Giulio Falcone's story

Giulio is now 15 years of age, an active, loving teenager. At the age of three Giulio was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia. At the time I was only seven years old and didn't fully understand what was going on. 

One day, as a family we were walking around Ikea. Giulio started to become tired and couldn't walk anymore. It was only that night when Giulio couldn't sleep and had a terrible rash all over his body that my mother decided to take him to the hospital. 

He was transferred to St Mary's Hospital, where they treated him very well. I'm not sure how long he was in there for, but it seemed like forever to me. It was only when I saw him on that hospital bed that it occurred to me that I may lose my brother forever. 

There is one thing that I will always remember from that hospital, and that was when Giulio woke up. He had been asleep for so long. He asked why he was there, my mother told him. Then to cheer him up she told him that Princess Diana had been in the hospital and saw him. Giulio's reaction was so typical of Giulio: "Why didn't you wake me up?"

Giulio was very very lucky and made a full recovery. He has never been so hyper-active, we have always sworn that the doctors in the hospital gave him something to make him that way. 

Giulio and I have been so close since. Almost losing my little brother realised how much I love him, I could never live without him. My little tough cookie.

Sara Falcone
June 2009