Challenge accepted: How Wendy Kermeen triumphed over meningococcal

*Warning: Some readers may find the photos in this story confronting.

 Enjoy life to the fullest. Don’t put off today for tomorrow, as we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

That was the motto Wendy Kermeen lived by before she was attacked by what she refers to as The Devil.

The Devil was meningococcal disease. It robbed her of most of her fingers and all of her toes. But it didn’t break her spirit. And that motto still holds true today.

Wendy is Senior Media Sales Executive at Radio Ballarat Pty Ltd. Well-loved among clients and colleagues, in September, she celebrated 20 years with the company that is home to ARN stations 3BA FM and Power FM.

A local girl, Wendy was born in Ballarat. Her parents both died before she turned 21.

Before she embarked on a radio career, Wendy – a busy mum to three sons – worked weekends selling children’s clothing and adult clothing via Party Plan.

Her next job was taking and upselling photos and content for magazines, from farm machinery to caravans. But the travel demands took their toll. Sick of driving hundreds of kilometres, Wendy applied for a Sales position at Radio Ballarat in 2004.

She tells Radio Today “My first question was ‘Do I have to drive a lot out of town?’”

“That was the start of my radio career and I’m still here loving every day and the satisfaction of seeing my clients succeed with radio exposure.”

In 2015, Wendy’s life changed forever when she fell seriously ill.

At first, the symptoms didn’t appear to be sinister.

“I felt like I was getting gastro,” says Wendy. “My partner Phill said he would book a doctor’s appointment, come home and drive me there.”

Within 30 minutes, Wendy was vomiting and foaming at the mouth. Her legs became mottled.

“Phill was trying to call me but I couldn’t swipe my phone to answer it,” Wendy remembers.

“I couldn’t breathe. I thought it was a panic attack.”

Feeling nauseous, Wendy was taken to a doctor, who promptly called an ambulance. She was rushed to hospital.

“Within one hour I was resuscitated in emergency, taken to ICU and given high-strength antibiotics,” she says.

Wendy was diagnosed with the deadly bacterial infection known as Meningococcal W-135.

Whilst Meningococcal B is the most common strain of the disease in Australia, Meningococcal W-135 is more aggressive and has a higher mortality rate than most of the other strains.

It’s believed 30% of the population carries the bacteria in the back of our nose and throat, without knowing it.

With the infection having spread to her hands and feet, Wendy spent around a week in intensive care, a fortnight on the hospital ward and a further three weeks in rehab.

“I couldn’t stand or have any weight on my legs,” she remembers.

Wendy’s radio colleagues rallied around her.

“John Fitzgibbon, the General Manager, was so supportive of us, taking Phill out for breakfast and checking we were OK.”

“My work colleagues came to see me a lot and gave me so much support. Imogen used to come in and blow-wave my hair.”

Just like everyone else around the office, Fitzgibbon is in awe of Wendy’s attitude and personality.

“Coming to work every day that Wendy is here is an absolute joy,” he tells Radio Today.

“She has the ability to make you laugh and to change your outlook no matter what is going on and no matter how dark and dire things seem.”

“She has been an amazing support to me personally, and to many others over the years.”

Dealing with the kind of adversity that would test even the toughest cookies among us, Wendy got on with life as best she could.

“We rely on so many day-to-day activities, and without fingers, it was hard to put on my make-up and do my hair,” she says. “The daily things I took for granted.”

“I felt so blessed to have my family, neighbour and best friend Lee feed us and make sure I was OK every day whilst Phill was at work, make me laugh and help with rehab.”

In April 2016, Wendy checked into Ballarat Base Hospital and had eight fingers and ten toes amputated.

“The nurses said ‘Without a big toe, your balance and walking will be highly affected.’”

Wendy made gradual progress, moving from a wheelchair to a walker, and then, finally, walking on her own.

“My hardest challenge was sitting on the floor with my grandchildren.”

But the challenge was accepted.

“Feeding my grandchild a bottle with no fingers was a challenge accepted,” says Wendy. “Holding a glass of wine? YES! Eating peanuts? NO. But who needs peanuts?”

Wendy returned to work a few days a week at Radio Ballarat, warmly welcomed by staff and clients.

“Today I’m here working 4 days a week – typing, meeting new clients as I love to do, cold calling, fitting in physio, hand therapy and podiatry.”

A prosthetic glove has come in handy as a way of dealing with the daily tasks most of us wouldn’t think twice about.

Wendy also tries to get to the gym twice a week and remains philosophical about the future.

“It’s been a journey and no doubt there will be more challenges to come in life,” she says.

“The mind is very powerful, and we can choose to achieve what we want in life.”

 *Photos supplied with the permission of Wendy Kermeen