Dani's Story

DANI’s Story

Here is what I had written down about my experience.

In August 2002, when I was 14, life was about school, friends, and little things like getting excited about the new Subway opening the next day. My friends and I had made plans to go for lunch. It felt like any other day.

But that night, I woke up with a cramp in my right leg that went away then came back a few times through the night. In the morning came the vomiting. My mum, who was meant to fly to Australia that day, decided to keep me home and booked a doctor’s appointment. I was curled up on the couch, feeling worse by the hour.

I threw up in the car, then passed out in the doctor’s office. I’ll never forget him telling my mum, “There’s a 99% chance she’s fine, but a 1% chance it could be meningitis. Head to the hospital, just in case.”

That 1% call saved my life.

At A&E, the rashes started appearing right in front of the doctors’ eyes. I was rushed to ICU. I remember the chaos of beeping machines, people running around me, and what felt like endless needles. I felt like a pin cushion. I didn’t really understand what was going on, I could just see bright light and I even asked if we were still going to Subway.

Doctors told my parents it was touch and go. The septicaemia had started in my right leg, and they were considering amputation to stop it from spreading further. At one point, the team discussed transferring me to Starship Hospital in Auckland, but they feared I might not survive the flight.

I spent three weeks in ICU fighting for my life.

Thanks to quick action and incredible care, my leg was saved. But recovery was brutal. Just dangling my legs over the side of the bed caused so much pain I nearly passed out. Standing was impossible at the start. I couldn’t stand for more than ten seconds at first, and it took three months before I could walk again.

Eventually, I went home but I was far from better. My body had been through so much. I was constantly sore, dizzy, and weak. If I pushed myself too hard, I’d nearly faint. Recovery felt endless.

When I finally returned to school, it was another kind of challenge. High school isn’t easy at the best of times. I remember my best friend saying, “You used to be so bubbly and happy go lucky before this… you’re just not the same anymore.”

And she was right. Something had changed. It altered my brain, my body, my personality.

For years after, I had nerve issues in my leg and foot, even now if I’m standing for too long, I get a tingling/ pins and needles feeling.

Even now, as a parent, it’s left a lasting mark. I’m cautious, some might say overly so. I’ve drilled into my kids: don’t share drinks. Don’t share lip gloss. Don’t share vapes or smokes. Meningococcal disease spreads quickly and hits without warning.

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