
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
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
From Kilkenny to Sri Lanka: Meet the vet helping to care for three million street dogs
A Kilkenny woman who moved to Sri Lanka last summer to work as a veterinarian described how it felt like she was 'regressing back into her teens' after living at home with her parents in Ireland. Sarah Rochford, aged 37, said she had always been travelling and had only moved back home to live with her family in Kilkenny after the covid pandemic. 'I was renting and then living at home, and I felt like I was regressing back into my teens,' she told the Irish Examiner. 'I had eventually saved up for a deposit, but once I saw the first house, I just could not do it. 'I was weighing things up, and it felt like signing up for a mortgage was signing up for a lifetime. I just did not know if I wanted to do that,' Ms Rochford added. Ms Rochford said she decided to apply for a job as a vet in Sri Lanka after seeing a post on Facebook. 'I did not know anything before I came here,' Ms Rochford said, 'but I always knew I wanted to travel.' Sarah Rochford said: 'We catch them, neuter and vaccinate them before releasing them.' She now works in a mobile unit for a charity on the south coast of Sri Lanka, looking after street dogs. WeCare, the charity, was established 11 years ago by British veterinarian Dr Janey Lowes, who was backpacking in Sri Lanka in May 2014. According to the charity, while these dogs love their freedom and often have a safe place to sleep and a guardian who feeds them, the real problem that stray dogs face in Sri Lanka is the lack of access to 'even the most basic of veterinary care'. The charity helps catch and neuter stray dogs. Sri Lanka has some three million stray dogs, according to Ms Rochford, and the goal of the mobile unit is 'no rabies, no babies'. 'We're tipping away, and we give these animals a UK standard of care,' Ms Rochford said. 'We catch them, neuter and vaccinate them before releasing them, and that's our work down in the mobile van.' The 37-year-old added that she could see herself in Sri Lanka 'for the foreseeable'. The climate was tricky to adjust to at first, especially being pale Irish. I got heat rashes, I get dehydrated and migraines as well. 'But it was easy enough to adapt to the lifestyle and local culture here. The fruit is unbelievable, it is so fresh and tasty. However, I do miss curry chips and salt and vinegar crisps,' Ms Rochford added. She said that while she does not make Irish wages in Sri Lanka, the cost of living is quite low, and that the country had a 'better way of living'. 'They live day to day, there is no set goal,' Ms Rochford said. 'I do miss home the odd time, and the longer I am away, it is hard to keep in touch with day-to-day life of people back home. 'I do miss my family, my mam, the cat, but I also do love it here.' Read More Report makes recommendations to increase the welfare of horses


Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
How eating disorders are changing: ‘I'm not the stereotype. I'm a man, I'm plus-sized'
When William Dwyer Joyce was a teenager, skinny jeans and Indie bands were what was cool. To be slim was fashionable. As a someone who didn't fit into that stereotype, and who was always 'plus-sized', Dwyer Joyce turned to food as a coping mechanism. The now 32-year-old was diagnosed with binge-eating disorder when he was 21, though he says he struggled with mental health difficulties long before that diagnosis. 'For me, my binge eating was very secretive. It was going to the shop, getting large amounts of things like chocolate, crisps, cookies, whatever. And going home and secretly eating it to the point where I could not eat it any more,' he says. 'It created a coping mechanism that was quite harmful because my body image was very poor. It was about numbing. In a sense it was self-harm. If you eat to the point of pain, it's not a nice thing to go through.' READ MORE Compounding this difficulty, Dwyer Joyce also struggled with alcohol addiction and drug misuse issues. These challenges, he says, all came from the same place: a desire to be able to exert control. He is now five years sober. 'When I got sober, it was like I was in a house that was on fire. Sobriety put the fire out, but now I'm standing in rubble and I have to build the house again,' he was when he seriously sought help for his eating disorder. 'In April 2020 I got sober for the last time. A year after that, in 2021, I had a year of sobriety under my belt. My 30s were knocking on my door and I thought, I cannot live like this forever and the only person who can change this was me.' One difficulty he found when seeking help, he says, was the questioning attitude and scepticism he faced by some healthcare professionals because he doesn't fit the common eating-disorder stereotype: a young woman or teenager with anorexia. 'I am the opposite of the stereotype in that I'm a man, I'm plus-sized, I wasn't restricting food,' he adds. 'There is all this messaging around fatness or plus-sized people that if you're fat it's a moral failing or you're lazy or you don't care about how you look. But that's just not true.' William Dwyer Joyce: 'I am the opposite of the stereotype.' Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill This stereotype is beginning to change, according to Laura Casey, director of services at Lois Bridges, an eating disorder treatment centre in Sutton, north Co Dublin. The number of young men seeking help at the centre has increased in recent years, she notes. Casey attributes this rise to the increasing gym culture seen online – in which men are constantly fed images of bodybuilders with very little body fat – combined with the masculine tendency of men to keep their feelings to themselves. 'But when they do go and reach out, they're not heard the same. Their voices can be dismissed a bit easier,' she says. Another changing trend is the prevalence of a condition known as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or Arfid, which is often diagnosed among people who are neurodivergent. 'It's sometimes called the beige diet; they eat a lot of chicken nuggets and chips. But we're moving away now from language that describes these people as being a picky eater, and acknowledging in many cases they have a sensory aversion to something.' Laura Casey, director of services at Lois Bridges eating disorder treatment centre in Sutton, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill According to Casey, Arfid can have a significant impact on an individual, particularly in a social setting. 'Sometimes a person's diet is so restrictive they won't eat. There is a lot of shame and stigma if all they are able to eat is a chicken fillet roll. So, nutritionally, they can be at the same risk as anorexia. It affects their vitamin intake and electrolytes,' she says. When it comes to certain foods, some people with this diagnosiscan have a panic attack or feel like they're choking. 'They can only eat yoghurts and drinks,' she adds. Awareness of eating disorders has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic, when there was a rise in the number of referrals for treatment to HSE eating-disorder teams, who provide specialist treatment. HSE data shows there were 894 referrals to such teams last year, a 33 per cent increase on 2023. There was also a 24 per cent rise in accepted referrals, where patients proceed to treatment after an initial consultation. A total of 562 patients were assessed last year, of which 90 per cent were female and 59 per cent were children under the age of 18. One-third were teenagers aged between 15 and 17. Still, the service also saw the number of adults accessing treatment increase by 51 per cent. You're either too sick for the psychiatric hospitals or you go into a general hospital and there's no help there for these things — 'Rebecca' Of those assessed, 503 had an eating disorder, 118 more diagnoses than in 2023. Some 63 per cent (318) presented with anorexia nervosa; 18 per cent (97) with an 'other specified feeding or eating disorder' (OSFED); 8 per cent (42) with bulimia nervosa; 3 per cent (16) with Arfid; and 2 per cent (10) with binge-eating disorder. Many eating disorders begin the teenage years. But disorders often don't end there. Rebecca, not her real name, was first brought to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ( Camhs ) at age 15. However, she believes this 'did a lot more harm than good'. Although she acknowledges there are many good people working in the service, she was unhappy with the attitudes she faced in relation to her anorexia. Then the coronavirus lockdown happened, shutting down vast swathes of regular life. 'Everything was gone, and I deteriorated very rapidly.' Following this, she underwent a 'string of hospital admissions and A&E presentations' to help with her diagnosis, but she says it was like a 'revolving door'. 'You're either too sick for the psychiatric hospitals or you go into a general hospital and there's no help there for these things. You're stuck between nothing that will help,' she says. 'When you go into a general hospital, it's really only for one thing: to be fed against your will. But it's so important to get to the root cause of it. It was very difficult to find help that suited me. And then when people do offer you that help, it's hard to accept it if you've had bad experiences. I'm still struggling a lot.' The almost 21-year-old makes a comparison to alcoholism: relapse can be a common challenge for people, and oftentimes the difficulties of the illness are persistent. 'But there's no AA meetings [for eating disorders] around the country that you can pop into. You're kind of just left alone,' she adds. Dr Art Malone, a consultant psychiatrist and chair of the eating disorder specialist interest group at the College of Psychiatrists, says one of the biggest challenges is that some areas of the State have inadequate access to the necessary specialist services. 'Not all areas that have a specialist service are fully resourced to deliver the sort of service they would need to do. The biggest one is probably the lack of higher-level care needed for severe cases, so the lack of inpatient treatment is something all teams have to contend with,' he says. Dr Malone says that for the 'very small minority of patients' who have very severe, acute illnesses there is 'no higher-level care available in the way that it should be'. 'What ends up happening is there can be funding sought in other places such as private places or abroad but there can often be fairly lengthy delays in arranging that and then even when it is arranged – because it's taking people out of their home environment – it can be quite tricky then to transfer their treatment back to their own home set-up,' he says. 'Body positivity was such a thing, but now we've gone back almost 20 years,' says Alicia Woods, clinical nurse specialist at Lois Bridges. Photograph: iStock Dr Malone says there's a big push to try to make early intervention a priority, as this can prevent people from needing inpatient care. He cites international research that found the relapse rate for people with severe illness who receive inpatient treatment is around 50 per cent in their first year. 'But it's important to note that services where they do exist are extremely hardworking. Things have come on such a huge distance in a very short time, but it's coming from such a low base in terms of service accessibility that there is still a way to go.' [ Eating disorders: 'I wouldn't speak to my worst enemy the way I talked to myself' Opens in new window ] In recent years, the Government has taken steps to improve eating-disorder services. Currently, 14 of the 16 specialist eating disorder teams recommended in its internal plans are funded. Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler says no patients have been treated abroad this year so far for specialist eating-disorder care. 'I'm very proud of the progress we are making in establishing a full suite of services to support people with eating disorders, from early intervention in the community to the development of specialist inpatient beds for acute care,' she says. However, things are far from perfect, those working in the sector say. Figures from the HSE show that one-third of funded posts at eating disorder regional specialists teams are currently unfilled. In the adult eating disorder team in the Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal health area, there are more vacancies than people in post: 3.2 whole-time equivalent staff are in place, with seven unfilled posts in the area. Furthermore, there are only three adult specialist eating disorder beds in the country, all of which are in St Vincent's hospital, Dublin. The rules for these beds, which are for those who are acutely unwell, require patients to be within that hospital's catchment area to be treated there. As a result, people with eating disorders outside that area who go into public hospitals for treatment are typically referred to a general psychiatric unit. Often they are unable to access specialised care in such settings. However, The Irish Times understands a plan has been devised by the HSE to increase the number of public eating-disorder beds nationally. Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler says no patients have been treated abroad this year so far for specialist eating-disorder care. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire At least 20 new specialist beds will be established in the coming years, under proposals submitted by the HSE for Ms Butler's approval. The beds will be spread between Dublin and the rest of the country, but all of them will have a national catchment area. For some people, recovery feels impossible. Aoife, which is not her real name, developed eating disorder behaviours when she was 12, after she sought to lose weight for her Confirmation. 'My family weren't very nice about my body. But also society. You'd be in drama class and I was the biggest so I would have to try on the costume and if it didn't fit me then nobody would get it. Then there were things like the Special K diet, or Kate Moss's saying about skinny being better,' she says. The 32-year-old Cork woman says she was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 15, and went into hospital when she was 16, which she describes as 'the worst point in my life ever'. 'I couldn't control anything. I had a tube in my nose, I wasn't allowed to walk anywhere. I basically just lay in bed. I soiled myself because it would expend too much energy to go to the bathroom. It was only about weight restoration, not about treating the eating disorder,' she says. She struggled through college but was determined to continue her studies. I've been told I'll never recover. I have chronic anorexia. So you ask yourself, what's the point in trying? — 'Aoife' After graduating as a teacher, she realised she needed to get better before she could work full-time. In 2016, she returned to inpatient care. She improved somewhat, she says, but was not in recovery. She was admitted again two years ago, but had to leave early due to panic attacks. For her, she says, a history of trauma is playing a role in her current condition: her sister died when she was very young. 'I overate when she died; that was soothing myself. My life felt out of control, I didn't know who would die next. Food was something I could control,' she says. But it is 20 years since the onset of those challenges. These days, she feels quite hopeless about her current trajectory. 'I've been told I'll never recover. I have chronic anorexia. So you ask yourself, what's the point in trying? Normal eating is no longer normal for me. This has become my normal and it's very hard to see outside of it,' she says. [ Eating disorders in later life: Some of my peers have had teenage weight levels for decades Opens in new window ] 'It's pointless to be here every day. I keep wondering, how did things come to this? I'd love for someone to tell me what to do because I just don't know where to go or what to do. I look inward wondering what I could do differently. 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
- The Irish Sun
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!"