Sports lover, 24, forced to have both his arms and both legs amputated after bungling doctors thought his meningitis was flu
Young man from Spain was so ill he staggered in hospital but dopey doctors failed to detect he was suffering from the lethal bug and sent him home where his symptoms worsened
A YOUNG sports lover who lost his arms and legs after suffering from meningitis had been sent home because medics thought he had flu.
Davide Morana, 24, has been left confined to a bed unable to do anything for himself after surgeons were forced to amputate his limbs in January to save his life.
Davide has now set up a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of £87,720 to get the new limbs which would enable him to regain his independence.
The Italian was living in the city of Murcia, in south east Spain, when he started feeling unwell in January with a fever and sore jaw.
As he began to feel worse he went to a hospital accident and emergency unit, where nurses took blood and urine samples.
But nothing was picked up on the tests and he was sent home after he was diagnosed with flu.
But his condition deteriorated with a fever of more than 39C and he began vomiting.
A day later he woke up to find brown marks covering his face.
He said: "I was feeling very weak. I felt pain in my feet, they felt as if they were frozen, and when I took off my socks I saw how my feet were covered with brown marks like the ones on my face, but a bit bigger."
Davide went back to the hospital and was diagnosed with meningitis.
Because of the infection, in less than two days the stains turned violet and spread over most of his body.
He was diagnosed with multiple organ failure and had to fight for his life.
A statement on his crowdfunding campaign said: "After a week in induced coma, he started to wake up.
“He remembered everything, he moved and tried to speak."
But he had kidney failure and the violet marks had turned into blisters while other marks had turned black.
WARNING SIGNS What are the key symptoms of meningitis?
The symptoms of meningitis can develop very quickly, and include:
- a high fever – over 37.5 degrees (the average temperature)
- being sick
- a headache
- a blotchy rash that won’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
- stiffness, especially in the neck
- drowsiness, irritability or a lack of energy
- cold hands and feet
- seizures
In babies the symptoms can be slightly different, they may:
- refuse to eat
- be agitated and not want to be picked up
- having a bulging soft spot on their head
- be floppy and inresponsive
- have an unusual, high-pitched cry
- have a stiff body
Source: Meningitis Research Foundation
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In just one week the young sportsman had to have both arms and legs amputated.
Davide describes how he loved sports, studied in the day and worked in the evenings.
In his spare time he loved nothing more than swimming, running, cooking and hanging out with pals.
Even after his ordeal Davide is full of beans and his positive attitude has left his family and friends in awe.
The post added: "Only some hours after his amputation, he even joked about his stump."
Davide was released from the hospital two weeks ago and is now looking forward to starting his life over.
He has started a donation page here.
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