Jake Hilton's story

On 19th April 2015, I was staying at my girlfriend’s house (I had to be told the next bit) when I started with an extremely bad headache and felt sick.

I was then transferred to the intensive care unit. The results came back. My family were told I had severe pneumococcal meningitis, and I may not survive. They were now beside themselves with worry.

I then started to have convulsions. I then went into a coma, my girlfriend called an ambulance and I was taken to the A&E department at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport. I needed to have a brain scan and a lumbar puncture.

I was very quickly treated with strong antibiotics, steroids (to reduce swelling around the brain) and other medications. I was to spend the next 4 days in a coma; my family were told it was possible I may have severe brain damage.

Over the following few days the doctors and nurses were to try and bring me round. I felt very confused and was hallucinating a lot.

When I eventually came round, my family, and the lovely doctors and nurses told me what had happened to me over the last week.

Gradual improvement

The following week I started to slowly improve and then 13 days after arriving in hospital I went home. I felt very weak and had a stiff neck and pains in my right foot and leg, but I felt very lucky to be alive with only minor after effects.

My family and I feel so eternally grateful to all the hard working staff within the ICU at Stepping Hill. A thank you just didn’t seem enough!

Before I got pneumococcal meningitis I dislocated my knee. In total, for both problems, I had about 6 weeks off college.

About 6 weeks on…..

I have got a distinction star in my studies, which is agricultural engineering. I feel amazed I was able to achieve this after being so poorly and I have just enjoyed my summer ball at college with my girlfriend.

I wanted to share my story to give hope and positivity to families that may read this that there can be life after this awful illness.

Keep strong, and forever hopeful.

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