I wanted to share my mothers harrowing battle and survival after contracting Bacterial Meningitis at the age of 79.
On October 1 2023 life as we knew it changed in a blink of an eye. My mother was complaining of an ear ache that she had for a few days to which worsened on the night of October 1st. Just after midnight on October 2nd. I rushed her to our local hospital via ambulance as she was complaining of a terrible headache and was shaking and vomiting. After several hours in the emergency dept she was deteriorating fast. The ER doctor suspected she had meningitis after noticing her neck was stiff. He ordered a spinal tap and bacterial culture analysis which confirmed she had bacterial meningitis caused by the strep pneumoniae bacteria and was immediately administered aggressive antibiotics. She was in the ICU fighting for her life for 23 days. She was also fighting sepsis and aspirational pneumonia. Her chance of survival was less than 50/50. However, with the help of early detection and the incredible care of the ICU doctors, infectious disease experts and nurses as well as the grace of god. My mother is now in a rehab facility getting stronger everyday, with very minimal complications. She will be home celebrating her 80th birthday on December 15th.
Irene Rizzuto
