Frightened mother Martine Purdy described how her 11-year-old son was unable to walk and talk after contracting meningitis from a respiratory infection. Franki, now 13, had been suffering from a chest infection for five weeks in March 2024 before he suddenly developed leg pain, loss of appetite and a high temperature. The diary informs
The schoolboy from the English city of Nottingham went to bed as usual in the hope that a good night’s sleep would help alleviate his symptoms. In the morning, his mother found him sitting on the bed with crooked fingers, mumbling something and not responding at all. The ambulance took him to the hospital, where the doctors immediately put him in artificial sleep. According to them, at that time he had only an hour left to live.
Tests showed he had contracted a rare and life-threatening form of bacterial meningococcal meningitis with sepsis, called meningoencephalitis. The illness was probably caused by a transient infection of the respiratory tract, which spread to his brain.
Franki survived, but the consequences are serious. After a month in the hospital, he had to learn to walk, talk, eat and swallow again. He still has memory problems, needs help with everyday activities and suffers from severe headaches. “The cheerful boy became a shadow of himself,” says his mother. Franki is gradually returning to normal life and school, but he only remembers the conversations for a few seconds.
The family decided to alert other parents to the warning signs of meningitis that are easy to miss. It belongs there fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting or confusion. Meningitis can progress very quickly and approximately one in ten patients die. Even those who survive can have lifelong consequences. Therefore, experts emphasize that in the case of a sudden deterioration of the child’s condition, it is necessary seek medical attention immediately.
Martine decided to turn Franki’s story into a book that she wrote during his coma. She wants to help other families understand how serious brain damage can be, and that early response can save a life.
