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. 28 O N T H E C OA S T – OV ER 5 5