Martyn Preston's story

2011 will be the 11th anniversary of me contracting meningococcal septicaemia. I was extremely lucky I didn’t lose any limbs, I wasn’t left with severe or disabling after-effects and most of all I am still alive. Other people are not that lucky. A lot has happened since then but I haven’t done nearly enough to say thank you to the Meningitis Research Foundation for all the help and assistance they do to help people hit by the horrible disease

On the 12 October 2000 I was rushed to Stepping Hill Hospital and immediately transferred to Macclesfield General where I spent just over seven weeks in Intensive Care heavily sedated. Everything, apart from my heart stopped working – liver, kidney, spleen – and I was placed on a ventilator. I had to have all my platelets replaced and a full blood transfusion.

My wife was told by the doctors that I wouldn’t leave hospital before Easter the following year. I actually was discharged on the 21 Dec after the amazing care I received at Macclesfield. I was 95% blind and unable to walk unassisted. I had gone from 11 stone to just under seven stone. I also had a minor stroke whilst sedated.

I still have treatment every three weeks at Hope Hospital in Salford to assist my immune system as this was damaged by this dreadful disease.

Taking part in the Manchester 10k is something I really need to do to raise money and awareness for MRF and give back something to the people who helped me, Sarah and Oliver through that horrible time. Freya was only a distant twinkle then :-) I really appreciate your support.

Martyn, Sarah, Oliver and now Freya!
January 2011