“We just cannot get how in such a short time my son became so critically unwell."
“My son Samuel was 34-years-old. He became unwell on the 14 April 2024, and sadly passed away on 16 April 2024. Sam was complaining of an earache and I bought ear drops from the chemist, not knowing that there was something more serious going on.
“On Saturday 13 April, Sam appeared okay. He was at a family BBQ and playing with my grandchildren.
“On that evening Sam went to visit my mum. He seemed fine when he returned home at 9.30pm. He went up to his room and that was the last time I spoke to him. He was on his laptop until 11.10pm. What happened between 11.10pm to 4.45am I don’t know, he never came to me for help. I just hope he never suffered during that time.
Collapsed on the bed
“I found him collapsed on the bed, unconscious, breathing fast. I called for help and he was blue lighted to the hospital. He had two brain scans and both showed swelling of the brain. They couldn’t carry out a lumbar puncture – the critical care unit said it could cause instant death. The hospital never confirmed it was meningitis. At the time they were unsure of what had caused Sam to be critically unwell.
“Sam sadly passed away, and further tests were carried out on Sam’s brain and heart. Addenbrooke Hospital confirmed the cause of death was acute bacterial meningitis.
“I’m very sad to say, myself and my family miss Sam dearly. We just cannot get how in such a short time my son became so critically unwell. But his brain was swollen and the doctors said the damage had been done.”
If you have been affected by meningitis, contact the Meningitis Now nurse-led Helpline on 0808 80 10 388 or email helpline@meningitisnow.org.
