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RECOVERING: Parents Alexandra and Greg Odzimek cradle baby Julia who was struck down by a rare form of meningitis
Dad's instinct saves baby Julia
Adam Derbyshire24/10/2007
WHEN tiny Julia Odzimek became seriously ill with a rare strain of killer meningitis a father’s instinct saved her life.
Dad Greg and wife Alexandra took their two-week-old daughter to their GP who told them it was most likely an infection.
But 32-year-old Mr Odzimek refused to accept the diagnosis and felt something was seriously wrong.
Later that night the couple sped Julia up to Tameside Hospital where doctors confirmed their worst fears — but were in time to give the child life-saving antibiotics.
Tests revealed the baby had contracted the listeria strain of the bug, which kills a third of people it attacks.
Alexandra, 26, said: “We noticed she was behaving differently one morning. She seemed quiet and then began moaning and crying.
Greg, of Crown Street, Ashton added: “By 9pm she was burning up, her temperature had reached 40c and we couldn’t cool her down. My sixth sense kicked in and I said ‘enough’, so we rushed her up to the hospital.”
They waited in casualty and finally a bed was found at 11pm. Fans blasted cool air on to the tot as doctors battled to bring her temperature down.
The next morning, meningitis was confirmed. A doctor told the couple Julia may not survive.
They mounted a bedside vigil as their daughter fought for her life. But slowly she began to recover and was finally allowed home after three weeks in intensive care. Medics say she should suffer no lasting damage.
Very few cases of listeria now occur each year in the UK, largely due to successful education campaigns about the dangers of eating unpasteurised milk products or contaminated pate, poultry or shellfish in pregnancy.
The couple arrived from Poland three years ago.
Greg, a self-employed caterer, said: “It is so rare the doctor at the hospital said he last dealt with a case 25 years ago. There was no rash, but my instinct said ignore the GP’s advice, we need to get her to hospital.”
Alexandra, a bar manager, added: “My husband reacted really fast and it was vital.
“But we want to thank the staff at the hospital who saved her life and made us so welcome.
“We basically lived there for three weeks. And of course our parents who flew over to support us.”
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4/11/2007 at 21:20