We were so close to losing Josh.. it was really frightening

Sunday Mirror, Jan 5, 2003 by HELEN MORGAN

TODDLER Josh Taylor was brought back from the dead after his heart stopped beating as he fought the killer meningitis bug.

Doctors revived the three-year-old with seconds to spare after devastated mum Cherell rushed screaming Josh to hospital.

Last night Cherell, 32, told for the first time of her son's brush with death - and how she nearly made a fatal mistake by initially believing his symptoms were just a bad cold.

The care worker said: "We came so close to losing Josh. It truly is frightening the way meningitis can take hold so quickly.

"Doctors had feared that he may have some long-term damage to his brain, but so far he appears to have made a good recovery.

"I now know how vital it is never to delay when it comes to this merciless disease."

Josh had been staying with his grandmother Ann Collie when the bug, which causes the lining of the brain to swell suddenly, took hold.

The toddler - weeks away from celebrating his fourth birthday - rapidly developed symptoms including a rash and bruising all over his body.

Cherell said: "My mum phoned me and said he was very hot and seemed drowsy. I rushed to collect him and discovered he had a fever.

"Josh was all floppy in my arms as I put him to bed. But I convinced myself he just needed to sleep it off.

"But, thank God, instinct took over and we got Josh to hospital in the nick of time."

The mother-of-three and Josh's dad Mark, 34, from Torry, Aberdeen, rushed the tot to the city's Royal Infirmary when he began screaming in agony.

Cherell said: "He was crying like I have never seen him before.

"As I carried him to the car I could see the life literally begin to drain away from his face."

Cherell was horrified when she was told by medical staff her son's heart had stopped for several seconds.

Over the next few frantic moments doctors battled to bring Josh back to life using a heart defibrillator.

They later told his parents that he was lucky to be alive. "Doctors told me if I had brought him a few minutes later he would have died because he was in such a bad way," his mum said.

His family still had an anxious wait as he was placed on a life support machine for several days. Josh was forced to spend three days in hospital and has had to make regular visits to doctors. He was released from hospital in time to celebrate Hogmanay at the family home with step-brother Ricky, 16, and sisters Charlotte, 12, and Nadine, six. But the disease has caused permanent damage to the youngster's immune system.

Teachers at Tullos Primary school, Aberdeen, where Josh will start lessons in August, have already been made aware of his fragile condition.

Cherell said: "He has problems with his nose and ears and he will be ill for the rest of his life. We have to teach him to be very careful and to wash his hands to stop germs spreading."

There were 200 cases of meningitis recorded in Scotland last year and the numbers are set to rise in 2003.

One in 10 people carries the bacteria that causes meningococcal meningitis but most people do not get ill.

The Meningitis Research Foundation said Josh's experience served as a warning to all parents.

Spokeswoman Jenny Williams said: "Early diagnosis and prompt treatment give patients the best chance for recovery.

"So knowing the symptoms of this devastating disease and acting quickly is essential."

news@sunday mirror.co.uk

MENINGITIS SYMPTOMS

HIGH fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of two.

These symptoms can develop over several hours, or the process may take up to two days.

Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness.

In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect.

An infant may simply appear slow or inactive, or be irritable, have vomiting, or be reluctant to feed. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.