ONE Hampshire mum is launching a campaign to warn parents about the dangers of a killer disease that almost claimed the life of her baby girl.

Rachel Boulahri-Waite believes it is a miracle that seven-month-old Baileah survived meningitis and is desperate to save other families from the same horrific experience.

The mum-of-three is organising a sponsored 20-mile walk in her bid to raise awareness among parents about the symptoms of the disease, which can kill in just four hours.

Last December Rachel and her partner Jason Waite rushed their youngest daughter to hospital after her health dramatically deteriorated within just 30 minutes.

Their baby, who just hours before was laughing and crawling, was in a coma and fighting for her life in Southampton General Hospital’s Paediatric Care Unit.

Luckily for Rachel, Baileah pulled through and after ten days in hospital over Christmas she was reunited with her sister Shaira, 5 and brother Maskah, 3, at home.

Rachel, of Raleigh Walk, Gosport, said: “I was hysterical and as a parent I felt uneducated about the disease that was killing my daughter.

“I think there needs to be more awareness and I can’t just sit back and say that my baby is OK now and forget about it. I don’t want anyone to go through what we did.

“It is vital to catch the symptoms early, that can be the difference between life and death.

Everyone knows about the rash but that doesn’t always appear and if it does that comes much later on.”

Rachel hopes to raise awareness and thousands of pounds for lifesaving equipment for Southampton General Hospital and the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham with her Every Second Counts Campaign.

The sponsored walk between the two hospitals will start at 9.30am on May 17, at the Queen Alexandra. To take part or to donate call Rachel on 07727 754743.

Meningitis: the symptoms

  • Fever, cold hands and feet
  • Floppy, listless, unresponsive
  • Refusing food
  • Vomiting
  • Drowsy, difficult to wake
  • Pale, blotchy skin
  • Fretful, dislike being handled
  • Dislike to bright lights
  • Spots/rash
  • Unusual cry or moaning
  • Rapid breathing or grunting