A TODDLER who was struck down with meningitis has had all four limbs amputated in a bid to save his life. Little Marshall Janson contracted the devastating illness on Boxing Day and spent four weeks in intensive care struggling to survive. Now as he batt

A TODDLER who was struck down with meningitis has had all four limbs amputated in a bid to save his life.

Little Marshall Janson contracted the devastating illness on Boxing Day and spent four weeks in intensive care struggling to survive. Now as he battles back to health, his relatives from Hatfield are trying to raise cash to pay for his ever-growing medical needs.

Marshall's aunt Debbie Lawrence told the WHT she didn't know what to think when she received a call saying the 14-month-old from Truro had been rushed to hospital with meningitis and septicaemia. Mrs Lawrence, of St Etheldreda's Drive, raced to her nephew's bedside at the Bristol Children's Hospital fearing the worst.

The 53-year-old said: "He was extremely poorly, he had multiple organ failure.

"It was a traumatic time, we knew he had little chance of surviving.

"His limbs were black, and we thought he might lose his fingers and toes."

Surgeons confirmed the need to amputate Marshall's arms from the elbow and legs from the knee to give him a fighting chance.

Mrs Lawrence, husband Dave and children Ross, 23, Rhys, 21, and Debi, 16, are now busy fundraising.

Mrs Lawrence said: "He is an amazing little boy.

"He's only a year old. He has got a long life ahead of him but it's going to be a long haul.

"He's going to need prosthetics throughout his life."

She also wants to warn other parents to make themselves aware of the warning signs for meningitis.

Click here for the Meningitis TrustClick here for the Meningitis Research FoundationClick here for the Meningitis UK