Boy, 14, with ‘infectious smile' dies just days after catching fast-moving illness – as doctors issue stark warning
William Hand, who was only 14 years old, was 'known for his infectious smile' and 'playful banter', an obituary said.
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William Hand died on June 8, only 14 years old. His dad wrote: "This is how I will always choose to remember Will. Flowing hair, big smile and in sports attire. I will see you again, son."
Credit: Post & Courier Obituaries
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His family, including parents William and Megan Hand and siblings Emi Reese, 15, Logan, 12 and Rediger, eight, said he had a "big smile"
Credit: Facebook
His dad, also called Will Hand, wrote on Facebook: 'Today he woke us up before 5am clearly not well. Everything snowballed and God called him home.'
William, of Greenville,
Meningococcemia is rare but life-threatening.
The bacteria that causes it, Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis), destroys blood vessels when it gets into the blood stream.
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'This keeps blood from getting to your organs and tissues, which causes symptoms like cold hands and feet, severe muscle pain and pale or discolored skin,' according to the Mayo Clinic.
Serious illness caused by meningococcal bacteria is called invasive meningococcal disease.
It can lead to meningitis, which is the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord,
Will, a keen basketball player, had meningococcal septicemia, his mum Megan told
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His symptoms were not described. But they include a fever, vomiting, headache and a rash that may be red or purple.
'We call it a petechial rash because it looks like broken blood vessels underneath the skin,' said Dr Anna-Kathryn Burch.
'MOST TRAUMATIC DAY OF MY LIFE' My son, 18, wrote his illness off as a hangover - hours later he was dead
'It's not a typically rash that you would get with let's say, a viral infection. If you put your finger on it and press down really hard, the rash will stay there.'
Around one in 10 people have N. meningitidis at the back of their throat without having symptoms or being unwell.
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Carriers can pass it on to others by close contact, such as sneezing, coughing or kissing.
According to Meningitis Research: 'Only a small fraction of people who are exposed to meningococcal bacteria
It most often strikes children and young people.
Vaccinations can protect against some types of meningitis, with viral meningitis being the most common form and bacterial meningitis the rarer.
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Dr Burch warned of speed at which the disease can take hold in someone's body.
'The infection happens so quickly, and once it starts going, sometimes it is very hard to save the person who is infected with the bacteria," she said.
William - who has three siblings - Emi Reese, 15, Logan, 12 and Rediger, eight - will be remembered by his family as having 'flowing hair, big smile and in sports attire'.
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William was a keen sportsplayer
Credit: Facebook
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He was described as the "life of the party"
Credit: Facebook
Know the signs of meningitis and septicaemia
Meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – the meninges.
Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by the same germs as meningitis and is life-threatening. It can occur with or without meningitis.
Both meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours, so it is critical to know the symptoms so you can act fast.
Symptoms can appear in any order and not all of them show. For example, the meningitis rash does not always appear.
It can be hard to tell meningitis/septicaemia apart from other common bugs.
The symptoms marked with a * indicate those that are more specific to meningitis/septicaemia and are rarer with common bugs.
Symptoms of both septicaemia and meningitis
Fever and/or vomiting
Very sleepy, vacant or difficult to wake
Confused/delirious*
A rash, which can be anywhere on the body*
Additional symptoms of meningitis
Severe headache
Seizures
Dislike of bright lights
Stiff neck*
Additional symptoms of septicaemia
Breathing fast/breathlessness
Pale or mottled skin
Limb/muscle/joint pain, which may come with stomach pain or diarrhoea *
Cold hands, feet or shivering*
Source:
His
'Will was a highlight of many people's day-equal parts athlete, comedian, music lover, and loyal friend.
'His teammates, coaches, and friends knew him as the life of party-always ready with a story, usually a little embellished for effect, and always delivered with a grin.
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'Will was recognized as an 'All A's' student, a testament to his intelligence, curiosity, and occasional bursts of focus between jokes.
'Beyond the classroom and court, Will was known for his infectious smile, playful banter amongst friends, and unmatched gift for turning everyday moments into unforgettable memories.'
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Irish Examiner
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What did I do to deserve this?' Trying to find somewhere to go is something many patients experience. Alicia Woods, clinical nurse specialist at Lois Bridges, says the centre is a private facility, but they receive 'phone calls everyday of the week from people who don't have private health insurance'. 'We treat a range of eating disorders. And in terms of age, we've treated from 18 up to people in their early 70s,' she says. 'The majority of older people with eating disorders have had it their whole life but they just haven't had the information, education or support to seek help. Some people do develop it later in life.' Though Woods says the reasons why individuals develop eating disorders are complex and nuanced, she believes social media is playing a role. 'Body positivity was such a thing, but now we've gone back almost 20 years. The videos on social media, encouraging people to obsessively run 5K a day, or the 'what I eat in a day' videos [and the food quantity] is not enough to feed a toddler,' she says. She is also concerned about the potential impact the widespread availability of weight loss jabs like Ozempic might have on vulnerable individuals. 'We know that people can put in fake weights and get these prescriptions. If someone already has a low [body mass index] ... the potential of that is frightening,' she adds. But even when people can access treatment, often recovery is not linear, according to 38-year-old Edel Higgins. She was diagnosed with an eating disorder when she was around 25. She didn't know much about such disorders at the time, but says she had 'always tried to change my physical appearance'. [ Families: the untapped superpower in eating disorder recovery Opens in new window ] It took four inpatient stays before she reached a point where she sees herself as being in recovery. She says: 'It doesn't just take one go. People often feel guilty when they have to go back. But it's such a complex illness.' The Tallaght woman is four years in 'proper recovery', but she says for her that doesn't mean the eating disorder is 'completely gone', but just now she has the 'resilience' to acknowledge and challenge those urges when they arise. She writes poetry to help her cope. She looks at inspirational quotes hung up on her wall. 'Sometimes I wish I could wake up, go about the day, not having all of these overwhelming feelings – the eating disorder and mental health [difficulties]. But it doesn't work that way. It can be frustrating. But it's about findings ways to deal with it.' Bodywhys (The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland) – – (01) 210 7906 – alex@
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
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I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 in 9 months on Mounjaro & still losing weight, I was sick for weeks but it was worth it
A WOMAN who has managed to shift over six stone thanks to Mounjaro has shared the side effects she suffered. Sophie Barrella took to social media to share her 2 Sophie Barrella started taking the weight loss jab nine months ago Credit: Facebook 2 Depsite having side effects, she said it was so worth it for the weight loss Credit: Facebook The mum said she started her She started her journey at 15.7st and a size 18, and in less than a year has gone down to a size 8. In the image, the mum could be seen with her partner and child before losing weight. She wore a one-sleeve dress and was turned to the side and looked obviously larger. READ MORE ON WEIGHT LOSS JABS But now, in the pictures of her weight loss, the mum wore a tight fitting pink dress to show off her new body and beamed at the camera. She captioned the post: "9 months later and I'm down 6 and a half stone! "Finished June 2025 at current 9 stone 3 and still loosing! Size 8. "Worth every penny and side effect I suffered!!" Most read in Fabulous In the comments of the Facebook post, Sophie shared just some of the side effects she suffered from. She wrote: "I found I had headaches from 5mg, then the nausea crept in. Then from 7.5 and 10mg I have had constant grumbling in my stomach, so badly it wakes me up every single night for the next 4 days after injecting and I would have sickness 3-4 times a night. I've lost nearly 6 stone in 9 months on fat jabs - trolls call me 'lazy' & say it's the 'easy way out' but I don't care "Could only sleep on my back because when I was on my side the gas in my stomach would gurgle so loudly and caused me a lot of pain, but again, only 4 days after injecting! Then I would be okay until jab day. "Was honestly worth it all. If you're thinking about it, just go for it! Will change your life." The post was shared on the Facebook group, Mounjaro Ozempic Wegovy weight loss support, where those on the weight loss jabs come together to support each other. Many were quick to congratulate Sophie on her weight loss. One person wrote: "How have you not managed to have excess skin. You look amazing." Another commented: "Well done!" "Well done fantastic achievement," penned a third. What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do: Evaluate Your Caloric Intake Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help). Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight). Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy. Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval) If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage. Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss. Strength Training & Exercise To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week. Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga. Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst). Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued. Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements. Consider Further Medical Guidance If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider. They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss. Meanwhile a fourth said: "You look stunning!" "You look amazing,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "Gorgeous!"
