AS one Halesowen family struggles to come to terms with the devastating effect of meningitis on their paralysed daughter a Rowley Regis mum whose little girl lost limbs from the disease eight years ago has spoken out to raise awareness.

Eighteen-year-old Grace Kalinski was paralysed from the neck down in February, while Ellie Dunnaway lost both her legs, her right arm to her elbow and all the fingers in her left hand when she was five years old.

As part of national Meningitis Awareness Week, Karen Dunnaway has spoken of her first-hand experience of meningitis and septicaemia with to ensure people are aware of the symptoms.

Children under five and students are most at risk, but the diseases can strike at any age and not all forms are currently covered by vaccines.

Miss Dunnaway, aged 32, of Harrold Road, said Ellie became ill from meningococcal septicaemia very quickly and fought for life in intensive care.

She said: “Nothing could prepare me for when I went into recovery and saw half of my baby missing and every time she went to theatre she would come back with less and less of her beautiful body.”

Despite this she made a fantastic recovery and was back in school by September. She is now an amazing 14-year- old girl living her life.

She enjoys horse riding, attends St Michael’s CE High School and loves animals, make up and going out with her friends.

A new MenC booster campaign has been launched aimed at students starting university which GPs can administer free of charge until October 31, which will be repeated each year until 2017.

They should have it two weeks before they start because, living in busy halls of residence in close contact with each other, they are at risk of encountering the bacteria that causes the meningococcal strain.

Meanwhile, tickets for a fundraising concert by The Commandments at the River Rooms, Stourbridge, to support Grace, who is still in hospital, are selling well.

Susan Batty, wife of the group’s vocalist Alan Batty, has also raised more than £1,000 already for her sponsored head shave which will take place during the gig on Thursday October 9.

Tickets, priced £5, are available on the night or by calling 07986 577661.