Coping with life after acute bacterial meningitis

VONZETA Goa-as suffered severe brain damage when she contracted meningitis at three-months old and has been wheelchair bound ever since.

Her mother, Fina Goa-as, said when Vonzeta, now nine-years-old, was diagnosed with acute bacterial meningitis, they hadn’t really expected her to live to nine years of age, but she has survived and takes each day as it comes.

When she received the diagnosis about her daughter, Fina Goa-as was told her precious Vonzeta would never be normal and her condition would not get better either.

“It was a very scary experience but we are still pulling through it and I would like to think she came through it,” Goa-as said while cleaning Vonzeta’s mouth before photos were taken for this article.

With a curved spine, epilepsy and water on the brain, Vonzeta was wheelchair-bound, but what kept her mother going every day despite daily challenges, was the incredible spirit she said emanated from Vonzeta from the moment she wakes every morning.

“There are challenges, don’t get me wrong, but Vonzet’s love for life makes me happy. There are good and bad days and the good days are when she is around people. She loves meeting people,” Goa-as said.

The Namibian met up with Fina and Vonzeta in Tsumeb’s Kivukiland informal settlement while they were out for a walk. This was part of Vonzeta’s daily routine, which also included a full body massage for an hour or so and some exercises.

“We did not really get any medication for Vonzeta. All we get is medication for her epilepsy. When I massage her I mix swart balsem (black balm) and vaseline,” Goa-as explained.

A report from the University of Utah’s School of Medicine, in the US, found that acute bacterial meningitis was rapidly developing inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord and of the fluid-filled space between the meninges when caused by bacteria.

“The brain and spinal cord are covered by three layers of tissue called meninges. The subarachnoid space is located between the middle layer and the inner layer of the meninges, which cover the brain and spinal cord . This space contains the cerebrospinal fluid, which flows through the meninges, fills the spaces within the brain, and helps cushion the brain and spinal cord.”

Goa-as said although Vonzeta was developing very slowly compared to her peers, she was just glad Vonzeta was alive. She was looking for a special school for her daughter as Tsumeb didn’t have one.

“What I have noticed is her left side is the lazy side. With help we try to make her walk every day for 15-20 minutes. If she is not tired we go longer. We have hopes but it’s really just wait and see. I believe she will get better with the right assistance,” Goa-as said.

Many of the bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are fairly common and associated with other routine illnesses.

Bacteria and viruses that infect the skin, urinary system, or gastrointestinal and respiratory tract can spread through the bloodstream to the meninges through cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that circulates in and around the spinal cord.

In some cases of bacterial meningitis, the bacteria spread to the meninges from a severe head trauma or a severe local infection, such as a serious ear infection (otitis media) or nasal sinus infection (sinusitis).

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