Ryan Coffey's story

On the 1st December 2000, my son Ryan, aged 3, contracted meningococcal septicaemia.  Just two weeks previously I had attended a Foundation-run meningitis seminar through work - thank God!  

Ryan was absolutely fine that day, ate his dinner and went to bed as usual at 8pm.  At around midnight I went to check on Ryan as I always did, and found him burning hot. I woke him up to give him Calpol, and he began to be sick all over his bed.  After I had cleanI didn'ed him up and given him Calpol, he went back to sleep in my bed.  But, just two hours later, he was sick and burning again and I knew something wasn't right.  I decided to check Ryan over for any spots and found a small purple blotch beside his genitals.  I remembered at the seminar I had attended, how to carry out the glass test; the blotch didn't fade at all, so I called G-Docs and told the doctor that I thought Ryan had contracted meningitis.  The doctor asked why I was so specific and I told him I had attended a meningitis seminar and knew the signs/symptoms.  The doctor told me to take Ryan straight to A&E and he would call to let them know I was on my way.

I was so calm - Ryan was still being sick and becoming semi-conscious, the blotch was still there, but so were a few more new blotches and some spots had appeared.  I drove Ryan straight to hospital; I must have driven through every red light on the way, but I knew time was of the essence and I didn't care.  

As we arrived I carried him straight in and the doctors were waiting for us.  One doctor took over straight away - I remember them putting him on a bed and hope I never experience again what I saw.  All of these red spots began appearing on his body like someone was using a red pen in front of my eyes.  The doctor had to insert a drip of antibiotics immediately and even went straight into the original purple blotch beside his genitals.  That was when they asked me to leave the room.

That was when I broke down; my 3-year-old son had meningitis (every parent's worst nightmare) and I didn't know if he would survive, there was nothing more I could do.  I kept thinking to myself, "thank god I attended that seminar, thank god I knew what signs and symptoms to look for".  I prayed Ryan would be okay, he had to be. (Ryan's dad was out of the country on business and my parents were away on vacation, so I was by myself.)

Each day got better as Ryan grew stronger and was beginning to be like his old self.  After two weeks in hospital, Ryan was allowed home. What a relief for all of us.  

During the first few weeks at home Ryan was tired easily but went on to make a full recovery.  The doctor from the hospital told me that I had saved his life recognising the symptoms so early on, but had I not attended the seminar at work, I may not have know what I was looking for.

Ryan is now a happy, healthy, lively 12-year-boy who has many friends, and is a fabulous big brother to his three younger brothers and has no lasting effects of the meningitis.  

I joined the Meningitis Research Foundation straight away after Ryan got home from hospital and for years helped raise money for research.  Ryan and I did visit the Edinburgh offices not long after and helped with a television advert for the Foundation.