paul gentry
Izzy died of meningitis when she was 16 years old.
A man who lost his daughter to meningitis is urging parents to make sure their children’s vaccinations are up to date and aware of the warning signs of the disease.
Paul Gentry’s daughter Izzy died in 2016 at the age of 16 while studying for her A-levels.
Within 48 hours, she fell into a coma and never recovered.
Mr Gentry, a retired army officer from Swindon, said: ‘I’ve seen a lot of horrible things but losing a child is the worst.
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Mr Gentry met presenter Lisa Snowdon, an ambassador for Meningitis Now, who has lived with the disease herself.
“If they were taken from you, there’s nothing that can explain it.”
Gentry has spoken at events commemorating World Meningitis Day and is a volunteer ambassador for Meningitis Now.
She described Izzy as “beautiful, had a great personality and was a friend to everyone” and explained that she was aiming to become a midwife and would have wanted Izzy to do something for her after she died. did.
“I didn’t want to close my life down with sadness,” he says.
“Beggar’s Belief”
Most of the available vaccines against different types of meningitis are part of the UK’s routine immunization schedule.
Gentry said it’s “frustrating” that some people haven’t been vaccinated.
He said: “It’s a beggarly idea considering it’s available for free and is a lifesaver. It’s important that parents speak to their doctor to find out if their child has been vaccinated.” ” he said.
He stressed that it was only when Izzy was admitted to intensive care that the well-known rash, which sometimes has no obvious symptoms, appeared.
Her illness started with a headache, one of a long list of potential symptoms listed by the NHS.
Eventually, the disease caused all of her organs to shut down.
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Since 2016, Gentry has worked on numerous challenges to raise awareness and funds for Meningitis Now.
“The only time people talk about meningitis is when something really tragic happens,” Gentry said.
That’s one of the reasons he engages in philanthropy.
Since 2016, he has launched dozens of charity challenges to raise money and awareness about meningitis.
He said: “It was a positive result in that Izzy pushed me.
“I know several other families who have lost children, and they are the same way.”
