“I was at work and started feeling a bit off it. As the afternoon wore on I felt really sick and had a headache.
“I went straight to bed when I got home but later started vomiting and my headache became so bad I even banged my head on the wall to try and get rid of the pain. On Day 2 I had light sensitivity and was being sick still. I couldn’t stand even the bedclothes touching me.
“By Day 3 I noticed a rash and my mum phoned the doctors again. They arrived within minutes and injected me with antibiotics and arranged an ambulance. I remember having the lumbar puncture but after that not much else for a few days. I am very lucky that I don’t have any lasting effects from this illness. The hospital told me it was a matter of hours if I hadn’t got to them when I did.”