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Brighton meningitis amputee 'can even drive car' | Brighton meningitis amputee 'can even drive car' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A man who almost died from meningitis has revealed how he began to look forward to having his limbs amputated. | A man who almost died from meningitis has revealed how he began to look forward to having his limbs amputated. |
Mike Davies, 60, from Brighton, spent 70 days in intensive care with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. | Mike Davies, 60, from Brighton, spent 70 days in intensive care with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. |
During this time, he said he knew his hands and feet were "dead" and he would recover better without them. | During this time, he said he knew his hands and feet were "dead" and he would recover better without them. |
Now he says he is in a positive place and "can even hold a pint of beer". | Now he says he is in a positive place and "can even hold a pint of beer". |
With the help of prosthetic limbs, Mr Davies can drive a specially-adapted car and said he was living life to the full. | With the help of prosthetic limbs, Mr Davies can drive a specially-adapted car and said he was living life to the full. |
"My message to anyone who has amputations would be not to give up," he said. | "My message to anyone who has amputations would be not to give up," he said. |
The illness struck on Christmas Eve in 2017 when he began to get "colder and colder". | The illness struck on Christmas Eve in 2017 when he began to get "colder and colder". |
He said: "Climbing into bed didn't help. I looked like a ghost with blue lips." | He said: "Climbing into bed didn't help. I looked like a ghost with blue lips." |
His family insisted he went to Royal Sussex County Hospital. | His family insisted he went to Royal Sussex County Hospital. |
In the early hours of Christmas Day, his wife Julie and son Rory were taken to a room and told he was unlikely to survive. | In the early hours of Christmas Day, his wife Julie and son Rory were taken to a room and told he was unlikely to survive. |
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"When they held my hand, I could not feel it. My hands and feet were dying," he said. | "When they held my hand, I could not feel it. My hands and feet were dying," he said. |
During 10 weeks in hospital "on the edge of survival", he knew his limbs had to go. | During 10 weeks in hospital "on the edge of survival", he knew his limbs had to go. |
"I began to look forward to having my hands and feet amputated | "I began to look forward to having my hands and feet amputated |
"I was on a lot of medication and I was very accepting that they needed to go for me to make a recovery" he said. | "I was on a lot of medication and I was very accepting that they needed to go for me to make a recovery" he said. |
He spent two and a half months at Queen Mary's University Hospital, Roehampton, learning to walk on prosthetic legs. | He spent two and a half months at Queen Mary's University Hospital, Roehampton, learning to walk on prosthetic legs. |
Since then, he has "walked three miles", can feed himself, using cutlery strapped to his arms, and can "even hold a pint of beer". | Since then, he has "walked three miles", can feed himself, using cutlery strapped to his arms, and can "even hold a pint of beer". |
"I feel in quite a positive place in my mind about the challenges I still have to overcome. | "I feel in quite a positive place in my mind about the challenges I still have to overcome. |
"Support from other people has been key. I am a lucky man," he said. | "Support from other people has been key. I am a lucky man," he said. |
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