On the Coast – Over 55 Issue 33 I January/February 2020 | Page 28

Raising awareness
Every second counts
H
i, I am Sarah Joyce. You may
have seen me on posters on
bus stops and and on the back
of buses to help raise awareness about
meningococcal disease. MCA approached
me a few months ago and asked if I would
be interested in “stripping bare” for want
of a better term, to show others what
meningococcal disease can do to a person.
The funny thing is, although this ravaged
my body, I'm one of the lucky ones who
survived.
This is my story...
I was struck down by the W strain and
septicaemia in August 2016. I was 30
years old.
I went from being a happy
independent working woman to fighting
for my life within hours. After thinking I
had the flu, I kept getting worse and after
12 hours I was on life support and my
family were told to say goodbye.
Waking up 8 days later
from a coma, I had no idea
the fight I still had ahead
of me. I couldn’t move my
body and I was put back
on life support a further
four times. I lost four
major organs, my spleen,
gallbladder, and bowel
were removed and my
kidneys have failed.
I have had 58
admissions to hospital and
35 operations, including
amputations of fingers
and toes. There isn’t much
of me that Meningococcal
hasn’t impacted.
Life after Meningococcal for me is a
constant battle. Three years on, I am still
dependent on dialysis and have been
reliant on a feeding pump to keep me
alive and I require a kidney transplant. I
have tubes and attachments all over my
body. I am in constant pain and I never
know what the next day will bring.
Meningococcal has taken a lot
from me. It has taken my career, my
independence and the ability to have
children.
Meningococcal can happen to anyone
any age at any time. It happened to me.
Don’t let it happen to you.
Learn the signs and symptoms.
Stay protected, get vaccinated. There are
2 vaccines ACWY and Men B. Speak to
your GP for more info.
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