A 17-year-old from Enfield, London, who thought she had a persistent cold was horrified to discover she had a life-threatening brain infection requiring emergency surgery. Sophie Bell had been suffering from daily headaches for a month before waking up with a swollen, bulging left eye on October 29.
Initially treated with antibiotics for a suspected eye infection, her condition worsened, with pus oozing from her eye and blurred vision. She was diagnosed with orbital cellulitis, a serious infection of the tissues around the eye, which had spread to her brain.
Doctors at The Royal London Hospital told Sophie the infection was life-threatening and could develop into meningitis. She underwent a nine-hour neurosurgery where part of her skull was removed to extract the infection.
Sophie made a miraculous recovery and now wants to raise awareness about the dangers of sinus infections. Her mother, Carol Wright, expressed guilt for not seeking medical help sooner, as Sophie had appeared to be recovering from the cold.
