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'Measles put me in a coma' 'Measles put me in a coma'
(20 minutes later)
By Pia Harold BBC News One in 10 encephalitis patients do not surviveBy Pia Harold BBC News One in 10 encephalitis patients do not survive
Doctors are being urged to give all children under 18 the MMR jab amid concern of a growing risk of a measles epidemic.Doctors are being urged to give all children under 18 the MMR jab amid concern of a growing risk of a measles epidemic.
The illness can be fatal, and can have serious complications.The illness can be fatal, and can have serious complications.
Only one in 1,000 measles patients develop inflammation of the brain, encephalitis.Only one in 1,000 measles patients develop inflammation of the brain, encephalitis.
But in 1985 I was that child.But in 1985 I was that child.
My illness was initially diagnosed as a bad case of the flu.My illness was initially diagnosed as a bad case of the flu.
But on Boxing Day 1985 my temperature was soaring, and my parents called in the emergency doctor. But on Boxing Day my temperature was soaring, and my parents called in the emergency doctor.
She look one look, and immediately called the ambulance. She took one look, and immediately called the ambulance.
Stories in my sleepStories in my sleep
I have had to ask my father for these details because I was delirious at the time - I vaguely remember getting upset because people were trying to look at my tummy.I have had to ask my father for these details because I was delirious at the time - I vaguely remember getting upset because people were trying to look at my tummy.
Once I got to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, I lay in a coma, essentially lifeless, for at least a week. A doctor there confirmed it was encephalitis because she had seen it before in Africa.Once I got to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, I lay in a coma, essentially lifeless, for at least a week. A doctor there confirmed it was encephalitis because she had seen it before in Africa.
The hospital was named after an 18th Century physicianThe hospital was named after an 18th Century physician
My amazing mother arranged a rota of friends and family to visit and they would play me music and stories. Sometimes she could sleep over at the hospital to be closer to me.My amazing mother arranged a rota of friends and family to visit and they would play me music and stories. Sometimes she could sleep over at the hospital to be closer to me.
"We worship the ground they walk on there," my father, Michael, says."We worship the ground they walk on there," my father, Michael, says.
I have my own memories of being in a coma - most of which I probably imagined or dreamt afterwards - but none of them are as agonising as what my family went through.I have my own memories of being in a coma - most of which I probably imagined or dreamt afterwards - but none of them are as agonising as what my family went through.
Learning to walk againLearning to walk again
When I finally woke up I had a tube in my nose, could not talk and was incredibly weak.When I finally woke up I had a tube in my nose, could not talk and was incredibly weak.
On 15 January my father walked in and asked how I was - I said "OK".On 15 January my father walked in and asked how I was - I said "OK".
"The best birthday present I ever had", he says."The best birthday present I ever had", he says.
It took me weeks to build up the muscle to walk again, and I was off school for at least six months. I still don't think my memory and concentration are what they used to be.It took me weeks to build up the muscle to walk again, and I was off school for at least six months. I still don't think my memory and concentration are what they used to be.
But I was one of the lucky ones - one in four sufferers is left with permanent brain damage, one in 10 dies.But I was one of the lucky ones - one in four sufferers is left with permanent brain damage, one in 10 dies.
When I caught measles it was before the days of the MMR jab - and we had thought I had been immunised against it.When I caught measles it was before the days of the MMR jab - and we had thought I had been immunised against it.
If anyone ever asks me whether to immunise their child against measles I will always say yes, and as soon as possible.If anyone ever asks me whether to immunise their child against measles I will always say yes, and as soon as possible.