Hannah's story

Eight-year-old Hannah contracted meningococcal septicaemia in April 2004 when she was just two-years-old. She spent four days at The Children's Hospital after being rushed there by ambulance.

Mum Charlotte explains: "It was a spring weekend in April 2004 and Hannah was at home with me. It was like any other weekend until Hannah started being sick in the night.

"Her symptoms didn't ease and in the morning a very tiny rash appeared on her chest.

"I took her straight to the doctors and on our way the rash got worse. By the time we arrived at the doctor's surgery it had spread all over her body.

"The doctor acted immediately as he suspected it was meningitis and called an ambulance to take her to The Children's Hospital.

"Upon arrival at The Children's Hospital Hannah's condition had worsened and she had become limp and unresponsive, the staff flew into action and what happened next was very much of a blur, the staff were just amazing.

"There seemed to be 20 members of staff in the room and I remember being told that the next 24 hours would be critical and that I needed to get my husband home immediately, as he was away with work.

"Hannah had contracted meningococcal septicaemia which was the worst strain of meningitis and potentially fatal. She was transferred to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

"Hannah was unconscious for the next 18 hours and we weren't sure what to expect when she came round as we were unsure what damage the virus would have done. My husband had arrived back in the country and we were both by her bedside when she awoke.

"We were so shocked when she finally came round and sat up as if nothing had happened; it's a moment I'll never forget. She recovered very quickly and amazingly no lasting damage had been caused by the virus and we were allowed home a few days later.

"I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved at The Childrens Hospital, we will always be eternally grateful for all the quick responses and care we recieved to keep our beautiful daughter with us."

Today, Hannah is enjoying school and loves swimming, going to brownies and dance. She gets her love of dance from her Mum who is a trained dancer and teacher and recently held a fundraising dance class to raise money for the hospital to thank them for Hannah's excellent care.

Have Hannah and her mum inspired you to do some fundraising?