ITV Star Opens Up About Daughter's Death from Meningitis

Danielle is sharing a sad story about her family.

Fourteen years ago, Danielle's world changed when her daughter got very sick on a family trip to Lanzarote. Danielle wants to warn parents about meningitis B, which can kill healthy children in hours.

Danielle was building a happy life with her husband and their three toddlers when their daughter Cici fell ill and died at 18 months old.

The family was on a trip, but it was delayed, and the kids were tired. Danielle remembers that Cici was not feeling well, but they thought it was just because of the travel.

Danielle was a TV presenter on CITV.

Danielle is talking about how her daughter Cici died.

Cici was feeling unwell, but Danielle and her husband thought it was just a cold. However, Cici's condition got worse, and she died within three hours.

Doctors later found out that Cici had meningococcal septicaemia, which is blood poisoning caused by meningitis B. There was no vaccine for this strain at that time, so Cici did not have a chance to survive.

Cici was a healthy and happy child, but she got very sick and died. Danielle still remembers her daughter's red hair and blue eyes.

When Cici got sick, Danielle and her husband took her to the hospital, but it was too late. The doctors tried to save Cici, but she died.

After Cici died, Danielle was very sad and did not want to let her go. She held Cici in her arms and could not believe that her happy and laughing girl was gone.

Danielle's husband, Dean, was also very sad and grief-stricken. They had to deal with the process of bringing Cici's body back home, which was very difficult and expensive.

Danielle says that you do not think about these things until they happen to you. The process of dealing with the death of a child is horrific.

Now, Danielle is working with a charity to raise awareness about meningitis. She wants to make sure that no other parent goes through the same pain that she did.

There was a recent outbreak of meningitis B in Kent, where some students died, and others got very sick. Danielle is using this opportunity to warn parents about the dangers of meningitis.

The outbreak in Kent has raised concerns about how meningitis spreads, especially among young people in close-contact social settings.

Danielle says that meningitis is not just a story from the past; it is still happening today. It can kill healthy children and teenagers in hours.

Cici's doctors thought that she might have had a mild infection that made her more vulnerable to meningitis. Danielle explains that meningococcal bacteria can live in the nose and throat of healthy people without causing harm.

The bacteria can be transmitted through close contact, such as coughing, sneezing, or sharing drinks. Danielle's younger daughter, Mitzi, was one of the first to receive the MenB vaccine in 2015.

Danielle's teenage sons, Joey and Ellis, have not been vaccinated, but doctors think they have natural immunity because they were exposed to the virus when Cici died.

Danielle wants to warn parents about the warning signs of meningitis, such as cold hands and feet, high fever, confusion, vomiting, and mottled skin.

Danielle is haunted by thoughts of what could have been done to save Cici. She thinks about what if Cici had been in their room, or what if they had not let her play in the soft play area.

After Cici died, Danielle disappeared from TV and became a shadow of herself. She could not imagine being happy again.

Danielle and her husband, Dean, threw themselves into charity work to raise money for meningitis research. They later had two more children, Mitzi and Chase.

Mitzi and Chase brought light back into their house, and Danielle calls them her rainbow babies.

The family built a play gazebo at the local school in Cici's name, and Danielle still gets emotional when she thinks about it.

During lockdown, Danielle realized that she needed to do something to make herself happy again. She started working on a new TV show, and it helped her to find herself again.

Danielle ran into her old producer, Steve Ryde, and he offered her a job on TalkTV. She started hosting a late-night phone-in show, and it helped her to regain her confidence.

Danielle is now a confident voice on TV, and she is not afraid to speak her mind. She is also filming a family reality-style YouTube series with her husband and children.

Danielle's former on-screen partner, Stephen Mulhern, is still one of her closest friends. He drove up from London when he heard about Cici's death, and he has been a constant support to Danielle.

Danielle and Stephen still meet up once or twice a year, and they have a great time together. They would love to work together on TV again, but it is difficult because of their different levels of fame.

Danielle admits that grief never goes away; it just changes shape. She still thinks about Cici every day and imagines what she would be like if she were still alive.

The first years after Cici's death were pure survival for Danielle. She used to go to bed and pray to die in her sleep, but her other children needed her, and that is what kept her going.

What eventually pulled Danielle through was her other children. They needed her to be strong, and that is what saved her.

After Cici's death, the family lived in Scotland for several years. Danielle trained as a breastfeeding support worker and helped new mothers who had traumatic births.

Danielle's work as a breastfeeding support worker gave her a purpose again. She was able to help other women, and that stopped her from feeling useless.

Danielle and her partner, Dean, are now involved in charity work to spread awareness about meningitis. They want to make sure that no other parent goes through the same pain that they did.

Danielle is proud of the work that they are doing, and she knows that it is making a difference.

Danielle now uses her platform to discuss grief, motherhood, and mental health openly. She wants to help other people who are going through the same things that she has gone through.

Danielle's biggest message is to get the MenB vaccine. She wants to make sure that no other child dies from meningitis, and she is using her story to raise awareness.

Fourteen years on, the memories of Cici still make Danielle's voice shake. She says that time does not heal, but you learn to live with the hole in your heart.

Danielle smiles softly when she thinks about Cici. She knows that she will never stop being Cici's mum, and she hopes that by telling her story, she can save other lives.

The warning signs of meningitis include cold hands and feet, blotchy skin, fever, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, neck stiffness, or a rash that does not fade under glass.

If you are concerned about meningitis, you should seek medical guidance immediately.

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