Case Studies
Lee Ratcliffe
Lee contracted meningococcal septicaemia when he was 13, after
a tough time in hospital he has made a good recovery. Now 16 Lee is fulfilling
his long-term ambition of joining the Army following the completion of his GCSE's.
This is Lee's story :
Lee and his family Mum, Dad and younger brother Craig set off for their summer
holiday to Yorkshire. A busy 7 days had been planned and Lee could quite often
be found sleeping in the back of the car. During a trip to Leeds the family
visited the Thackery Museum, part of Leeds Hospital, little did they know that
24 hours later they would be back with Lee fighting for his life.
Thursday
Lee began to feel unwell, he refused to eat anything and spent the evening sleeping.
At 11.00pm Lee had a temperature and had started to be sick, his Mum and Dad
gave him paracetamol and he went to bed.
Friday morning
Lee's Mum noticed two small marks that looked like scratches on Lee's neck,
he was still very hot and thirsty so they decided to call a doctor. Before they
could make it to the surgery Lee had started to become delirious, he had problems
moving his hands and the red marks were starting to cover his whole body. Within
two hours Lee was extremely unwell and on his way to hospital in an ambulance.
At the hospital Lee's Mum and Dad were told he was critically ill and his chances
of surviving were very poor, he was taken into intensive care and given life
support.
Saturday morning
One of the doctors tells Lee's Mum and Dad that he is surprised that Lee made
it through the night, but by that evening Lee started to show signs of improving.
Lee's whole body had been covered by the septicaemic rash, particularly his
arms and legs and he had a collapsed lung.
Sunday
saw Lee being taken off life support and he started to wake up and recognise
his Mum and Dad. Lee was still in a lot of pain and being fed by a tube. Lee's
Mum explains, "he asked me if he was getting better, I'm sure no one thinks
to tell the patient this and it must be horrid to wake up with tubes everywhere
and not know what's going on"
Monday - Friday
was spent in the children's ward where Lee grew stronger before being allowed
home. Lee returned to school 3 weeks later
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