GAZETTE & HERALD: A £700 grant from the Meningitis Trust will allow two-year-old meningitis survivor Lauren Booth to increase her mobility and strength. Debbie WAite spoke to Lauren's mother.

MENINGITIS victim Lauren Booth is now whizzing about on her first bike, thanks to a £700 grant from the Meningitis Trust.

Lauren, two, of Haydock Close, Chippenham, spent three weeks in Bath Royal United Hospital's children's ward in 2001, after contracting the potentially-lethal group B streptococcal meningitis.

Just six weeks old at the time, her condition got so bad that she stopped breathing.

Thankfully, Lauren went on to recover well, but the disease has left its mark on her health and mobility and as well as a severe weakness in her left side, she suffers from hearing and speech defects and sleep disturbance.

Lauren's parents Lisa-Jayne, 34 and Paul, 37, who have fundraised £6,000 for the RUH since their daughter's illness, explained how they learned about the Meningitis Trust's Support for Life fund through the charity's magazine and made an application for a tricycle to aid Lauren's mobility.

"Lauren is unable to use normal bicycles, because she doesn't have the strength on her left side to press down on the pedals," explained Mrs Booth.

"Up until now, she's only been able to watch as her big brother Aaron rides his bike, but this new trike keeps her feet in place and she has been having great fun riding it about."

Mrs Booth explained how, in circumstances strikingly similar to those of Lydia Cross, the two-year-old who had to have her lower legs amputated in December after complications from meningitis, Lauren's condition went undiagnosed by doctors at Chippenham Hospital.

She said: "We took Lauren to the hospital in 2001 after she developed worrying symptoms completely out of the blue. But the doctors said it was a virus, told us to give her Calpol and sent us home.

"But Lauren started to fit and was rushed to Bath Royal United in an ambulance.

"Reading about what happened to Lydia has brought everything flooding back," said Mrs Booth.

"I feel so sorry for Lydia and her parents. I know how frightening it is to see your child go through this."

Mrs Booth said because Lauren was so young when she contracted the virus, she and her husband have had to watch as the lasting effects have become apparent in their daughter.

"Lauren's deafness is also affecting her speech and the weakness down her left side can cause her to fall over without warning," she explained.

"We're also waiting until she's a little older for tests to find out whether her tastebuds have been affected by the illness, as at the moment she will eat absolutely anything, even things like Extra Strong Mints, which most children would spit out.

"We are obviously worried that she has been left without the reflex action to spit out horrible-tasting things, which could prove dangerous if she were to swallow anything harmful to her."

Lauren currently sees a physiotherapist who works on improving mobility in her weak limbs and also attends Chippenham's Springboard playgroup for children with special needs.

Her parents hope that she will eventually be able to attend Queens Crescent Primary School, like her older brother.

"The trike is a great way for her to have fun and we are very grateful to the Meningitis Trust for giving it to us," said Mrs Booth.

"It's also nice for us to know that as well as having a good time, she is exercising her weak muscles too."

Will Guyatt of the Meningitis Trust, said: "The more we talk to people about the longer lasting effects of meningitis, the more we learn how they need items to help their mobility," he explained.

"It's lovely to see Lauren enjoying her trike and to know that is doing her good."

Mr Guyatt urged parents worried about meningitis to contact the Trust's 24-hour helpline on 0845 6000 800.