An avid Nottingham Forest fan has opened up about how his son was left deaf after catching meningitis. James Vincent, from Derbyshire, has spoken of his heartbreak after his son George was robbed from his hearing at only three years old.
Mr Vincent said he felt "helpless", admitting he knew "nothing about meningitis" at the time, reports Derbyshire Live. George became ill in December 2021, when he woke up with a fever and loss of appetite.
When he was taken to the hospital doctors discovered he had the highest rate of infection of meningitis they had ever seen. After George was treated, his family was told that he had been an hour away from dying.
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But three weeks after leaving the hospital George had a seizure, which led to him losing his hearing. He now has cochlear implants and is learning to walk and talk again.
“I knew something about a rash and a glass but George didn’t have those symptoms and there are so many more, but often people aren’t aware of them," said Mr Vincent.
“As a dad I’ve never felt more helpless. As a parent, you want to fix your child and meningitis is such a brutal disease that I’ve not been able to do that, so I have felt quite redundant. That’s why I am climbing Kilimanjaro, with the weight of my son on my back."
The father of four, who is a Forest season ticket holder, is scaling Africa's highest mountain to raise money for charity. James, from Borrowash, is planning to climb the mountain while carrying 20kg - the weight of George.
He said: "When he’s older, I want to show George that no matter what challenges are thrown at you, you can accomplish anything. Also if we are able to help, even just one family, so they don’t have to go through what we’ve been through, that would be amazing.”
James' climb will raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation. The charity funds lifesaving research and provides support to families affected by meningitis.
James will set off on Saturday (August 6) and follow the Marangu Route. The climb takes six days to complete. He will be joined by family friends Craig Drew and Gareth Collins.
The three friends have already raised more than £6,000 for the charity. They are hoping to take this to £10,000 with the help of James' friends who in September will be climbing Snowdon three times each to cover the same distance of Kilimnajaro - all while carrying 20kg.
Ian Beningfield, head of fundraising for Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “Meningitis can affect anyone, anywhere at any time and, as George’s story shows, it’s a race against time from the moment the disease strikes. It’s vital to trust your instincts and be able to recognise the signs so you can seek medical advice immediately.
“We are delighted that James and all his friends have chosen to support our charity. We wish them all the best for their challenges and we look forward to seeing James conquer Kilimanjaro in what promises to be the experience of a lifetime.”
If you would like to sponsor James and his friends you can do so by donating to their Justgiving page. You can find a link to the campaign here.
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