After eight days on life support Sarah Joyce wakes up determined to make a difference

JUST over four weeks ago 30-year-old Sarah Joyce was rushed to Gosford Hospital with extreme flu symptoms. In a matter of 12 hours, her body had shut down.

JUST over four weeks ago 30-year-old Sarah Joyce was rushed to Gosford Hospital with extreme flu symptoms.

In a matter of 12 hours, her body had shut down.

Her family was told she might not make it and called into her room at each critical point in case it was the last time they would see her.

After five days the family was given the diagnosis — meningococcal, just the second case on the Central Coast this year.

Sarah Joyce on life support in Gosford Hospital after she was struck down by the meningococcal disease.

That week Sarah was one of five across the state diagnosed with the deadly virus.

“Luckily when Sarah was first admitted she was given the right antibiotic to treat meningococcal and the teams at Gosford Hospital worked rapidly to assist her,” sister Karly Joyce said.

After eight days on life support, Sarah woke up, amazing everyone around her. She is off life support and has undergone a number of amputations that have affected her right hand and will soon undergo more surgery on her toes.

When she is strong enough, she will need to have her spleen removed and a kidney transplant down the track.

While it was a shock for everyone who knew Sarah, who just a short time ago celebrated her 30th birthday with friends and family including her mum and dad, Karen and Garry, of Wamberal, her brave attitude continues to amaze everyone.

Sarah Joyce will need to slowly learn to stand and walk again.

Sarah Joyce is now on dialysis three times a week while waiting for a transplant.

“She’s had nurses and doctors in tears, shocked and relieved at her progress and how she’s fought with everything she has ... barely a complaint,” Karly said.

“She’s extremely strong-willed and is the toughest girl we know. We will probably never know how she contracted the virus, it was most likely airborne, through a cough or sneeze.”

Sarah and her family are keen to raise awareness of the virus saying people need to act quickly if they suspect they may have contracted it.

Sarah Joyce following surgeries to amputate parts of her fingers after she was struck down by the meningococcal disease.

“If you don’t act quickly, it can be too late,” Karly said.

Sarah has a long road ahead of her, including dialysis three times a week while waiting for a transplant, and it is only just starting to sink in.

“She will need to slowly learn to stand and walk again and is now building strength with physio each day,” Karly said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Sarah with the financial realities she will face in the future.

“We’ve had so many people offering support,” Karly said.

You can help by visiting gofundme.com/
SarahsStrength

DISEASE ON THE DECREASE.

THE number of people diagnosed with meningococcal disease on the Central Coast has fallen dramatically over the past 20 years from an average­ of about 15 cases a year down to less than five.

This is in stark contrast to the early 2000s when the Central Coast was considered a meningococcal hotspot following the death of two children from the disease, seven-year-old Stephen Sanig in 2001 and seven-year-old Rebecca Calverly­ in 2002.

Central Coast Local Health District’s public health director Dr Peter Lewis said there had been two cases on the Coast in 2015 and four in 2014, while so far this year there had been two cases, one in July and one in August.

In NSW, there have been 51 cases so far this year, with 16 of those cases in August.

“We often see an increase in cases in late winter or spring; a slight seasonal pattern­ (often sees) more cases around this time of the year,” Dr Lewis told the Express Advocate.

“The difference between meningococcal and the flu is that with meningococcal, a person gets worse and worse in a day, progressing to a very nasty illness.”

Central Coast Local health District's director of public health Dr Peter Lewis

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR:

Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacterial infection and considered uncommon in NSW.

It occurs more often in winter and springs and infants, small children, adolescents and young adults are most at risk.

People with meningococcal disease can become extremely unwell very quickly. Five to 10 per cent of patients with meningococcal disease die even despite rapid treatment.

It has become less common in recent years with fewer than 50 cases now each year in NSW.

Symptoms can include sudden onset of fever, headache, neck stiffness, joint pain, a rash of red-purple spots or bruises, nausea and vomiting.

Not all symptoms may be present at once.

The typical meningococcal rash doesn’t disappear with gentle pressure on the skin and not all people get a rash or the rash can occur late in the disease.

People who have symptoms should see a doctor urgently, especially if there is persistent fever, irritability, drowsiness or lethargy, or a child is not feeding normally.

Meningococcal bacteria are not easily spread from person to person and the bacteria do not

survive well outside the human body.

Between five and 25 per cent of people carry meningococcal bacteria at the back of the nose and throat without showing any illness or symptoms.

“Sarah want to raise awareness and hopes by doing that, it could save someone’s life,” sister Karly said.