Awareness raising altogether in Scotland

On 20 February 2017, we visited Mearns Castle High School in Newton Mearns, Glasgow to deliver a meningitis awareness talk to the entire sixth form in the school theatre.

Scotland Manager Mary Millar (pictured centre) was accompanied by member Fiona Singh (left), whose daughter Jennifer, a former pupil of Mearns Castle, died of meningitis at the age of 19. Fiona movingly told her story about events running up to Jennifer’s death, and how difficult it was for everyone (even the specialist doctors) to recognise Jennifer’s symptoms.

In addition member Eilidh Bannerman (right), who now teaches Biology and Mearns Castle, took the pupils through her Book Of Experience story.

Eilidh recounted how at the age of seven she contracted meningococcal septicaemia and was given little chance of survival. She emerged with only the loss of a toenail!

Eilidh’s story has attracted over 1,000 ‘shares’ on Facebook, and she encouraged the students to visit her page and to share it.

The session was organised by Lorna Knotts at Mearns Castle, who happens to be Fiona’s niece. Lorna’s mother (Fiona’s sister) has recently recovered from a serious bout of septicaemia.

With case studies about a seven year old, a 19 year old and an older adult, the session demonstrated personally and meaningfully how meningitis and septicaemia can affect anyone of any age.

We’d like to thank Fiona, Eilidh and Lorna for helping to make the session such a success. We’d also like to thank the S6 students for listening so attentively.

We hope everyone at Mearns Castle will always remember the signs and symptoms of meningitis.