Brain-Eating Parasite Claims The Lives of Two American Children, Killed After They Swam In Infected Water!

Hollywood Life Staff — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:34 +0000

Both kids caught meningitis from the terrifying and tiny amoeba called Naegleria fowleri.

Courtney Nash, 16, died after swimming in a river in Florida, just days after Christian Strickland, nine, from Virginia was killed by the same deadly amoeba!

Naegleria fowleri quickly travels through the body destroying brain tissue — and experts warn there’s the risk of an epidemic in Virgina, where Christian picked up the parasite on a fishing camp on August 5.

Dr Keri Hall, state epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health, says, “Sadly, we have had a Naegleria infection in Virginia this summer. It’s important that people be aware of … safe swimming messages.’

Courtney Nash caught Naegleria fowleri when she dived into St. John’s River with family members. She died this week.

Her grieving relatives are taking comfort from the fact she signed up as an organ donor shortly before her death. Her mom Patricia says, “I didn’t get my miracle, but she has performed other miracles. If we can save other people’s lives so they don’t have to go through what I just went though, this could be a blessing in disguise.”

So far, both her lungs, her liver and pancreas have been transplanted.

Officials are, meanwhile, warning swimmers to take care in freshwater, by holding their nose or wearing a nose plug when they dive in — and to seek medical attention if they experience headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance and bodily control, seizures and hallucinations.

Stay safe, HollyMoms!

– Ian Garland

More on HollyBaby:

Two Little Girls Forge A Heartwarming Friendship After Meningitis Robs Them Of Their Limbs

Hollywood Life Staff — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:48:59 +0000

Little Ellie Challis, 7, and three-year-old Charlotte Nott have a lot in common — they both lost their arms and legs to the deadly disease.

They’ve quickly forged a close friendship and older Ellie has even become a mentor for Charlotte, helping the toddler cope with the difficulties of growing up with a severe disability. Have you heard a more heartwarming story today?

Ellie, now 7, contracted meningitis when she was just 16 months old. She bravely fought for her life and won, but at the expense of her arms and legs.

She’s since been fitted with a pair of prosthetic legs and can now run around and ride a bike, just like any other girl — and she’s been busy teaching 3-year-old Charlotte what to expect when she gets her own new limbs.

Charlotte lost her arms and legs in December 2010 after suffering an almost-identical plight to her pal. She’ll have to wait a few months until her wounds are fully healed before she can be fitted with prosthetic limbs — and she can’t wait, cooing, “I love Ellie’s legs and I can’t wait until I get some, too, so we can run around together.”

Both girls live in the UK, where approximately 2,500 people contract bacterial meningitis each year. Children under five face the highest risk of getting the disease. The survival rate is high, around 90 percent, but 15 percent of survivors are left with severe after-effects — like Charlotte and Ellie.

There are vaccines to prevent many cases of meningitis — but not the most deadly and most common form of bacterial meningitis.

Ellie and Charlotte’s parents, meanwhile, are just happy both girls will get the chance to grow up. Charlotte’s mom Jenny tells the Daily Mail, “I still say thank you every day that Charlotte is still here with us. Watching her playing with Ellie was a miracle.”

What brave girls!

— Ian Garland