THE MOTHER of a 15-year-old girl who died of meningitis has spoken for the first time about her daughter and the virus that killed her.

And she has warned parents to be aware of meningitis symptoms, urging them to call for medical help if in any doubt of their children's well-being.

Debbie Elms told the Citizen how her daughter Christie, a happy, healthy schoolgirl, who like most girls her age adored BoyZone and Leonardo Di Caprio, showed no signs of meningitis until it was too late.

Mrs Elms, 30, said: "Christie was a fit and healthy teenager who was very rarely ill, but within two days she was dead. It's unbelievable how quickly it happened."

The first sign Christie, a pupil at Brays Grove School, was unwell was when she went to bed early at her home in Upper Mealines, Harlow, complaining she "hurt all over" and was cold.

When she lost her balance the following morning and developed birthmark type blotches on her skin, Mrs Elms phoned the doctor who diagnosed suspected meningitis although not all the symptoms were evident.

By the time Christie arrived at Princess Alexandra Hospital, she was drifting in and out of consciousness and was put on a life support system.

Despite attempts by doctors to stabilise her condition, meningitis and septicaemia triggered a blood clot which caused severe brain damage.

Christie's father, Steve Elms, rushed from Germany where he is stationed with the American Air Force to be by her side with her mother and seven-year-old brother James West, but she died two days after she was admitted to hospital.

"I'll never get over Christie dying but I feel for the families whose kids do wake up and are blind, deaf or handicapped," said Mrs Elms.

"There should be more information available to make people aware of the symptoms and after-effects as you only hear about it when someone dies."

The proud mum told how Christie was an extremely popular, fun-loving, vegetarian who had long manicured nails, wore lots of silver jewellery and aspired to be a fashion journalist.

She said: "I know I am biased, but she was a very special person. People who met her felt they had known her for years.

"She had strong views on many things, especially if it involved a minority group. She had such an impact on people and was always loving and generous."

Christie's aunt Corinne Price, 31, said "queues of kids" read letters by her hospital bedside, and that Mrs Elms received over 100 sympathy cards.

One from Jon Harris at Harlow's Playhouse, where Christie had taken part in a production, read: "I hope you will take comfort in knowing how much light Christie shone on those around her when she was with us." Brays Grove deputy headteacher John Donovan wrote: "She didn't wear her heart on her sleeve and you had to delve deep to find out about her but that process was immensely rewarding."

Christie's best friend for 10 years, Dawn Pedel, 15, said: "We gave each other our own space but we were always very close. We would tell each other everything and then look at each other and laugh."

Pupils at Brays Grove School, Tracyes Road, have planned a charity week next week to raise money for the Meningitis Trust and to pay for a headstone for Christie's grave at Harlow Crematorium, Great Parndon.

Mrs Elms said: "The response was overwhelming. She knew so many people and was so loved by everyone."

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