Meningitis in your words

Keith Morrison's story

  • Location: Australia
  • Categories: Bacterial meningitis
  • After effects: Hearing problems, Learning difficulties, Other, Headaches
KeithMorrison
Content warning – mention of physical abuse in story

This is a true story of me who had meningitis in 1956 as a two and half year old.
Some people may consider this story as pack of lies, but it is all true.

I spent 5 days in a meningitis coma with a priest read me my last rights. An Indian trainee doctor recognised I had meningitis. They only found a cure for it back in 1956. I had seven lumber punches in the back of my neck.

Any doctor will tell you I should be dead, you don't come back from a meningitis coma.
It left me with some disabilities such as slow learning, couldn't play sports, everybody said I was fat and lazy. Beatings I copped at school has left me scared to this day. At 70 years of age, you never forget. I had to be the same as everybody else. At six years of age I don't understand what was going on, so I came withdrawing from everything, even my parents expected me to be the same as everybody else. My legs ached and still do to this day. My neck is stiff and sore as well.

I hope this brings hope to all that are suffering from meningitis, I survived.

If you’ve been affected by this story and would like to speak to someone, please reach out to our Support Services team who are here to help.
 

I hope this brings hope to all that are suffering from meningitis, I survived.

Keith Morrison
September 2024

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