‘We don’t want other people to lose a family member like this’
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A LOCAL woman whose 56-year-old husband tragically died last Christmas after succumbing to meningitis is now speaking out about her experience as part of World Meningitis Day, because she wants “everyone to be aware of the disease”.
Alice McGlynn (54), from Templeogue, lost her husband Mark Levins on Christmas Day last year after he complained of the sudden onset of a headache and a high temperature on Christmas Eve, and at around midday the following day he suffered a seizure and was brought to Tallaght Hospital.
Alice and Mark
Alice explained: “On Christmas Eve, Mark complained of a headache and went to bed around 12.30am.
“Before leaving the room, he said that he thought he might be getting sick as he was starting to feel quite unwell. He had a fever of 102F (38.9C) and took some paracetamol.
“The next morning his temperature spiked again at 102 so more paracetamol was given to him, and he complained of being extremely cold and was wracked with pain all over his body, especially in the back of his legs, chest and neck. Four hours later a third dose of paracetamol was given to him.
“At around 12pm Mark had fallen in the bathroom and afterwards took a type of seizure.
“He did not respond when I spoke with him. I held him in my arms and shouted to my family to call an ambulance immediately. The [paramedics] arrived in 15 minutes.”
Mark, who was a talented guitar player and a well-known figure within the Irish music industry, was then transported to Tallaght Hospital, where Alice and her family spent 90 minutes waiting before being told that her husband’s heart had stopped and that hospital staff were carrying out resuscitation.
Alice added: “The doctor went on to say that they were unsure of what had caused the arrest but that the working diagnosis was that Mark had an aortal tear.
“We asked to see Mark. He was on the CPR machine in the resuscitation room.
“They eventually asked us for the go-ahead to turn off the CPR machine. I knew it was the end. Finally the machine showed the same and the line went flat. My beautiful husband was gone.”
The hospital then got in touch two days after Mark passed away, to inform his family that his blood tests had come back positive for Neisseria meningitides, a meningococcal infection.
Explaining what her husband was like, and the impact his loss has had on his family, including his four children David (27), Adam (25), Ethan (16) and Avalily (13), Alice said: “Mark was a really funny man, with a dark, dry wit that often went close to the edge of the acceptable.
Mark pictured at the Golden Gate bridge in San Franciso
“He would have us cracking up laughing at the things that he would do or say – many of which were unintentional.
“He was a great father and put his children before everything else in his life. We are broken hearted and devastated.
“Our reality has altered. I miss him every minute of the day.”
Alice continued: “We don’t want other people to lose a family member like this and we want everyone to be aware of the disease.”
According to the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), meningitis and septicaemia can kill in a matter of hours, and although babies, children and teenagers are most at risk, anyone can be affected at any time.
Monika Marchlewicz, Ireland manager at the Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “Vaccines are the only way to help prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and we encourage everyone to take up the offer of the vaccines included in the immunisation schedule.
“However, there are not yet vaccines available to prevent all types of meningitis and septicaemia, so knowing the symptoms is also really important.
“Rapid identification and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia provides the best chance of survival.
“This is why at MRF we campaign and provide information to the public and health professionals that promotes prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, and raises awareness of the diseases.”
Alice shared her story for World Meningitis Day, which took place on Tuesday, April 24.
For more information about meningitis and septicaemia you can call MRF’s free helpline on 1800 41 33 44 or visit www.meningitis.org
