MRF Member, Sue Burke, then provided a moving account of the illness of her son Cieran and her family's struggle to deal with the consequences of the disease. Cieran contracted meningococcal meningitis when he was just nine months old and has a range of neurological after effects, including deafness.

1. Sue Burke July 2010 Living With The Impact Of Meningitis

2. 22 ndApril 2004 Cieran and Connor were born at 17:13 and 17:14 Weighing a healthy 7lb 3oz and 6lb 3/4oz After a fairly uneventful twin pregnancy of 38 weeks and 1 day

4. 10 am Attended GP’s Surgery and asked could this be meningitis as I’d seen this Before

5. Told to give CALPOL , this was nothing more than a virus...

6. 14:30 Visited another GP without Cieran for my own routine appointment and was told to give juice crisps and nurofen.

8. Returned to G.P’s and was told 90% sure he was fine

9. Requested paediatric input at hospital

10. Under duress was referred to the hospital and asked did I want a taxi phoning or did I have transport.

11. Lumbar puncture

13. Christened

15. Vomiting

16. Drowsiness

17. Pain upon Nappy Change

19. No head control / floppy

20. Hearing test referral

22. Cochlear Implant Sept 2005

23. Epilepsy

24. Global Developmental Delay

25. Hypertonia

26. Brain Abnormalities

28. My Feelings

43. THANKYOU Questions?