Brave Alice reveals heartache of meningitis loss

A BEREAVED wife has bravely spoken out about her first-hand experience of meningitis and septicaemia after the loss of her husband.

Alice McGlynn, from Templeogue, tragically lost her 56-year-old husband Mark to meningococcal infection on Christmas Day 2017.

Alice spoke about her experiences on World Meningitis Day (April 24) last week to ensure people are aware of the symptoms, know to be vigilant and act fast.

“On Christmas Eve, Mark complained of a headache and went to bed around 12.30am,” Alice recalled. “Before leaving the room, he said that he thought he might be getting sick as he was starting to feel quite unwell.

“He had a fever of 102F and took some paracetamol. The next morning his temperature spiked again at 102 so more paracetamol was given to him, but he complained of being extremely cold and was wracked with pain all over his body, especially in the back of his legs, chest and neck.”

Four hours later a third dose of paracetamol was given to him.

 “At around 12pm Mark had fallen in the bathroom and afterwards took a type of seizure. He went sideways, his legs spread out straight and his back was straight and stiff.

“His eyes gazed up to the ceiling. He did not respond when I spoke with him. I held him in my arms and shouted to my family to call an ambulance immediately. They arrived in 15 minutes.”

After the paramedics arrived and took Mark to hospital Alice was told to wait in the waiting area.

“Over 90 minutes later a doctor arrived and explained that Mark’s heart had stopped and the team were doing everything in their power to resuscitate him. This is when it all became surreal. The doctor went on to say that they were unsure of what had caused the arrest but that the working diagnosis was that Mark had an aortal tear.

“We asked to see Mark. He was on the CPR machine in the resuscitation room. They eventually asked us for the go ahead to turn off the CPR machine.

“I knew it was the end. Finally, the machine showed the same and the line went flat. My beautiful husband was gone.”

 It was two days after Mark had died that Alice received a call from Tallaght Hospital to inform her that Mark's bloods had come back positive for Neisseria meningitides.

 “Mark was a really funny man, with a dark, dry wit that often went close to the edge of the acceptable,” Alice reveals.

“He would have us cracking up laughing at the things that he would do or say – many of which were unintentional.

“He was a great father and put his children before everything else in his life. We are broken hearted and devastated. Our reality has altered. I miss him every minute of the day.

“We don’t want other people to lose a family member like this and we want everyone to be aware of the disease.”

 Monika Marchlewicz, Ireland Manager at Meningitis Research Foundation (the MRF) said: “We are very grateful to Alice for bravely sharing her story about her loss.

“Sadly, she knows only too well how rapidly this disease can take lives.”

 “Meningitis and septicaemia can kill in a matter of hours. Although babies, young children and teenagers are at most risk, anyone can be affected at any time. Vaccines are the only way to help prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and we encourage everyone to take up the offer of the vaccines included in the immunisation schedule. However, there are not yet vaccines available to prevent all types of meningitis and septicaemia, so knowing the symptoms is also really important.

 “Rapid identification and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia provides the best chance of survival. This is why at MRF we campaign and provide information to the public and health professionals that promotes prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, and raises awareness of the diseases.