‘My daughter shared vape with pals – days later doctor told us to say our goodbyes’

In a terrible moment, a doctor advised a mother to bid farewell to her teenage daughter after she contracted a dangerous virus after sharing her vape with her pals.

When 18-year-old Sian Alderton became ill, her mother, Kerrie Durrant, hurried her to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after noticing red patches on her daughter’s body. At first, she believed she had contracted a virus. Sian was put into a four-day medically induced coma after being diagnosed with bacterial meningitis within four hours of her arrival at the hospital.

“Sian was placed in an induced coma and the doctors and consultants told us Sian was very poorly,” Kerrie, 36, stated. She might not awaken from the coma, so we would need to be ready for the worst and say our goodbyes.

Sian was complaining of a headache by lunchtime, and I saw that she was consuming a lot of water. ‘I can’t move, mum, I ache,’ Sian replied when I recommended that she shift to make herself more comfortable. I saw the rash on her legs and stomach when I drew back the covers to help her settle into a more comfortable posture.

 

“They appeared to be insect bites or chicken pox, but the rash was not elevated; instead, it was red and felt smooth against the skin.” At this time, I became worried and went to get a glass, but the rash persisted.

Knowing what I now know, I would have called 999 instead of taking Sian to A&E with her stepdad. Sian began to hold her head throughout the 20-minute drive, stating, “It hurt really bad.” She then began to have a purple rash on her neck.When we got to the hospital, everything occurred so fast.

“I want people to know that doctors need to identify the origin of the meningitis bacteria. Sian displayed signs of sinusitis during testing, which suggests that the infection may have been spread by saliva from kissing, vaping, or sharing drinks.

During her 14 days in the hospital, Sian’s physicians stated that she might have shared a drink, vaped, or kissed someone while she was out, but they were unable to determine the exact cause. Less than a week after being released from the hospital, she miraculously passed her driving test.

“I’m not a heavy drinker and prefer the socializing that comes with going out,” she stated. My drink count was three or four.

Everyone shares vapes on a night out, so it’s not odd that I shared mine with three pals. Since they were buddies, I didn’t give it much thought.

“Entering the hospital is the last thing I recall doing. I sat in a wheelchair because I knew I was in pain and found it difficult to move, but the image became hazy. I was still feeling very groggy when I woke up a few days later, but I was diagnosed with either meningitis or bacterial meningococcus. The hospital had seen relatively few cases like this before.

“My family’s daily visits were the biggest assistance during that really trying time. To save me from being alone all the time, my mother visited every day and spent a couple nights with me.

“The NNUH doctors, consultants, nurses, and everyone else involved in Sian’s care have our sincere gratitude,” Kerrie continued. The personnel in the Heydon Ward, ICU, resuscitation, and A&E are very outstanding.

The CEO of the nonprofit organization Meningitis Now, Dr. Tom Nutt, stated: “Bacterial meningitis is a potentially fatal disease that can develop quickly and strike without warning. Close contacts of someone who has meningitis are more vulnerable and may need preventive medications, even though not everyone exposed to the bacteria gets sick. The risk of transmission can be decreased by avoiding the exchange of personal belongings and maintaining current immunizations.

“Trust your gut and get medical help right away if you think you may have meningitis. Life can be saved by early diagnosis and treatment.