27/04/2026
Andy’s Story
In 2002, I was 16 years old, just starting Year 12 with plans to go to university to study nursing or paramedicine. I lived at home with my parents.
It started with a sore throat and a mild headache, but overnight it rapidly got worse. By the next morning, I had collapsed. My parents knew something wasn’t right and called for help.
I was rushed to hospital and, within hours, diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia and placed in an induced coma in ICU.
What followed was 7 weeks in intensive care, months in hospital, multiple surgeries, kidney failure, dialysis, and severe damage to my legs. Eventually, both legs were amputated below the knee due to infection.
A few weeks later, I was learning to walk again on prosthetics. After months of dialysis, I received a life-saving kidney transplant on Christmas Day.
I am one of the lucky ones.
I returned to school, went on to university, became a nurse, and later moved to New Zealand with my family. But meningitis is still part of my life every day.
I live with prosthetic legs and ongoing health challenges, but I also live with deep gratitude for the care I received and the support of my family.
Every new case I hear still gives me shivers. Behind every diagnosis is a person, and a family whose life changes in an instant.
Now that we can vaccinate against some forms of meningitis, prevention matters more than ever.
This disease is fast, devastating, and life-changing but it is often preventable.
Vaccination saves lives
Awareness saves lives
