A toddler from Wythenshawe has died from meningitis – despite being vaccinated against the disease.
Lewis Taylor, two, was struck down by meningococcal C – so rare that only a handful of people die from the strain each year. He was rushed to hospital by his parents but doctors could not save him.
Now his devastated parents Darren Taylor, 25, and Rebecca Weedon, 27, have told of their heartache. They want to warn other families of the symptoms to try to stop anyone else going through a similar ordeal.
Lewis, who died on September 12, had been immunised against meningococcal C. He had received three doses of the vaccine – in line with standard immunisation programmes.
Just hours before tragedy struck Lewis had been playing happily with his family.
He showed no signs of illness until he became groggy.
His parents gave him paracetamol and put him to bed at their home in Cornishway, Wythenshawe, around 8.30pm.
Just before 2am, they noticed a small purple bruise on his ear.
Fearing it could be meningitis, they took him straight to A&E at Wythenshawe Hospital.
Doctors tried to stabilise Lewis, and his condition appeared to improve. But in the following hours he deteriorated and he died just before 9.30am.
Rebecca, an accounts assistant, said: “He was the best child a mother could ever have hoped for – we loved him so much. I have a pain in my heart and can't believe he’s gone.” Partner Darren, a mechanic, said: “It was so quick – on Sunday he was running around, as happy as anything, you’d never have thought anything was wrong – then the next morning he was dead.
“The doctors were brilliant – they tried everything to save him. We couldn’t have got him there any quicker and they couldn’t have done anything more.
“It has smashed our world to pieces. We are just devastated – he was such a happy little boy. “Having Lewis has given us the best two years of our lives – we’ve loved every minute. He was perfect.” Susette Worgan-Brown, from the Meningitis Trust, urged parents not to stop vaccinating their children – and said it was very rare for the immunisation to have failed.
A spokesman for University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Wythenshawe Hospital, said: “Despite immediate treatment by our dedicated team and full intensive care, Lewis sadly died. We would like to give our deepest sympathy to Lewis’ parents and family.”
Lewis’ funeral was held at St Ann’s RC Church, Ancoats, yesterday, followed by burial
at Southern Cemetery.
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Such a sad and tragic thing to happen, God Bless Darren and Rebecca, and sleep peacefully little fella.
Such a sad and tragic thing to happen God Bless Darren and Rebecca,and sleep peacefully little fella.
Our thoughts are with Lewis' parents. If they require our emotional support, or financial support with the funeral or headstone, do please let us know by calling 0800 028 18 28 at any time of the day or night. We are the UK's only support-focussed organisation for people affected by meningitis. We never charge for this support.
its always the good'uns that get all the bad luck rest in peace little one
Sleep easy little blue.
REST IN PEACE little boy blue! Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
r.i.p. little man
how very sad especially as this little boy was vaccinated too, condolences to the family, bless you sweet little boy
I am very sorry for these parents.
The article does not state how long it had been since Lewis's last dose of the vaccine.
What a sad thing to happen to a lovely little boy. So sad for the family.
The government push these vaccine/immunisation campaigns (it makes a lot of money for the drug companies) and parents are made to feel like it's the only way to keep their children safe, but I fear it is not the answer - strains of the virus just get stronger as they become resistant to the vaccine. I wish people were not as misinformed by schools/goverment/nhs as they are.
Everyone here at Meningitis UK was so sorry to hear about Lewis’s death and would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to his family.
The meningitis C vaccine was introduced in the autumn of 1999 and it has proved to be one of the most effective heath protection initiatives of recent years, saving hundreds of lives and many more from disability. Vaccine failures such as in Lewis’ case are very rare which makes it so very heartbreaking for his family.
Because meningitis can kill in under four hours and the symptoms are notoriously difficult to spot, we believe a preventative vaccine against all forms of meningitis and associated diseases is the only way to spare people this heartache, which is this charity’s main focus.
We hope it will give you some comfort to know that our researchers are working hard to stamp out this disease. Our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7million to help fund cutting-edge research to help us achieve this goal and save thousands of lives in the future.
If anyone would like any support from our founder Steve Dayman who lost his own son Spencer to meningitis, they can reach him anytime on 07946 631830. Anyone who needs any further information at all, please do feel free to contact us at anytime on 0117 947 63 20 or www.meningitisUK.org
Everyone here at Meningitis UK was so sorry to hear about Lewis’s death and would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to his family.
The meningitis C vaccine was introduced in the autumn of 1999 and it has proved to be one of the most effective heath protection initiatives of recent years, saving hundreds of lives and many more from disability. Vaccine failures such as in Lewis’ case are very rare which makes it so very heartbreaking for his family.
Because meningitis can kill in under four hours and the symptoms are notoriously difficult to spot, we believe a preventative vaccine against all forms of meningitis and associated diseases is the only way to spare people this heartache, which is this charity’s main focus.
We hope it will give you some comfort to know that our researchers are working hard to stamp out this disease. Our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7million to help fund cutting-edge research to help us achieve this goal and save thousands of lives in the future.
If anyone would like any support from our founder Steve Dayman who lost his own son Spencer to meningitis, they can reach him anytime on 07946 631830. Anyone who needs any further information at all, please do feel free to contact us at anytime on 0117 947 63 20 or www.meningitisUK.org
i was honored to have met you lewis , your nanna julie talks about you all the time and has done since you were a little dot in ur mummy's tummy ,
all my love to the whole family , everyone in your family adored you lewis and will always keep your memory alive ,sweet dreams little man xxx
lewis i was honored to have met you sweetheart , your whole family doted on you and are all shattered at your loss , but you entered a place in their hearts that can never be removed , i know your nanna julie very well and your were the light of her life she has talked about you every day since you were a dot in your mummy's tummy , , your memory will always be kept alive , you shine bright in those stars every night little man sweet dreams lewis xxx
RIP little man and goodnight little blue x x x x