A 10-year-old girl from Southport has undergone a triple amputation after contracting meningococcal disease and a rare fungal infection. Penelope Vidal-Walsh, described by her father as a 'little fighter', lost both legs and her right arm following a battle that began with what appeared to be a minor illness.
On April 10, Penelope told her parents she felt unwell and went to bed at 9pm. She woke at 2am vomiting. After a bath, her father found no obvious signs of illness. The next morning, she ate breakfast but was sick again at 8.30am. Her father noticed a tiny purple mark on her neck, and later both parents spotted a purple rash on her knee. They performed the glass test, pressing a glass against the rash, which did not fade—a sign of possible meningitis or septicaemia.
Penelope was rushed to Ormskirk Hospital and then transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where she was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. She was sedated in intensive care. During treatment, she also developed a rare fungal infection, leading to severe complications that necessitated the amputation of her lower limbs and right arm.
Her father, Ricardo Vidal, said: 'It's been a roller coaster of emotions, heartache and anxiety. But as her parents we remain forever grateful that she is still with us.' Penelope is now recovering in the critical care unit at Alder Hey, undergoing skin grafts. If the grafts proceed well, she may be discharged around October.
The family has launched a fundraising campaign to support Penelope's future independence and quality of life. They also want to raise awareness of meningitis symptoms, warning other parents to be vigilant about unusual rashes.
