A schoolgirl has lost both her legs and her right arm following severe complications from meningitis, with her only apparent symptom being a ‘bruise. ‘
Within 24 hours of informing her parents that she felt unwell, Penelope Vidal-Walsh, aged 10, underwent life-saving emergency surgery at Alder Hey Hospital to have her limbs removed.
On April 10, Penelope—who was feeling unwell—retired for the night at approximately 9 PM, only to awaken at 2 AM and begin vomiting.
The Liverpool Echo reports that her father, Ricardo Vidal, placed her in the bath, ‘assessed her condition,’ observed nothing alarming, and returned her to bed.
The subsequent morning, she arose as usual but was ill again after breakfast, prompting her parents to prepare another bath for her.
While bathing, they detected a small purple mark on her neck, and later, as they dressed her, a similarly colored rash on her knee.
Penelope’s aunt, Angel Walsh, 35, informed the ECHO that her parents utilized ‘the glass test’ to evaluate if the rash warranted concern, as recommended by the NHS.
This method involves pressing a glass against a rash to determine if it disappears under pressure—should it not, this could indicate a serious infection such as meningitis or septicaemia that requires immediate medical intervention.
Her parents observed this unusual purple rash, which did not fade under the pressure of the glass.
Because the rash persisted, Penelope was promptly taken to Ormskirk Hospital.
By 9:30 AM, she had been transferred to Alder Hey, where she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and quickly moved to intensive care.
Not only did she have meningitis, but she also suffered from a ‘very rare fungal infection that caused severe complications. ‘
Mr. Vidal stated: ‘As part of her treatment, Penelope underwent a triple amputation surgery, resulting in the loss of her lower limbs and her right arm.’
‘She is currently receiving skin grafting surgery as part of her rehabilitation and recovery.
‘She has made significant progress and improvement, and she is even using a wheelchair while building up her core strength and the strength in her left arm.’
Penelope will remain in the critical care unit at Alder Hey until she undergoes skin grafting surgery.
If the procedures succeed, she will be discharged in October, six months after initially falling ill.
Her parents have initiated a fundraiser to ensure she has the ‘best possible chance of living an independent life. ‘
Mr. Vidal expressed: ‘We want her to be able to not let this deter her from being the most energetic, fun, lively girl she has always been.
‘She remains determined and motivated to continue building her strength.
‘The strength and resilience she demonstrates daily is simply remarkable, and we are incredibly proud of her.’
‘We aim to provide her with the highest quality of life and opportunities to realize any of her aspirations and dreams that she had prior to this incident. ‘
Meningitis refers to the inflammation of the membranes encasing and safeguarding the brain and spinal cord.
Any individual can be impacted; however, individuals at heightened risk include those under the age of five, between 15 and 24, and over 45.
Individuals exposed to passive smoke or those with compromised immune systems, such as individuals undergoing chemotherapy, are also at increased risk.
The predominant types of meningitis are bacterial and viral, though the former necessitates immediate medical attention in a hospital setting with antibiotics.
Approximately 10 percent of bacterial cases are lethal, and among those who recover, one in three experience complications, which may include brain damage, hearing impairment, and limb amputation if septicaemia (blood poisoning) occurs.
