Miracle baby

Fifteen-month-old Stone Josephs contracted pneumococcal meningitis at the beginning of November.

His mother, Lisa Zsentko, says it is down to the extraordinary love and care he was given at Keech Hospice in Luton that he survived.

Lisa, who lives in Kingsway in Stotfold, said: “Stone had a seizure on November 1. It lasted for nearly an hour.

“His heart stopped in Lister Hospital. He was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.”

Lisa was told that he was so badly brain damaged that staff would not revive him if this became necessary. He was expected to die before November 9 and he was transferred to Keech Hospice for end of life care.

Stone’s siblings Georgia, Alisha, Devon, Atlanta and Blaze were told to say goodbye to him.

But on November 22 he was allowed to leave the hospice and go home.

Lisa said: “I totally believe in my heart if it wasn’t for Keech he wouldn’t be here. The care and the love; it helped him.

“Hospital is not a nice place but there was calm and love at the hospice. They played with him and did footprints and handprints with him.

“He’s a miracle baby. None of the staff understand why he’s here. It’s his strength and courage.”

Stone has been left with severe brain damage and he has reverted back to the newborn state. He cannot lift his head and he has just started to open his mouth.

Prior to his illness he was sitting up, standing and learning to talk. He had had a meningitis vaccination but it did not include the pneumococcal meningitis strand.

The family are awaiting another brain scan to discover the extent of his brain damage.

They now hope to raise as much money as possible for Keech Hospice Care. Lisa’s cousin, Kerry Ryan, is organising a family fun day in Bedford Park. It will be held on Sunday, June 9 and as well as entertainment such as bouncy castles there will be a sponsored walk around the park.

Details of the fun day and other fundraising will go online at www.facebook.com/StonesStoryMeningitisAwareness

The family hope people will ‘like’ the page to spread the word. They ask local people or businesses to sponsor the charity event so that they can pay for posters, leaflets and insurance. Anyone who would like to do so can call Lisa on 07979 105905 or Kerry on 07401 277020.