Troy's Story
Troy contracted the disease while on a working holiday in London with his girlfriend. The Pocock family lives were turned upside down when they received a phone call from the Chelsea Hospital in London warning them that Troy was in critical condition after contracting the Meningococcal disease.
Troy started to feel ill the morning of December 29th 2001 and he thought he was just getting the flu. It wasn't until he was so sick vomiting, diarrhoea, high temperature, joint stiffness and the appearance of blotches on his eye lids that Meg realised it was something more serious than the flu, she rushed him to the hospital which was ten minutes away.
Troy was vomiting blood by the time he got to hospital and his condition was critical. There wasn't much the hospital staff could do, he was placed on life support and administered antibiotics but was to pass away within hours.
Troy's brother Scott and Meg's mother flew to London to bring Troy home but didn't learn of Troy's death until they were in Tokyo half way to London. They dealt with the cremation and the packing of Troy and Meg's belongings.
Scott brought Troy's ashes home in his backpack which sat next to him and Meg all the way home.
Troy and Meg had left on the 7th of October 2001 to venture the world but Troy died on December 29th. On the 9th of January 2002 Meg came home without the love of her life.
A memorial service was held on the 12th January 2002 and his ashes were scattered over the Shoalhaven river.
On the 14th December 2003 which would have been Troy's 23rd Birthday his friends organised and dedicated a memorial bench at Bangalee Reserve. The reserve overlooks his beloved Shoalhaven River from where his ashes were spread. Many friends have spent a quiet moment in reflection sitting on Troy's bench and the words inscribed have been an inspiration to many.
The inscription reads "Make each day a magnificent adventure"
Troy and Meg each went to a different doctor before they left but neither of them were advised to have immunisation against Meningococcal even though the incidence of this disease in London is even higher than Australia.
An immunisation needle would have cost $70.00 which would protect against the C strain, if only Meg and Troy had been told this our Troy would still be here with us now