Liam Robert Elliott

Liam Robert Elliott
11th december 2006
17 months
keswick,cumbria
Sister Sara Elliott and Emma Elliott
Meningococal septacemia meningitus B


My Sisters Story
At 11pm on Dec 10th Liam woke up after having a nap he was happily playing with his toys and his
sister Sara clapping his hands and singing to himself he was"full of beans". It was an extra special
time as he had just learnt his first words "mam and"dada".
Nothing could prepare us for the devastating event that would occur the following morning.
At 6am on the 11th Dec Suzannes husband Russell noticed that Liam was breathing heavily but that
was nothing unusual he was a deep sleeper. Russell left for work at 6.30am that was last time he
ever seen Liam alive.
Suzanne and my neice Sara 10yrs woke up at 8am for school as Sara left room to go get ready she
rushed back in as she heard her mum screaming hysterically Suzanne woke to find Liam face down his
skin purple down one side.
Sara called the ambulance while Suzanne worked on him giving him mouth to mouth and heart massage.
Suzanne didnt let paramedics give up on him either. the doctors at both hospitals Keswick and
Carlisle worked on him due to Suzannes persistence and hysterics although we know we lost Liam in
his sleep at home.
Because his death was so sudden and there was just no warning signs, the doctors thought it
was"Sudden Infant Death Syndrome"
Due to the speed of his death and the lack of symptoms a post mortem was carried out, and it was
only then that the disease was diagnosed. Six days after his death it was revealed Liam had group B
Meningococcal Septicemia!
There was no rash, no temperature, there was nothing wrong with him Everyone always thinks that you
can detect meningitis by the rash but its much more complex than that.
Suzanne says"when you lose a child, you lose a big part of you as well, but you have to fight, you
have to carry on for the sake of the rest of your family: they have all lost liam too".




Liam was my nephew he was a great natured smiling happy little boy.
Everyone that met him loved him for his wee happy nature and his big smile, also known as"wee chunky
guy".

My sister Suzanne's world fell apart on 11th december 06. Our lives will never be the same wee miss
you"wee chunky". I have never mentioned Liam died of Meningitis M. Septicemia. I have always
believed meningitis came with rash and more symptoms but Liam was fine on 10th Dec smiling laughing
with his family when they were singing christmas Carols. These Christmas Carols now have different
memories for us they are a reminder of how one can be taken away so quickly. Christmas and our lives
will never be the same x x