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Meningitis Survivor: I Almost Died Ignoring Symptoms
20 Mar
Summary
- DJ Lisa Snowdon ignored meningitis symptoms for weeks.
- She was hospitalized and her parents were called to say goodbye.
- Snowdon campaigns for wider meningitis B vaccination access.
In 2010, DJ and presenter Lisa Snowdon contracted a viral strain of meningitis, a serious illness she almost died from. She experienced symptoms like headaches, fever, and fatigue for weeks, but attributed them to exhaustion from her busy schedule. Despite being sensitive to light and experiencing severe pain, Snowdon delayed seeking medical help.
After nearly a month, she was hospitalized and diagnosed. Her condition was so severe that her parents were summoned to say goodbye. Snowdon spent ten days in the hospital and believes her delayed treatment significantly worsened her condition.
Sixteen years on, Snowdon continues to experience lingering side effects, including headaches, fatigue, and memory loss. This harrowing experience led her to become president of the charity Meningitis Now. She actively campaigns for the effective meningitis B vaccination to be made more widely available on the NHS.
The recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent, which has sickened 29 people and resulted in two deaths, has been particularly triggering for Snowdon. She was on a fundraising trek with other meningitis survivors when the news broke, recounting the emotional impact of being with families who had lost teenagers.
