James Patrice has revealed he contracted a life-threatening illness, which left him fighting for his life.
The Snapchat star has come out to tell his story about getting meningitis, aged just 10.
“Initially I felt a little sick after dinner one evening,” he explained.
“It was early 2000 and I remember thinking that it must have been the ‘Millennium bug’ that everyone was harping on about and that
“At first my Mum thought that perhaps I had the flu or a stomach bug, but as the hours passed my symptoms progressed into drowsiness, not wanting to talk to anyone, not wanting to eat, and just wanting to sleep.
“Around 6am I went into the bathroom to try to vomit, but nothing really came up. My legs were very weak, my knees were stiff and I was extremely drowsy.
“I then sat on the toilet and Mum noticed red dots starting to appear on my legs, and that’s when the alarm bells went off and she knew straight away that it was meningitis.
“Mum and Dad immediately brought me to the GP down the road and before I knew it Dad was ‘burning rubber’ to get me into Temple Street where I was critically ill for 48 hours and in intensive care for three days,” he revealed.
Having survived bacterial meningitis and septicaemia, James says he is now passionate about creating awareness of the disease and has just been unveiled as the new Ambassador of the charity Meningitis Research Foundation.
Meningitis Research Foundation is a non-government funded organisation that funds research into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia, raises awareness of the diseases amongst both the general public and health professionals and supports families affected.
“I’m absolutely honoured to support Meningitis Research Foundation, because I know the devastating effects that meningitis can have on individuals and families, and if my voice and following helps to increase awareness of this absolute nightmare of an illness, then I’ll scream it from the rooftops,” he explained.
Head to www.meningitis.org to familiarise yourself with the symptoms.
