On Thursday, 16th November 2023, at two and a half weeks old, our son Elliot was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, which he had contracted through group B strep. Late-onset group B strep infections develop in babies older than seven days and occur in around 1 in every 2,700 babies in the UK and Ireland.
We noticed Elliot was not feeding much and seemed lethargic. When we took him to the hospital, however, we were told he may have reflux. Fast forward nearly 24 hours, and we still felt that he was off, although it was hard to detect what it was with him only being a newborn. We decided to take him back to hospital as he slowly stopped having feeds altogether, but things snowballed frighteningly quickly within an hour or two.
When Elliot was admitted to hospital, his infection rate was more than double what it should be for his age and size, with meningitis symptoms such as floppiness, lack of coordination, lethargy, refusing to feed, and a grey/white pallor.
Elliot was in critical care for a few days. We were transferred from Gateshead to paediatrics in Sunderland, where he had a CT scan, lumbar puncture, help with oxygen after his levels dipped, an EEG test, an MRI, anti-seizure medication, antibiotics, and countless blood tests taken. The treatment our baby was subject to was quite aggressive to try and get ahead of the infection rate; timing is crucial when dealing with meningitis, and the severity depends on how quickly you catch it. We didn't know at this point if he would pull through, as it had already taken a strong hold. It was very touch-and-go, and the doctors couldn't give us an answer as I sobbed and repeatedly asked if he was going to be alright.
I can't even begin to describe the feeling of almost losing a child. Those days in hospital were harrowing; the odds were already stacked against Elliot, with him being a newborn and having had no immunisations yet. Waiting around and literally taking each hour as it came were the darkest days of our lives, and they were extremely traumatic. My husband was steadfast throughout the whole thing, and we leaned on each other for support. If it weren't for his presence and firm belief that our youngest son would make it, I would have lost my mind. He provided hope and comfort when I felt our world was ending.
We were ecstatic when Elliot responded well to treatment and his rate of infection drastically dropped. It was then clear he was going to survive, but we were hit with another blow when we were told that, as with any meningitis case, he may have been left with long-term brain damage. After undergoing various tests and scans and enduring an agonising wait, however, these came back absolutely fine. There was no evidence of seizures or any other unusual brain activity, and no brain damage had been caused, thanks to the infection being treated quickly.
Elliot remained on antibiotics and anti-seizure medication as a safety net for a few weeks at home, but the relief that he pulled through and was safe and well was still, to this day, the best feeling in the world.
For our newborn to have suffered a dangerous and often fatal infection and emerge from it with no obvious long-term problems was, and still is, astounding to us. In his short life, he has been through a great deal medically, but he fought meningitis every step of the way, managing to steal the hearts of the nurses who took care of him. I'm so proud of the strength he showed in hospital. He was always meant to be here on earth with his family, and he wasn't going without a fight.
There is no doubt that without the quick actions of both the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Sunderland Royal, Elliot would not be with us today. The doctors and nurses were incredible and did everything in their power to make him well again. The NHS really doesn’t get enough credit for the hard work and dedication they show every day for patients in their care - we really do owe them our son's life.
Today, Elliot is a healthy, happy, mischievous little toddler who will be turning two at the end of this month. So far, he has hit every milestone, and no long-term effects seem to have taken hold.
The experience we went through as a family changed our lives forever, both for good and bad. What people don’t often see behind closed doors is how you pick up the pieces after such a catastrophic event, and it can be exhausting, to say the least, to watch in fear for any developmental delays or wait in dread for something else to happen and take away the child that the doctors said - in not so many words - whose outcome was not looking positive.
Today, on World Meningitis Day, learn the symptoms - they aren't always obvious, and it could save a life. If you are unsure about your child's health, take them to a doctor or healthcare professional for an evaluation immediately. Elliot is safe and well, but if we hadn't acted quickly, we were told that by the following morning, he probably would have died.
Each year, we will light a candle for World Meningitis Day and think of those, both victims and families, who have been affected. Our hearts will forever be grateful that our son is thriving and with us. He really is our miracle baby.💫
- Amy McWilliams, Elliot's mum