A Kent mum has described the last two days as ‘horrendous’ after her daughter was rushed to hospital following a seizure triggered by meningitis. Khali Goodwin said she awoke on Sunday (March 15) to voicemails from William Harvey Hospital in Ashford informing her that her 21 year old daughter, Keeleigh, had been admitted after being discovered unconscious at her shared accommodation in Canterbury.
This follows a meningitis outbreak in the area, which has claimed two lives and left others in induced comas.
The 39 year old mum-of-six told KentLive: “Keeleigh rang me saying she has all these symptoms and everything, and I said ‘that’s probably Covid’. She kept saying her head was really bad, and she was feeling sick.
“Next thing I woke up in the morning to voicemails on my phone from the hospital and she had a seizure. She got up from bed, went into the bathroom, and she had seizure and she fell. Luckily enough, she’s in a shared accommodation, and her housemate found her and rang an ambulance.”
Khali said she believed her daughter had received all her vaccinations and never suspected bacterial meningitis. She said the past two days have been horrendous as a mum, witnessing her in this condition, reports Kent Live.
She was able to visit Keeleigh in hospital yesterday whilst wearing a mask. She said: “It was just horrendous to see how she was yesterday (March 15)
“It’s frightened the life out of her. It’s completely scared her, she’s absolutely petrified she said she doesn’t want to go out at all. I think this will be the one to completely and utterly change her life.”
Keeleigh, who works full-time at McDonald’s, visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on Thursday (March 12) alongside friends. The nightclub has acknowledged the situation, stating “some people who may have attended Club Chemistry could have been affected by the current outbreak.”
The venue has remained shut for the remainder of the week. The source of the outbreak remains unconfirmed.
Keeleigh faces a week-long hospital stay, according to her mum, who explained: “I went to see her yesterday because I obviously needed to make sure she was alright with my own eyes. But I’ve also got very small children at home I wore a mask and I’ve got to be so careful.”
Khali is encouraging anyone experiencing symptoms to ring 111, after her daughter’s condition began with merely a temperature. “It just slowly got worse and then she had the headache,” she explained. “She said she had never had headaches like it and said it was the worst headache she could possibly have had. I could ‘have lost her’.
The mum expressed gratitude towards her daughter’s housemate, who discovered her in the nick of time. “Honestly that girl is amazing, she literally a lifesaver. If she hadn’t found her, then I would have lost her.”
Two individuals have lost their lives due to the outbreak, including a student from the University of Kent and Juliette, a Year 13 pupil from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham.
A total of 11 people are presently ‘seriously ill’ in hospital.
Trish Mannes, UKHSA Regional Deputy Director for the South East, offered reassurance to students and staff that close contacts of cases have received antibiotics and that guidance and support are being provided to the broader student community. She stressed the significance of recognising symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, including fever, headache, vomiting, cold hands and feet, and a rash that does not fade when pressed.
Meningitis symptoms.
Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:.
The latest on the Kent outbreak.
Hundreds of students have been lining up for antibiotics following the deaths of two young people in a meningitis outbreak, with others admitted to hospital.
One of the deceased was Juliette, a year 13 student, who was described by her headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham in Kent as “incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent”. The other victim attended the University of Kent.
The Press Association understands that some of those hospitalised have been placed into induced comas. A local nightclub reported it has been contacted by officials attempting to trace people who may be affected.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported that it is aware of 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis from Friday to Sunday in the Canterbury area of Kent.
A spokeswoman for the UKHSA confirmed to the Press Association: “We can confirm that UKHSA has worked with the University of Kent to provide advice letters to all 16,000 students, advising on recent cases, signs and symptoms, how to obtain antibiotics, and what to do if they feel unwell.”
However, not all 16,000 students at the university will be provided with antibiotics.
Amelia McIlroy, the headteacher of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, confirmed the tragic loss of one of its year 13 pupils.
She expressed: “It is with great sadness that we are confirming the loss of Juliette, a much loved and treasured member of our school community.
“Juliette was a student at our school for seven years. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent and she loved our school and was very happy here. Juliette embraced everything that school had to offer with great enthusiasm and joy and her humour and positivity were captivating.
“She was a genuinely caring and attentive listener, a true friend – who listened with warmth, respect and sincere interest to her peers and to our staff.
“In short, she was a lovely girl – her beautiful smile, her loving nature and her sense of fun will be hugely missed. We are all devastated.
“Our love and thoughts are with her family and friends at this terribly sad time.
“Our priority now is the safety and well-being of all members of our school community and we are continuing to work closely with UKHSA.”
