Meningitis in your words: Sarah Joyce's story

I was struck down by Meningococcal disease W strain with septicaemia in August 2016. I was 30 years old. I went from being a happy independent 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 also have intestinal failure and an ileostomy. 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.

"Meningococcal has taken a lot from me. It has taken my career, my independence and the ability to have children."

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.

 

 

In collaboration

This article is published in collaboration with the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Original article

Author

Sarah Joyce, November 2019

Meningitis in your words

Meningitis in your words is a digital library of stories, hosted by Meningitis Research Foundation, from people around the world who have experienced the life-changing impacts of meningitis. Their goal is to reach 2,030 stories in support of the World Health Organization’s goal to defeat meningitis by 2030, making this the world’s largest digital collection of first-person meningitis experiences.

Survivors, partners, parents, carers, friends, heath workers – everyone has a story to tell. Each one is unique, personal and has something to offer. Whether it’s compassion, encouragement, optimism or despair, sharing helps others who have experienced the impact of meningitis, letting them know that they are never alone.

Check out the full series