Naomi backing campaign for much-needed meningitis research

Naomi backing campaign for much-needed meningitis research

24 October 2018

SINN Fein councillor Naomi Bailie is one of three local meningitis survivors who are spearheading a fundraising drive to aid vital research into this potentially killer disease. 

It’s nearly two years since the young mother from Ballygalget battled for her life in hospital after she developed the most serious kind of meningitis.

After months of medical investigations due to her chronic headaches, it was an ear infection which eventually developed into full-blown bacterial meningitis on December 7, 2016.

She spent 10 weeks critically ill in hospital, away from her nine month-daughter Niadh as her husband Gerard, and her parents Sheila and Martin, and the rest of their families, prayed for her. 

It’s only now that the 34 year-old, who was the inaugural chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in 2015, is phasing herself back into her role as a councillor for Downpatrick.

However, her illness has left Naomi with some significant repercussions.

“I have since been diagnosed with epilepsy and that’s as a direct result of brain surgery that I had,” she explains.

“I had a stroke during one of the surgeries and as a result of that, I’ve been left with several blood clots on my brain. The meningitis also caused fluid on my blood which caused a tumour, so I now also live with that in my brain. 

“It’s just been horrific. The last year and a half has been difficult but we are getting out the other end of it now thankfully.”

Naomi says that the tumour and blood clots are successfully treated and controlled with medication.

However, she adds: “The epilepsy is a bigger issue for me to live with me from day to day. As Niadh was so little, I was watched by Social Services when I came home from hospital as I wasn’t allowed to be with her unsupervised for a long time. 

“That took away a lot of time from me where she and I should have been bonding and that’s time I will never get back,” she says.

“I wasn’t able to drive as well and I felt a major loss of independence from that.

“I’ve been seizure free for over a year now and have been allowed to drive again since July which is a real blessing as I found that really difficult.”

Naomi has also had to deal with her physical appearance changing due to the meningitis.

She put on five stone in weight while in hospital and had to have her long hair shaved off for surgery. 

“Psychologically that really affects people and I think it especially affects women. As I was always in the public eye, it was dreadful,” said Naomi.

“I’ve lost about half of the weight that I put on and have still about two and a half stone to lose yet.

“Because of the stroke, I also wasn’t able to walk when I got home and I wasn’t talking right. Even now, although my speech has returned, I still get a blank when I speak sometimes.”

While Naomi has been through a traumatic illness and recovery, she is well aware that she’s not the only one.

She’s inspired by the survival of two other meningitis sufferers, Marianne Cleary from Darragh Cross and Jolene Holland from Downpatrick, who both have equally moving stories of survival and recovery to tell. 

The women have joined charity organiser Johnny Breen to launch a bucket collection they are holding in Downpatrick’s Market Street on Saturday, November 3, in aid of Meningitis Research Foundation.

“The Foundation is a British charity but I have been successful in negotiating with them so that all money raised will be used to fund local research,” she said. “We will be grateful for whatever money local people can give and we would love some help with extra collectors.” 

Anyone interested in helping with the bucket collection can contact Naomi through Facebook or her Downpatrick constituency office on 028 4461 4405.