Gerrard Kaonga
A family was struck with sudden tragedy when a father-of-three died suddenly after experiencing what he thought was cold symptoms.
Back in 2022, British father Pete Hynes complained of a sudden earache and believed it to be a cold, as the rest of the family had suffered with one over the last few days and weeks.
The 40-year-old went for a lie down on a Saturday morning only to collapse.
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This stunned his wife, Lou Hynes, who described her husband as being ‘fit and healthy’
After being rushed to hospital, it was revealed he was suffering from a deadly bacterial infection. This infection would end up taking his life in just a few hours, utterly bewildering his family.
The infection was revealed to be meningococcal meningitis and the disease involved a lethal bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis that infects the membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
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Lou has spoken about the anguish of losing her husband and highlighted the impact it had on her. She noted that on some occasions she simply couldn’t get out of bed due to the grief.
The 48-year-old said: “I'd never experienced anything like it. The kids were coming in and talking to me, their mouths were moving, but I couldn't hear any words and I literally couldn't move
“The paralysis was the culmination of all those months of not having processed Pete's death at all.
“Reality suddenly hit. This is my life now. It all culminated in that kind of breakdown.
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“I honestly felt that anyone could have said or done anything and I wouldn't have cared, I had completely zoned out.”
Despite her own suffering from the unfortunate and untimely death, she and her family have set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the Meningitis Now charity.
So far £7,000 ($9,056) has been raised from 238 donations, exceeding the initial target of £5,000 ($3,800).
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Lou wrote directly to the donators and thanked them for their generosity.
She said: “If, through your kind donation, it means we help other families not have to go through what we have, then it will bring us some comfort.
“We may never have the answers to what happened in Pete's case.
“But we hope, through supporting Meningitis Now, who are committed to raising awareness of the disease, that more research can be funded and a greater awareness created.”