18-year-old Charlene Colechin from Derbyshire, UK, has shared shockingly graphic images of the “reality” of meningitis after the bacterial infection left her fighting for her life in hospital.
She hopes the photos will raise awareness of how serious the disease can be — and how suddenly it can strike.
Charlene’s symptoms began with a headache and vomiting when she got home from work one evening last month. She went to bed, but by morning dark spots had started to appear all over her body and the disease took over her body “in just an hour”.
Her parents called an ambulance and the teenager has been in hospital ever since, facing amputation of the affected limbs.
She bravely took to Facebook to share her story in the hope that others wouldn’t have to experience what she’s been through.
“These are not nice photos, but this is the reality of what meningitis can do,” she wrote.
“I had the worst type of meningitis… it’s bacterial, what’s happening outside of my body was also happening inside my body poisoning my blood.”
“It made all my organs fail, which did cause me to die. They were concentrating on reviving the top half of my body, so they left the bottom half which has caused my feet to go f***ed up. I am losing my toes for definite.”
The Meningitis Research Foudnation estimates there are around 3,4000 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicemia in the UK and Ireland every year. The disease can cause brain damage, deafness, loss of limbs, and even death.
Symptoms of meningitis and septicemia include fever and/or vomiting, severe headache, join or muscle pain, and pale or mottled skin or a sudden rash.
We’re wishing Charlene all the best and admire her incredible bravery at such a terrifying time. You can find out more about meningitis here.