Our year without Blair
THE parents of one of the 10 Kiwis who died of meningococcal disease last year want to ensure other families know how to detect the warning signs.
Warrick and Natalie Magon, of Taranaki, have broken their silence on the anniversary of their son’s death in the hope that no-one else endures similar grief.
Their 14-year-old son Blair died on March 9, in his sleep, less than 24 hours after he left school sick. ‘‘From walking, talking, to dead, is something I still can’t comprehend,’’ Warrick said.
The Magons knew their son was sick on that day last year – he had the worst flu he’d ever had – but the ‘‘paranoid parents’’ who always took their children to the doctor didn’t expect to lose him. He’d received the meningococcal immunisation a decade ago, and there was no rash, a telltale sign of the disease. However, they were unaware that this vaccination covered only one strand of the disease and that it wore off.
The New Plymouth Boys’ High School student started to get a cold on the Tuesday, went to his school athletics on the Wednesday, then attended school Thursday and Friday morning. ‘‘A sick kid does not volunteer to go to school, especially not a teenager,’’ Warrick said.
Natalie picked Blair up from school on the Friday with what she thought was a bad flu. In the hours that followed he had a temperature, sore legs, was exhausted and vomited. But his temperature dropped with paracetamol and his sore legs were thought most likely due to his recent participation in sport.
At 10pm on Friday Natalie checked on him and he was sleeping, so she decided to do the same. But when the Magons checked on their son at 7am on Saturday, he was gone.
Their message to other parents: ensure your child gets seen by a doctor and do not leave until they’re medically cleared.
Health Ministry deputy director of public health Niki Stefanogiannis said the disease can develop fast. Symptoms include fever, a rash, headache, sleepiness, joint and muscle pain, a stiff neck, and an aversion of bright lights.
Stefanogiannis said the number of reported cases has increased since 2014. There were 120 cases in New Zealand last year, 10 of them fatal.
Meanwhile, the past year has been difficult for the Magons. Natalie has Blair’s name tattooed on her left arm and a necklace containing a photo of him. Warrick can’t choose his favourite photo of Blair – there are far too many.
But one thing they struggle with is that they’ll never be able to take another photo of him.