A photograph of Savannah Young as a child

Savannah Young's story

Due to complications from a serious childhood injury, Savannah has had meningitis four times. Here she shares her story.

Hi everyone, when I was four a 200 pound table fell on me.

I’ve had seven head surgeries and spinal meningitis four times.

I’m 28 years old now, but my health is going downhill. The doctors say I have the bones of an 80 year old. My memory goes in and out like crazy, and people get frustrated with it. I explain to them about everything I’ve been through.

I've had seven head surgeries and spinal meningitis four times.

Between the ages 4-8 I spent more time in the hospital than anywhere else. And now I have problems with osteoarthritis of my spine and neck, facet arthropathy in my neck, and cervical spondylosis. I’m like a lab rat to doctors – let’s try this. Every appointment is the same, in the sense of we’re going to try a bunch of medicines and then surgery and then more meds. I’ve have two neck surgeries, but with my bones being fragile the new disc is crushing my other disc.

Nothing is helping me. What do I do? I’m in tears on a daily basis because everything is affected by my spine.

 

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