Father Of Meningitis Victim, 18, Tells Of Family’s ‘immeasurable’ Devastation

The begetter of an 18-year-old schoolhouse pupil who died aft nan meningitis outbreak successful Kent said his family’s devastation is “immeasurable” arsenic he called for amended protection for young people.

Juliette Kenny died past Saturday, 1 time aft first showing symptoms of vomiting and discoloration successful her cheeks, her father, Michael Kenny, said.

He said his girl had been “fit, patient and strong” and had completed nan applicable appraisal for her PE A-level 2 days anterior to her death.

Juliette Kenny, a sixth-form pupil astatine Queen Elizabeth’s grammar schoolhouse successful Faversham, is 1 of 2 students to person died aft nan outbreak of meningitis B successful nan county.

Kenny said “no family should acquisition this symptom and tragedy” and that “this tin beryllium avoided”, adding that he wanted his daughter’s bequest to beryllium “lasting change”.

In a connection to nan Press Association, he said: “We are incredibly proud parents to 2 awesome daughters.

“Juliette is simply a unit successful this world. With her beautifully affirmative energy, she dispersed fun, emotion and happiness to those astir her and she continues to do truthful now.

“The devastation of her nonaccomplishment to us, her family and friends is immeasurable.

“Sharing stories of nan empathy, warmth and nosy that she created is helping her family and friends done this time. Her power continues to make nan group who emotion her find a way.”

Kenny said he first became alert his girl was sick erstwhile she vomited successful nan early hours of 13 March. She exhibited nary different symptoms astatine nan time.

He said: “In nan greeting connected Friday, she was taken, by us, to our section emergency drop-in arsenic discoloration appeared connected her cheeks. She was fixed antibiotics and sent by ambulance to A&E.

“Juliette fought bravely for hours, but contempt nan awesome NHS infirmary unit fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from america little than 12 hours later.

“We were pinch her astatine nan end, and nan past sounds that she heard were nan voices of those who loved her telling her really very overmuch loved and cherished she is.”

Along pinch nan Meningitis Research Foundation, Kenny and his family are calling for nan UK to return urgent action to amended entree to nan MenB vaccination for teenagers and young people.

“No family should acquisition this symptom and tragedy,” he said. “This tin beryllium avoided. There are young group presently battling this and young group still astatine risk.

“As parents, we knew our children would alteration nan world and beryllium a unit for good. The activity to protect young group has started. It needs to beryllium more.

“Juliette’s effect connected this world must beryllium lasting change. Now is nan clip to guarantee families are safe from nan effect of meningitis B.”