What price would you put on your child’s life, your niece’s, nephew’s , grandchild’s or for that matter any child’s? If your child was dying from a disease – which could now possibly be prevented by a vaccine – which one of the following options would you choose:- () Avail of the vaccine OR () Risk contracting the disease (End result could be death or in lots of cases survival could have devastating consequences such as amputation of limbs, loss of sight/hearing and in some cases brain damage) We know as parents what our choice would have been but tragically for us such an option was not available. Our beautiful youngest daughter Terri, and Karen’s only sibling, tragically died at the very tender age of 16 having developed Bacterial Meningitis/septicaemia. A fun-loving girl, who touched the lives of all who knew her, she had on the 13th December 2008 celebrated her 16th Birthday – her best ever and her last. Terri died on the 21st December having been admitted to hospital and been on life support from her arrival a few days earlier. Doctors and nurses fought endlessly and tirelessly to save her life but it was not to be. Terri has now become one of hundreds who have died from Meningitis and for those who have survived, the end result for some of them has become a life-long challenge both for them and their families. However in January 2013 after years of research, the new vaccine “Bexsero” became a licensed product in Europe. This vaccine could eliminate up to 75% of various strains of Men B. The JCVI are addressing Government on the 12th June re same and will hopefully recommend that this vaccine be introduced into the childhood immunisation programme asap. Past vaccines to treat various other strains of meningitis have been very successful – Meningitis C has almost been eradicated. The Pneumococcal vaccine however took the Government five years to implement after it was first recommended and Meningitis Research are campaigning to have this new Men B vaccine introduced asap if the JCVI recommend same. To have to wait five years again should not even be an option. Having had great support from Meningitis Research, Belfast and been involved in major fundraising events to contribute towards their research programme since Terri died, we decided to back their current campaign. And so the “Time for Terri and All who have been affected by Meningitis” campaign/petition was set up. Our aim was to encourage people to sign the petition urging Government to implement this vaccine asap, - if recommendation is made- and also encourage people to become more Meningitis aware. A few short months later almost 22,000 signatures will be presented to Downing Street on 6th June and to Stormont on the 11th June. Meningitis is a random disease. It can strike any one of any age at any time but young babies/toddlers and teenagers are more susceptible. We have never been selective in our campaign and we are contacting all MLA’s of the Northern Ireland Assembly to ask you all to show complete unity by supporting Meningitis Research’s campaign. When the death of your child is inevitable you will avail completely of any assistance offered to try and save their life – selective you will not be. We made the ultimate decision to donate Terri’s organ for transplant - a decision we have never regretted - three lives were saved – creed, race, religion nor politics played any part for us and I’m sure nor did it for the recipients. We ask that you please view this particular request from a personal angle and try to avoid completely turning this into a political decision. By showing your own personal support and encouraging party colleagues to do the same you are protecting not only your own but thousands of others. When it becomes a matter of “Life or Death” no stone should be left unturned and no price should be put on saving a life. Too late for us and lots of others but the only preventative for meningitis is vaccination. We are very conscious that we are not the only parents who have lost a child and are very aware that lots of parents are at this very minute in time maybe sitting at the bedside of a critically ill child. However we cannot remain negative in our thoughts – if a cure or preventative is available we must do all in our power make such available. Need we say anymore…………….
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:00:50 +0000
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