Meningitis

Meningitis. It's a word you've heard me use many times but this time it's about me not Charlie. My Neurologist and my Neuropsychiatrist believe all my problems stem from an infection. My Neuropsychiatrist in particular believes it is from meningitis. Meningitis I hear you ask? The very same meningitis that killed your son? Well no not exactly. It was probably viral meningitis and I didn't even know I had it. How can you not know you had it? Are you stupid? Well it's probably best we don't answer that one but yes it's perfectly possible to have it and not know. What are the chances of two people in the same family having meningitis? Slim but hey we don't do things by halves in this family!

So how do you cope with having the after effects of something that killed your baby? Well the truth is I'm relieved. Firstly to have an indication why I'm so ill and secondly to feel just a little part of what Charlie went through. It bonds us even more and something else we share. I want to share his suffering as any mother would. There is something poetic in us both going through something similar. He will help me fight this and now I have several causes to fight. Bring them on!

Cuckoo

It all went a bit wrong last week. I became very bad Monday evening and couldn't get my words out. The only word I could say was Cuckoo! I go up a level on my tablets each Monday and it really affected me. I was like a drunk octopus and couldn't speak except nonsense. It did sound a little like I'd made my own language up! This happened on Tuesday too. I had my lovely friend Laura round who was helping me walk. 

Laura's mum has got me a new chair to whizz about the house on. It's great and I can hang on to it when I'm falling although sometimes I fall off it. I have been really bad this week and have had several incidents where people have had to come and rescue me. I'm covered in bruises. We also enjoy playing charades when I can't speak. James is great at it but Chris is rubbish!!

On Wednesday Emily began wheezing and we got a call from school to pick her up. To cut a long story short she ended up spending two nights in hospital with a chest infection. Even worse I couldn't stay with her so my amazing mother in law slept with her for the two nights she was in. We're very lucky to have such good friends and family who offered to help.

My Mummy Uses A Wheelchair

My Mummy uses a wheelchair
Her legs don't work anymore
When she tries to stand up
She falls down on to the floor

My Mummy uses a wheelchair
When you see her say "hello"
Please don't ignore her
Because she's a little bit too low

My Mummy uses a wheelchair
She says "I'm still the same me"
"I'm silly, funny, grumpy"
All the things you normally see

My Mummy uses a wheelchair
She finds it hard to use
She wouldn't want to be in it
If anyone would let her choose

My Mummy uses a wheelchair
She just wants to join in
So don't forget she's down there
Just give her a special grin

My Mummy uses a wheelchair
It's not so bad you know
She can do spins, races and wheelies
Stand back and watch her go

My Mummy uses a wheelchair
I love her and I don't care
Because even when she's ill
She knows I will always be there