Meningitis left some scars - skin damage on my body specially on my upper thigh. But it doesn't pain and I am glad I survived. The after days were a little blurred but I recovered.
Abilaasha Garg
September 2020