Grieving parents Claire and Stefan Fox in meningitis appeal

9:19am Tuesday 18th January 2011

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GRIEVING parents who lost their ten-month-old daughter to meningitis are hoping to help find a vaccine for the killer disease.

Claire and Stefan Fox, from Upper Poppleton, York, are raising funds and awareness of the deadly virus after their baby Clara – “the friendliest and bubbliest little girl” – died last year.

Claire, 33, had only recently survived a life-threatening brain tumour and was looking forward to watching Clara and her son, Alexander, 14, grow up when tragedy struck.

Clara contracted pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia and died on October 6 in Claire’s arms.

Clara initially had a temperature and a runny nose, which her parents initially thought was due to a new tooth.

Claire’s mum Norma looked after Clara while she was at work, but the baby began being sick. they rushed her to the doctors, by which time she was looking vacant and flushed, but Clara was initially misdiagnosed with gastroenteritis.

she was admitted to York Hospital for a check-up in case she was dehydrated and needed fluids, but Clara continued to be sick throughout the night and a blood test showed she had an infection.

A senior paediatrician later assessed Clara and said she had meningitis. after a CT scan, Clara was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary.

Claire said: “I paced for an hour before we were called to see her. A doctor appeared and I asked him what they could do to help Clara.

“He said there had been no change and confirmed that she was brain dead.

“Those words cut through my heart like a bolt of lightning.

“They kept her on ventilators overnight while I held her. I prayed with the priest all night, asking for a miracle to allow Clara to have the life she so deserved and enjoyed.

“After a third opinion later that morning, and after watching her little body fight for 14 hours, I was given no option other than to hold her as tight as I could while we took her ventilator away.

“Clara continued to fight in my arms until the very last heartbeat – the moment I wished mine would stop too.

“It was her happiness that shone through. she was so happy and full of life. when I was ill and the house was full of flowers she loved the smell of them. she would literally stop to smell the roses.”

Pneumococcal meningitis is the most deadly form of the disease. There is a vaccine but it does not protect against all strains and one in six children who contract it will die.

Claire and Stefan, 38, who are related to former York City footballer Christian Fox, are now backing a week-long awareness drive at Asda at Monks Cross, York, in a bid to save future parents the heartache of losing a child.

Claire said she hoped their story would help save “at least one life”.

Meningitis UK’s trailer will be at the store warning that meningitis can kill in under four hours. Free symptoms cards will be given to shoppers.

Claire and Stefan have also set up a tribute fund in memory of Clara, to raise money towards finding a vaccine to protect against all forms of meningitis.

Claire said: “Clara has left a hole in so many people’s hearts. we hope our fundraising will keep her memory alive and I also feel strongly that people need to be much more aware of what a deadly, rapid and devastating disease it is.

“My advice to everyone is not to wait for the rash as it’s one of the last symptoms to appear. you know your child better than anyone. Parents need to be aware of all the symptoms and trust their instincts – they’re stronger than any qualification I’ve come across.”

Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK after he lost his son, Spencer, to the disease in 1982, said: “We believe that the only way to eradicate the disease completely is through the development of a preventative vaccine.”

The trailer will be at Asda until January 24. To donate to the Forever Fund set up in Clara’s memory, visit meningitisuk.tributefunds.com.

Catching meningitis early on

• Classic symptoms of include a headache, stiff neck and a dislike of bright light. Other symptoms can include difficulty supporting own weight, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, confusion and drowsiness.

• it can cause septicaemia, which leads to aching limbs, cold hands and feet and a rash.

• Meningitis can affect anyone of any age, however babies, children under the age of five, young people aged 16-24 and the elderly are most at risk.

• Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord.

• In 2008, there were approximately 3,000 cases of all forms of meningitis provisionally recorded in the UK. every year 300 people die and hundreds more are left with permanent disabilities.

• every week, six families face the traumatic loss of a loved one to meningitis.

• No vaccine exists for Meningitis B, which is the most common form of the disease – accounting for 90 per cent of meningococcal cases.

• it can kill in under four hours, which is why prompt medical treatment is so important.

for further information visit meningitisuk.org or phone 0117 373 7373.

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Last Updated: December 29. 2010 1:00AM

Dear Dr. Donohue: I have hemochromatosis — too much iron in the body. My doctor takes blood every other week. what can you tell me about it? What’s the end result?

Dear H.G.: Hemochromatosis (HE-moe-CROW-muh-TOE-siss) is an unpronounceable name with close to zero recognition by the general public.

The sad truth is it is a fairly common condition. It’s one of the most widespread inherited illnesses.

Normally the digestive tract absorbs just enough iron to replace daily losses. People with two hemochromatosis genes — one from the mother and one from the father — absorb far too much iron. The excess is deposited in many organs, like the liver, pancreas, heart, pituitary gland and testes, and severely damages them.

Signs that these organs are in trouble don’t appear until later in life — age 40 for men and older for women, who lose iron from menstruating. Frequently the first indication of trouble is abnormal liver tests, discovered when a person has an exam for some unrelated reason.

If hemochromatosis is discovered early, treatment can begin early and organs are saved. if it goes undiscovered, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, heart failure, diabetes and skin with a bronzed hue are some of the possible complications.

With early treatment, hemochromatosis patients live a normal life. Treatment is simple. it consists of periodic removal of blood, the body’s storage depot of iron.

Because this is a genetic disease, your close relatives — parents, brothers and sisters — should be screened for it. A genetic test for your spouse will tell you if your children also should have a genetic test. The gene test is a relatively new breakthrough in this illness. it permits early treatment and prevents the complications of the illness.

Dear Dr. Donohue: I have followed the suggestion that we should drink eight glasses of water each day for good health. I recently was diagnosed with low blood sodium. I was told to reduce the amount of water I drink. Shouldn’t we be informed by medical professionals that eight glasses of water a day isn’t necessary?

Dear P.L.: OK. Eight glasses of water a day isn’t necessary. People should drink enough fluids — all fluids count — to keep their urine color pale-yellow and to keep themselves from being thirsty.

You have to drink quite a large amount of fluids, water included, to lower your blood sodium. Did you have any symptoms from your drop in sodium?

I’m not sure where the “eight glasses a day of water” originated or why it did. Water doesn’t flush toxins out of the body as was once thought. It’s a rule that should be discarded.

Write to Dr. Donohue at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from rbmamall.com.

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