Actor Jimmy Yuill contracted meningitis in 1998. He shares his story:
FRIDAY 27th February 1998, 18:00pm - I finished a full-on week filming the Cornish Detective TV series ‘Wycliffe’. I knew something wasn’t right as I didn’t want to go out for our usual end of week pints.
I hadn’t felt great for a few days, but ‘the show must go on’- I thought I’d caught the flu that was doing the rounds on set.
That evening the ‘flu’ changed to something else. My joints seemed to have razor blades in them. Head pounded constantly. My throat closing. Not sure if I was conscious all the time. According to Jack Shepherd, lead actor in show who I shared a house with, I woke him up 4:40am, as I stood in his open bedroom doorway, holding a small overnight bag, with the faint words “time to go”.
Saturday 28th February, 5.59am - Admitted to hospital in Truro. At the same time, a young 18-year-old girl was also admitted with similar symptoms. Lumbar puncture confirms bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.
Tuesday 3rd March - I’m taken off life support.
Monday 9th March - I’m taken off IV drug treatment. My life saved by medical science and the superb staff of Treliske Hospital, Truro.
Tuesday 10th March - 10.00am out of hospital. On the 16:09 train from Truro to Bristol, where I lived.
The young girl didn’t make home.
The follow-up consisted of a visit to a doctor and a cranial osteopath.
Did that last two weeks actually happen?
Some thoughts-
When all my organs were calling it a day one part of me was bucking the trend - my hearing. While in a coma the nurses and doctors all talked to me as they worked tirelessly.
As my young family stood at the foot of my bed I remember the nurse telling my children to talk to me. In fact, my hearing was becoming so powerful I could hear through the walls, into the corridor and beyond.
I was fortunate to survive and also fortunate to get back to work relatively soon. Ironically my first job after having meningitis was an episode of “Casualty”.
I realised quite soon while ‘learning the lines’ that things were not as they used to be. The lines were not going in. As an actor on telly, generally, there is very little rehearsal time. I always had a pen and notepad with me in case any thoughts came into my head.
When I realised I couldn’t remember the lines I began to write them down. Just like at school when I was given lines as a punishment, I wrote my lines from the script over and over and over again.
It was a nerve-racking time going on the set to film this episode, not really knowing if I knew the lines or not.
From that day I have to write down my lines over and over and over again. Then repeat.
A small price to pay.
Again, ironically, the first stage show I did after meningitis was a ‘one man show’ at the official Edinburgh International Festival. They seemed to like it.
Looking back, I wish I had talked openly about my new ‘technique’ for learning. I think I was scared in case possible employers got scared of employing me.
Again looking back - Another fortunate thing for me was having two young children. Life goes on - just get on with it. I was lucky to be able to do exactly that although, again looking back, I know I was never the same.
Survivor guilt, for any reason, is difficult to explain. But it is real. Don’t pretend you don’t feel it. You’re not looking for sympathy - it’s just the way it is.
If this helps anyone reading this, I’d be really chuffed.
JIMMY YUILL
P.S. I still have to write my lines down over and over and over again - and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.