"On October 1st, 1992, I got meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, just two months before I was due to be christened.
My mam told me that it happened so quickly.
She checked on me in my cot and knew straightaway that something was wrong with me. I had no physical symptoms but she had that mother's instinct that something wasn't right, I just wasn't myself. When she picked me up my body was floppy so she decided to phone my grandma who told her to take me to the hospital.
I was told that my condition worsened and by the time they got me into the hospital my heart had stopped. I was resuscitated immediately but my doctor told my family to prepare for the worst because it looked like I wouldn't make it and I would die.
I was moved into the Intensive Care Unit and doctors did a lumbar puncture to relieve pressure and remove fluid from my brain. I went through a number of injections and treatments and had to stay in hospital for at least eight weeks."
Like a miracle
"I was allowed home around November 26. I had survived a few weeks before my christening. I had been through so much with the doctors and nurses of North Tees Hospital that they bought me and my family cards and toys.
We still keep in touch with one of the nurses who looked after me.
I was fine again - it was like a miracle. I was unharmed by the terrible disease and the only evidence I was left with from having meningitis was an injection scar on my left thigh.
I feel so grateful to the people who helped save my life. They have enabled me to live through experiences I would never have had, like my school prom and the birth of my baby sister.
I would just like to say to people who are going through experiences with meningitis to keep their heads held high, like my family did, because people can survive."
