Blackburn toddler dies from meningitis (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn RSS Feed

Blackburn toddler dies from meningitis

8:20am Friday 14th January 2011 in Blackburn Photograph of the Author By David Watkinson, Deputy news editor

TRAGIC: Finlay Jay Johnston

AN 18-month-old boy has died from meningitis just two days after being taken ill.

The parents of Finlay Jay Johnston told of their pain at the death of their ‘cheeky little boy’, who was first thought to be suffering from flu.

After three dots were spotted on his stomach when he arrived in Royal Blackburn Hospital, he was taken to the emergency department, but his condition deteriorated.

His mother, Catherine Queen, 24, said she had been left ‘numb’ at the sudden death.

But she said she had been given comfort by her decision to donate his heart, liver and kidneys to save the lives of two babies and a 20-year-old woman.

She said: “I have stopped two other parents going through what I have gone through.

“This was their last chance for life and I am so proud Finlay’s organs have helped them.

“Finlay was a normal healthy boy and I just can’t believe what’s happened.

“He was a cheeky, happy little boy who was mad about playing football and eating biscuits.

"He was always up to something and we are all still in shock that he has gone.”

Finlay contracted the meningococcal group B bacteria strain of meningitis.

He was the youngest of Catherine’s children and leaves two brothers, Cameron Baron, five, and Kenzie Baron, three.

Catherine, a former Darwen Vale High School pupil, lives in Honey Hole, in the Infirmary area of Blackburn, with her partner and Finlay’s dad James Johnston, 24.

She said Finlay began to feel ill on Wednesday night last week.

She booked an appointment with her GP at Roman Road Health Centre for 4pm on Thursday and Finlay was referred to Royal Blackburn Hospital for a chest scan.

He was transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital but doctors were unable to save him. He died the following day.

Following Finlay’s death the authorities informed the Health Protection Agency.

The hospital arranged for antibiotics for close family members but no further action has been taken.

Catherine said they had been told where his organs had gone.

She said: “They’ve donated his liver to a baby girl who is only two months old and his heart to a five-month-old baby boy.

"I know that they would have died if it was not for Finlay.

"His kidneys have also been given to a 20-year-old woman.”

The B strain of meningitis is a comparatively rare illness, but there is normally an increase in cases when temperatures drop.

There is no safe and effective vaccine against this strain, but the bacteria that cause it are very common and don’t usually cause any harm.

It can be spread through prolonged close contact, coughing, sneezing and kissing.

However, only a small number of people see the germs overwhelm their body’s immune system to cause meningitis or septicaemia.

Unlike other strains there is not normally a rash, one of the tell-tale signs of meningitis.

Comments(17)

blackburnlad2010 says...
8:49am Fri 14 Jan 11

R.I.P. finlay jay gone but never forgotten you will ways be with us in are hearts love uncle gary xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x