Bucks Fizz’s Jay Aston’s daughter hospitalised after being diagnosed with bacterial meningitis

Bucks Fizz’ star Jay Aston’s daughter has been rushed to hospital after falling critically ill with bacterial meningitis. 

Josie, 18, was rushed to intensive care and put in an induced coma after her organs began to fail last month, and is still currently in a specialist kidney unit.

Her mother, 60, opened up about her daughter’s condition to The Mirror, saying: ‘It’s been absolutely devastating. We were told it was 50/50 whether she would pull through. We still don’t know when she’ll be coming home. 

‘I sat by her bedside night after night willing her to make it. I couldn’t believe this was her fate, because she’s such a lovely person. She’s outgoing, kind, good-willed and full of life. It just felt so cruel. I’ve been doing a lot of praying. She’s my world – we’re ridiculously close. I just couldn’t imagine being without her.’

Jay noticed a rash on Josie’s arm in March, which she immediately recognised as meningitis as her husband Dave Colquhoun, Josie’s father, had contracted it 19 years earlier. 

She rushed her to hospital, which doctors later said saved Josie’s life, and within an hour Josie’s entire body was covered in the rash.

The following day, when her lungs began to fail, she was taken to intensive care where she was put into an induced coma, given oxygen and treated with antibiotics. 

Fighter: Josie, 18, was rushed to intensive care and put in an induced coma after her organs began to fail last month, and is still currently in a specialist kidney unit (pictured in 2021)

Bacterial meningitis usually occurs when bacteria enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain and spinal cord.

It is much more serious and rarer than viral meningitis, and one in 10 cases are fatal.

Possible side effects include brain damage, hearing loss and amputation of the affected limbs. 

Jay recalled her shock at the diagnosis, when a few days earlier Josie had been ‘fit and healthy’ and excitedly preparing to go on holiday and start a new job.

Terrifying: Her mother, 60, opened up about her daughter’s condition to The Mirror, saying: ‘It’s been absolutely devastating. We were told it was 50/50 whether she would pull through’ (pictured in 2022)

Josie remained in the coma for five days, with Jay sleeping beside her bed in a chair, until doctors took her out of the coma, but there was no improvement.

Jay said: ‘She didn’t come round for two days. They were the two worst days of my life. There was no response. I knew it could go either way. But I couldn’t let myself think that I might lose her.’

Jay has gone through her own health issues, undergoing seven operations – including having part of her tongue removed – to cure her mouth cancer in 2018 and battling Covid in 2021.

Despite this, she said that the fear of losing her daughter made this the ‘worst month of my life’ and insisted she would ‘swap places with her in a heartbeat.’

Jay says Josie still has a lot of recovery time to go, and wants her story told so people know the dangers of the infection, which can be spread through sneezing, coughing and kissing. 

She is hopeful that Josie will be released from hospital this week, but for now is just grateful she is alive, knowing how close she came to losing her. 

WHAT IS MENINGITIS?

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Anyone can be affected but at-risk people include those aged under five, 15-to-24 and over 45.

People exposed to passive smoking or with suppressed immune systems, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy, are also more at risk.

The most common forms of meningitis are bacterial and viral.

Symptoms for both include:

• Pale, blotchy skin with a rash that does not fade when compressed with a glass
• Stiff neck
• Dislike of bright lights  
• Fever, and cold hands and feet
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness 
• Severe headache 

Headache is one of the main symptoms

Bacterial meningitis 

Bacterial meningitis requires urgent treatment at hospital with antibiotics.  

Some 10 per cent of bacterial cases are fatal.

Of those who survive, one in three suffer complications, including brain damage and hearing loss. 

Limb amputation is a potential side effect if septicaemia (blood poisoning) occurs.

Vaccines are available against certain strains of bacteria that cause meningitis, such as tuberculosis.

Viral meningitis 

Viral is rarely life-threatening but can cause long-lasting effects, such as headaches, fatigue and memory problems. 

Thousands of people suffer from viral meningitis every year in the UK. 

Treatment focuses on hydration, painkillers and rest.

Although ineffective, antibiotics may be given when patients arrive at hospital just in case they are suffering from the bacterial form of the disease. 

Source: Meningitis Now