THE Frodsham grandmother of a boy who nearly died of meningitis a year ago is campaigning to get him educational support.

Almost a year after doctors fought to save the life of five-week-old Louis Roberts, his grandmother Rosanne Greaves, Manley Road, Frodsham, and her family enjoyed the ‘perfect family Christmas’ at her home.

Rosanne and husband Hedley were on holiday in New Zealand last Christmas when their youngest grandchild was rushed to Leicester Hospital with meningitis.

The grandmother-of-six sat by the phone on New Year’s Eve comforting daughter Miranda as Louis, who was born last November, was treated.

Louis was rushed to hospital on December 30 after his dad, Marcus, noticed he was unwell and developing a rash on his side.

Rosanne said: “Looking back, it was a life or death situation, I cannot put into words how ill he was.”

“At that point he had five drips going into his little body. He was almost completely black with open wounds, but luckily, for some reason, he did not lose any limbs.

“At that point they said that if he did survive he would need to have extensive plastic surgery.”

Almost a year on he is doing well but still bears the scars of the disease on his face and body.

Rosanne is now determined to make sure that her grandson gets the future he needs by campaigning to get children who have suffered from meningitis extra support from the education system.

Rosanne explained: “At the moment he seems fine but many people don’t understand the side and after-effects of this disease.”

Rosanne has gathered around 120 signatures across Frodsham for a petition from the Meningitis Trust’s Meningitis Changes Futures campaign to make sure that Louis and other children like him get the educational support they deserve.

“This time last year we couldn’t have hoped that we would be all together for Christmas, we are very aware of what could have happened. I just want Louis to get the same opportunities as everyone else and the future he deserves,” said Rosanne.

To sign the online petition and find out more about the signs and after-effects of meningitis visit http://www.meningitis-trust.org/about-us/campaigns