Meningitis in your words

Sarah Joyce's story

  • Location: Australia
  • Categories: Group W meningococcal (Men W)
  • Age: Adult 25-59
  • Relationship: Self
  • Outcome: Recovery with After Effects
  • After effects: Amputations
Sarah Joyce

I was struck down by Meningococcal disease W strain with septicaemia in August 2016. I was 30 years old. I went from being a happy independent woman to fighting for my life within hours.

After thinking I had the flu, I kept getting worse and after 12 hours I was on life support and my family were told to say goodbye.

Waking up 8 days later from a coma, I had no idea the fight I still had ahead of me. I couldn’t move my body and I was put back on life support a further four times. I lost four major organs, my spleen, gallbladder, and bowel were removed and my kidneys have failed. I also have intestinal failure and an ileostomy. I have had 58 admissions to hospital and 35 operations, including amputations of fingers and toes. There isn’t much of me that meningococcal hasn’t impacted.

"Meningococcal has taken a lot from me. It has taken my career, my independence and the ability to have children."

Life after meningococcal for me is a constant battle. Three years on, I am still dependent on dialysis and have been reliant on a feeding pump to keep me alive and I require a kidney transplant. I have tubes and attachments all over my body. I am in constant pain and I never know what the next day will bring.

Meningococcal has taken a lot from me. It has taken my career, my independence and the ability to have children.

Sarah Joyce
November 2019

Detailed information about the after effects of meningitis

Mike Davies contracted bacterial meningitis in 2017. This is his story.
Stories that inspire us to create a world free from the diseases.

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