THE MOTHER of the six-year-old Bebington girl who contracted meningococcal septicaemia, has written to the Globe to give an insight into how the disease affects victims and their families.

The good news is that the girl, a pupil at Town Lane Infants School, who we do not name at her mother's request, has made a good recovery and returned to school.

This is her mother's letter: "The recent outbreak of meningococcal septicaemia at Town Lane Infants School, Bebington, was a cause for concern for every parent with a child attending, but more so for me being the parent of the child actually suffering with the sometimes fatal disease.

"Meningitis is a nightmare which every parent prays their child will never come into contact with. Sadly for me that nightmare came true.

"I can understand the panic which an incident like this causes, but this is mainly due to badly written media reports and people's ignorance of the disease and its causes.

"The germs which cause meningitis live at the back of the throat and nose. ANYONE can be a carrier without even knowing. School friends and work colleagues are not normally at risk. It is normally people living in the same household who have the highest risk of catching the disease from the victim.

"Contrary to the belief of some, I would like to state the fact that my daughter was not unwell at school on the Friday. She was in fact fit and healthy, otherwise she would not have been at the school and I am 100 per cent sure that school Head Mrs Jones will clarify this for me.

"My daughter was taken by ambulance to Arrowe Park Hospital at 2pm on Saturday afternoon after waking up at 8.30am feeling unwell.

"I sat by her in casualty holding her hand, while a team of doctors and nurses rushed around trying to save her life, knowing there was nothing on this earth I could do to help her myself. I did not know for sure whether she would survive. This torment was like nothing I have ever known or wish to know again.

"It is hard enough to try to come to terms with the fact that your child has the disease, but it is made even harder by the attitude of others.

"Through their own ignorance, selfishness and comments, it makes an already distressing situation worse. To them I would like to ask the question: "If the shoe were on the other foot and it was your child, would you still be as spiteful and uncaring then?"

"My heart goes out to any other parents whose lives have been, or may be, infiltrated by this awful disease. I pray that, as in my case, the outcome will be a happy one and that your family and true friends will provide you with all the love and support you may need, as mine did.

"My daughter was released from hospital on Wednesday, February 11, and is doing very well and hopefully will have returned to school after half-term.

"I would like to thank everyone at Town Lane Infants School - the staff, the majority of parents who I now call friends, and to the children themselves for all the love, support and concern and also for the cards and gifts we have received.

"I thank my family. Without them I don't think I could have found so much strength.

"But, to the staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in A&E and Poppy Ward 11, the biggest thank you. Words cannot describe how much I think of you all.

"Due to your dedication and commitment to your jobs, you have given me the greatest gift of all - my daughter."

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