Grandma’s touching farewell to Kalgoorlie meningococcal victim Amelia Clayton

A 20-year old Kalgoorlie-Boulder woman is being remembered as a “unique” and “compassionate” spirit after dying from meningococcal this month.

Amelia Clayton started vomiting several hours after a fast food dinner and her family initially thought she had a stomach bug.

Her symptoms continued for the next few days, and grand-mother Helen Clayton said she had wanted to take her granddaughter to hospital.

“She said ‘no, I think I’m getting better’ and she had all the typical symptoms of gastro,” she said.

On Monday, February 3, Ms Clayton went to check on her granddaughter, only to discover she had died during the night.

“It was quite a shock because I found her at five in the morning,” she said.

“I went to put a blanket over her and at that stage, I realised she was gone.”

A coroner has confirmed the meningococcal diagnosis and Ms Clayton urged anyone who was concerned about having contracted the illness to seek medical attention.

“All I knew about those sorts of things was there was a rash, and there was no rash on Amelia, so that made me think it was not meningococcal,” she said.

“She was also immunised against meningococcal, but only for strain B and she got strain W.

“If the sickness goes on a little too long, then you definitely need to do something else and you need to be aware of all the symptoms.”

Ms Clayton said she had shared a “close bond” with her granddaughter and could not imagine what life without Amelia would be like.

“She was always thinking ahead and making sure I was OK,” she said.

“She knew all my favourite drinks and food and they would just appear like magic.

“She was a beautiful-looking girl. She had gone from the fuzzy-haired ugly duckling to the beautiful swan but she never saw that in herself.

“She used to say to me, ‘I don’t fit in anywhere’ and I would say ‘that’s because you are so unique’.”

Ms Clayton said Amelia would be remembered for her love of animals big and small, having recently completed studies in zoology.

“She would send me photos of the bees she rescued and if they didn’t make it, she would give them a little grave,” she said.

Ms Clayton and her family are now in New Zealand, where Amelia will be buried.

“For someone who suffered anxiety and didn’t think people loved her as much as they did, back home in New Zealand she is being buried almost as royalty,” she said.

“The welcome home she will receive is more than I could have ever expected.”

Amelia is the first confirmed meningococcal death in WA this year.

A second person has also been diagnosed with meningococcal so far this year, and recovered from the illness.