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Meningitis Outbreak
It's quite possibly the biggest sign Joan Peay is healthy again.
"It was like riding a bike get in you remember," said Peay. "It's been hard being home all the time got pretty boring."
Thursday was the first time since early October that Peay could get behind the wheel.
Fungal Meningitis medication made it unsafe to drive and that wasn't the worst of it.
"I didn't care if I lived or died there were days I felt that way," said Peay.
Peay dealt with Nausea and memory loss and had to be hospitalized on three separate occasions.
She chronicled all of it in a computer journal.
The experience brought a new appreciation now that life is good again.
"I'm so thankful for so many things. I just am. I'm kinder to people especially my husband," said Peay.
As it turns out many fungal Meningitis survivors aren't doing this well.
"At the moment she and others like her are a small number," said Vanderbilt Medical Center's Dr. William Schaffner.
Schaffner is one of the leading experts on the Meningitis outbreak and he says cases like Peay's give hope to others.
"There are still lots of people who are in the middle of their treatment some of whom are having a hard time because they're reacting badly to drugs and are having to switch treatment," said Schaffner.
Peay's recovery has included several drug switches as well but that ends Friday night with her final pill.
"Such a relief. Like I'm a whole new woman," said Peay. Friday, February 15 2013, 11:15 PM CST
"It was like riding a bike get in you remember," said Peay. "It's been hard being home all the time got pretty boring."
Thursday was the first time since early October that Peay could get behind the wheel.
Fungal Meningitis medication made it unsafe to drive and that wasn't the worst of it.
"I didn't care if I lived or died there were days I felt that way," said Peay.
Peay dealt with Nausea and memory loss and had to be hospitalized on three separate occasions.
She chronicled all of it in a computer journal.
The experience brought a new appreciation now that life is good again.
"I'm so thankful for so many things. I just am. I'm kinder to people especially my husband," said Peay.
As it turns out many fungal Meningitis survivors aren't doing this well.
"At the moment she and others like her are a small number," said Vanderbilt Medical Center's Dr. William Schaffner.
Schaffner is one of the leading experts on the Meningitis outbreak and he says cases like Peay's give hope to others.
"There are still lots of people who are in the middle of their treatment some of whom are having a hard time because they're reacting badly to drugs and are having to switch treatment," said Schaffner.
Peay's recovery has included several drug switches as well but that ends Friday night with her final pill.
"Such a relief. Like I'm a whole new woman," said Peay. Friday, February 15 2013, 11:15 PM CST
