Pontrilas couple to host charity auction for Meningitis Trust (From Hereford Times)

Pontrilas couple Nigel and Tracey Corner to host charity auction for Meningitis Trust

7:00am Friday 7th October 2011 in Features By Lauren Rogers

A POSTMISTRESS amazed doctors when she survived a rare strain of meningitis which ate through her heart valve.

Tracey Corner, who runs Pontrilas Post Office with husband Nigel, had no idea how ill she was when she went to bed with a headache. The 43-year-old had been suffering with a sickness bug for two weeks and had been to see a doctor, but that day felt dehydrated and weak.

At 2am the following morning, Nigel was woken by the sound of Tracey falling out of bed. She was unconscious.

Tracey had contracted meningitis, although it is still not known where she came in contact with the deadly virus.

From the moment Nigel phoned 999 and paramedics told him how to put his wife into the recovery position, Tracey had to battle to survive.

While in hospital receiving antibiotics to fight the infection, the mum-of-two caught pneumonia and a chest infection which put her back into intensive care.

It was then that doctors found meningitis had attacked her heart valves. It had completely destroyed one by ‘eating’ through it and caused the second to collapse. She needed emergency open heart surgery if she was going to live.

“She was too ill to be airlifted,”

said Nigel. “They had a paramedic, a doctor and a nurse in the back of the ambulance. They said it was life-threatening putting her in the ambulance, let alone making the journey.”

Tracey, who can barely remember anything about her time in hospital, underwent a nine-hour operation that ultimately saved her life.

“They told me afterwards that they didn’t think I was going to live,” said Tracey, who came home three weeks ago.

“But I’m a tough old bird. I can’t remember much. I remember waking up in hospital not knowing where I was, looking down and see all these wires. It was frightening.”

After surgery Tracey needed antibiotics six times a day for six weeks. She dropped two dress sizes and struggled to walk after spending nine weeks in a hospital bed, but is now back on her feet and making a recovery from her June ordeal.

She has not returned to work, but on October 18 the family, including 17-yearold twins Jamie and Iain, is hosting a charity auction in aid of the Meningitis Trust.

The charity helped the couple understand the illness and offered Nigel advice and comfort while his wife was fighting for survival.

The auction, which takes place at the Nigel Ward sales room in Pontrilas, is the couple’s way of saying thank you to a community that rallied around them.

“Everyone has been amazing,”

said Tracey, who moved to the village from Hereford a year ago.

“They’ve made me realise that in villages like this you are a name, not just a number.

“We’ve already had several generous donations from local companies, but the more can we raise to help this worthy cause and raise awareness of this terrible the virus the better.”

To donate, call the Post Office on 01981 240235. For more on the charity, visit meningitis-trust.org.