How little Joshua Rowe fought back against meningitis

Sep 16 2008 By Alison Dayani, Health Correspondent

BATTLING Joshua Rowe knows just what it takes to survive after twice staring death in the face.

Despite doctors almost giving up hope on him when the tot was born premature and then 14-months-later when he fell into a coma suffering from meningitis, Joshua has fought back, to the delight of mum Tracey Bond.

Tracey, of Cottsmeadow Drive, Washwood Heath, cherishes every day she has with her “brave soldier”.

“Joshua was born two months early by emergency caesarian, weighing only 3lb 11oz and was in intensive care for five weeks,” said Tracey, aged 24. “After the first 12 months, he was better but then he got meningitis and it was the worst time of my life.”

Joshua, now nearly three, had the tell-tale signs of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia of a raging temperature, a rash and was lifeless in September 2006.

After initially being told it may be flu and to see how he was overnight, Tracey could not wait any longer and called 999.

"Joshua was in a coma for three days and I was constantly told by doctors he was not going to survive,” said Tracey. “I even got the reverend from my church, Boldmere Methodist, to come into hospital.

“There is a coma scale from one to 15 where the closer a patient is to one, the higher chance of them being brain dead. Joshua was on three. I was sleeping by his bedside one night when he suddenly woke up. I kissed his little face off. He hasn’t a clue what he has put me through.”

Tracey has teamed up with the Meningitis Reseach Foundation to warn other parents on signs of meningitis as winter approaches, when the infection of the brain is more prominent.

“My advice to parents out there is that you know when something is wrong with your child,” added Tracey. “Follow your instinct, phone a helpline or an ambulance, but do something before it is too late as meningitis can kill in a few hours.”

Free symptom packs are available through the found- ation’s free 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344, or at www.meningitis.org