Kent Mother's 'Horrendous' Ordeal as Daughter Hospitalised with Meningitis
A Kent mother has described the past two days as 'horrendous' after her daughter was rushed to hospital following a seizure triggered by bacterial meningitis. Khali Goodwin, a 39-year-old mother-of-six from Kent, awoke on Sunday, March 15, to voicemails from William Harvey Hospital in Ashford informing her that her 21-year-old daughter, Keeleigh, had been admitted.
Sudden Hospitalisation After Night Out
Keeleigh had been discovered unconscious at her shared accommodation in Canterbury. This incident is part of a wider meningitis outbreak in the area, which has already claimed two lives and left several other individuals in induced comas. Khali recounted to KentLive how her daughter initially reported symptoms.
'Keeleigh rang me saying she has all these symptoms and everything, and I said 'that's probably Covid'. She kept saying her head was really bad, and she was feeling sick,' Khali explained. 'Next thing I woke up in the morning to voicemails on my phone from the hospital and she had a seizure. She got up from bed, went into the bathroom, and she had seizure and she fell.'
Fortunately, Keeleigh's housemate found her and immediately called an ambulance, a action Khali credits with saving her daughter's life. 'Luckily enough, she's in a shared accommodation, and her housemate found her and rang an ambulance,' she said.
Mother's Distress and Daughter's Fear
Khali, who believed her daughter had received all necessary vaccinations and never suspected bacterial meningitis, expressed the profound distress of witnessing her child in such a condition. 'The past two days have been horrendous as a mum, witnessing her in this condition,' she stated.
She was able to visit Keeleigh in hospital yesterday while wearing a mask, but the experience was deeply unsettling. 'It was just horrendous to see how she was yesterday (March 15),' Khali said. 'It's frightened the life out of her. It's completely scared her, she's absolutely petrified she said she doesn't want to go out at all. I think this will be the one to completely and utterly change her life.'
Keeleigh, who works full-time at McDonald's, had visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on Thursday, March 12, with friends. The nightclub has acknowledged the situation, stating that 'some people who may have attended Club Chemistry could have been affected by the current outbreak.' The venue has remained closed for the remainder of the week, though the exact source of the outbreak remains unconfirmed.
Wider Outbreak and Public Health Response
Keeleigh faces a week-long hospital stay. Khali, who also has very small children at home, emphasised the need for caution during her visit. 'I went to see her yesterday because I obviously needed to make sure she was alright with my own eyes. But I've also got very small children at home I wore a mask and I've got to be so careful,' she explained.
She is now urging anyone experiencing symptoms to contact NHS 111, noting that her daughter's condition began with merely a temperature. 'It just slowly got worse and then she had the headache,' Khali detailed. 'She said she had never had headaches like it and said it was the worst headache she could possibly have had.' Reflecting on the close call, she added, 'I could have lost her.'
The mother expressed immense gratitude towards her daughter's housemate. 'Honestly that girl is amazing, she literally a lifesaver. If she hadn't found her, then I would have lost her,' Khali said.
Tragic Fatalities and Serious Illnesses
The outbreak has already resulted in two tragic fatalities. One victim was a student from the University of Kent, while the other was Juliette, a Year 13 pupil from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham. Amelia McIlroy, the headteacher, paid tribute to Juliette, describing her as 'incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent' and a 'much loved and treasured member of our school community.'
Currently, a total of 11 people are 'seriously ill' in hospital, with some placed in induced comas. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported awareness of 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis from Friday to Sunday in the Canterbury area of Kent.
Health Agency Guidance and Student Support
Trish Mannes, UKHSA Regional Deputy Director for the South East, offered reassurance that close contacts of cases have received antibiotics and that guidance and support are being provided to the broader student community. She stressed the critical importance of recognising symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, which include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- A rash that does not fade when pressed
A UKHSA spokeswoman confirmed to the Press Association that the agency has worked with the University of Kent to provide advice letters to all 16,000 students. These letters advise on recent cases, signs and symptoms, how to obtain antibiotics, and what to do if they feel unwell. However, not all 16,000 students will be provided with antibiotics.
Hundreds of students have been queuing for antibiotics following the deaths, highlighting the widespread concern within the community. The situation remains under close monitoring by health authorities as they work to contain the outbreak and prevent further cases.
