Meningitis in your words

Philip Ford's story

  • Location: Northern Ireland
  • Categories: Group B meningococcal (MenB)
  • Age: Baby 0-1
  • Relationship: Self
  • Outcome: Recovery with after effects
  • After effects: Learning difficulties
Philip Ford

When we were born we were very premature, my twin brother died within a few hours.

I was in hospital for a few months. When they finally let me home, I developed meningococcal CEP B - survived that.

Throughout my childhood I was always sick, couldn’t walk very far, speech problems. Had many, many doctors’ visits, physiotherapy. I tended to walk with a limp, always tripping and falling. I walk with my right foot at an angle. They were thinking of fixing my foot.

At the age of 11 I became very Ill, very quick, I’d developed hydrocephalus. I almost died on the operating table. Had my first shunt in, all went well, then it became blocked. Back in hospital for an emergency replacement.

Then at the age of 12 was brought back into hospital and had an operation to relieve pressure from my brain ( I think ). This was called ‘ A Burr Hole ‘ from what I was told. All has gone well since.

I have and always have had learning problems, can’t remember things and take longer at picking things up e.g. to do jobs, how to use things etc.

Philip Ford
February 2019

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Causes of meningitis and septicaemia
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