Juliette Kenny’s father revealed the symptoms his daughter faced just hours before she tragically died after contracting meningitis B, during an outbreak of the infection in Kent
The family of an 18-year-old girl tragically killed by meningitis revealed the symptoms she faced just hours before she died.
Juliette Kenny sadly died on Saturday March 14, after she contracted meningitis B amid an outbreak in Kent. The 18-year-old, a sixth form student, was one of two people who have died as the UKHSA investigates 29 cases linked to Canterbury, Kent. She sadly died just 12 hours after she started to show symptoms of the deadly infection.
Her heartbroken dad Michael Kenny revealed what the family first noticed as they realised something was wrong with their beloved girl.
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Mr Kenny said Juliette started to vomit and showed discolouration in her cheeks, in the early hours of Friday. The Year 13 student, at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, exhibited no other symptoms at that time, her dad said.
He even added that the teenager had been “fit, healthy and strong” before that point and finished the practical assessment for her PE A-level on Thursday, March 12.
Mr Kenny said the family took Juliette to medics when they noticed her symptoms, saying: “In the morning on Friday, she was taken, by us, to our local emergency drop-in as a discolouration appeared on her cheeks. She was given antibiotics and sent by ambulance to A&E.
“Juliette fought bravely for hours, but despite the fantastic NHS hospital staff fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later. We were with her at the end, and the last sounds that she heard were the voices of those who loved her telling her how very much loved and cherished she is.”
In a heart-rending statement, the dad said: “We are incredibly proud parents to two wonderful daughters. Juliette is a force in this world. With her beautifully positive energy she spread fun, love and happiness to those around her and she continues to do so now. The devastation of her loss to us, her family and friends is immeasurable.
“Sharing stories of the empathy, warmth and fun that she created is helping her family and friends through at this time. Her energy continues to make the people who love her find a way. The illness took her from us so quickly.”
Mr Kenny said “no family should experience this pain and tragedy” and has called for better protections to be in place for young people against meningitis B. This included urging the government to improve access to the menB vaccination for young people. The menB jab was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015, meaning the majority of young people born before then are not protected against it unless they have had the jab privately.
Mr Kenny said: “No family should experience this pain and tragedy. This can be avoided. There are young people currently battling this and young people still at risk. As parents, we knew our children would change the world and be a force for good.
“The work to protect young people has started. It needs to be more. Juliette’s impact on this world must be lasting change. Now is the time to ensure families are safe from the impact of meningitis B.”
Vinny Smith, chief executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, said in 2015 the charity’s called for the menB vaccination to be “routinely available” on the NHS for all at-risk age groups was “not taken forward” as it was “judged not to be cost-effective”.
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