Ava Louise McDermott's story

Ten years ago, on 28 September 1995, this little angel was born, Ava Louise McDermott. Becoming a father made me realise that I would do anything to protect my child and that I would give my own life for hers if I could. I am sure a lot of parents can relate to this feeling.

Only a short nine months later, baby Ava Louise contracted meningitis B and bacterial meningococcal septicaemia. It was 7am, and I had no idea of the scale of what was happening while I was nursing her on the way to the hospital. She had a temperature, she was moaning and had light purple spots all over her body. I didn’t know it yet but it was too late.

Everything escalated so quickly from that point. The nurses and doctors were rushing to get her a drip and there was nothing we could do – only watch. What can we do to protect her… nothing.

What happened? I thought we would get her some medicine and go home, what’s going on here? Ava spent those last few days on life support and passed away a week later. I think about her every day and wish I could have protected her from such suffering.

Vaccination is the only protection we could have given Ava. There were no vaccinations for meningitis B ten years ago but there are now thanks to Meningitis Research Foundation. There is more work to do, there are more strains meningitis on the rise. Spread the word and you could save someone’s life.

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