It takes a great deal of courage and guts to continue living after surviving meningitis and bilateral amputation on both legs and fingers.

However, 21-year-old Amy Zahra did not give up on life and today she faces each challenge with a smile.

Almost five months after she was told she had 12 hours left to live, Amy sits smiling in her wheelchair and tells her story.

She was admitted to hospital on 16 February. “The afternoon before I went for a walk with some friends on the Sliema front,” Amy explained. “When I got home I was tired and slept for over 12 hours.”

She woke up with a raging fever and her body covered in a rash. Her parents called the doctor right away.

“The doctor told them to take me to hospital at once as I had either leukaemia or meningitis,” she said.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

In fact the doctors informed her parents that Amy had 12 hours left to live and they should start preparing for the funeral.

However, the fighter in Amy pulled through and she did not die.

Amy was sedated for 13 days because of the pain. She developed open wounds on her legs and arms and had to be taken to the Burns’ Unit.

Soon after, the doctors informed her that her fingers and toes had to be amputated, much to her dismay.

“It was a shock when they told me. However, I was more concerned about breaking the news to my parents,” she said. “I knew I had to tell them but I didn’t know how. I wanted to be strong for them.”

After her toes were amputated and the skin grafted over the foot, Amy still had no sensation in her legs. “ The doctors had to amputate my right leg below the knee and soon after they amputated the left one.”

“It was difficult – each time I learnt to accept one amputation I had to face another one and go through it again,” she said.

Amy joked that after the operations she could not scratch her face. “If my face was itchy I had to ask my parents to scratch it. It is not easy to explain where a scratch is on my face and to try directing them.”

She was not left alone throughout her ordeal. “My parents and friends were always there with me. There was always someone sleeping next to me when I was in ITU – my parents, my boyfriend or my best friends.”

After the operations, together with psychologist Anna Fenech, Amy learnt to accept the situation.

“We kept a diary together. Every little positive thing I managed to achieve each day, such as moving my finger, was written down. It was a way of expressing my feelings and letting things out.”

“However, there were days when I didn’t want to see anyone and cried and shouted and asked why did this have to happen to me,” she said. “But I try to make a joke out of it and take things with a smile”

“I still have bad days when it is difficult to accept everything. However I always remind myself that I am lucky to be alive and that things could be worse.”

One of the most difficult things she had to accept is being dependent on her family and friends.

“In the beginning I depended on them for everything. Now I try to be as independent as possible and every small thing I manage is a great achievement for me. Each time I manage to do something that I used to do before I fell ill gives me courage to continue,” she said.

Amy is reading for a degree mechanical engineering; she is in her second year and intends to complete the course. “I chose mechanical engineering because I wanted a career where women are in the minority. I want to graduate and drive and swim and walk – those are my dreams,” she added.

“Before I was a very happy-go-lucky person and a shopaholic. I was always out with my friends and rarely stayed home. Now I am in touch with myself and see things from a different perspective.”

Amy has physiotherapy three times a week and says proudly that she has started lifting weights using her legs.

“I don’t want people to go out of their way to do things for me,” she said. “Some people found it difficult to speak to me after what happened but I want everyone to treat me like the old Amy.”

A great source of inspiration to Amy was Pauline Azzopardi, who also underwent a bilateral amputation due to meningitis. “She came to visit me when I was in ITU and in Burns Unit,” said Amy.

“She is a beautiful woman who inspired me and helped me live again. She is amazing and does practically everything – wash her car, drive and walk. Seeing her gives me the courage to become like her.”

Not only did Pauline inspire Amy, she also helped her parents how to accept and cope with the situation.

At the moment there are no support groups for victims of meningitis, or their family. Amy is working to set up an association called Amy’s Friends to help university students who are social cases and others in difficulty.

One of the priorities of Amy’s Friends will be accessibility and mobility, especially at university, she explained.

“The University of Malta should be accessible to everyone. Why should I use the entrance at the back of the library instead of the main door like everyone else?” she asked.

She pointed out that it is difficult to move from one place to another. “The lecture theatres are not wheelchair friendly and there is no access to the lift if the university canteen is locked.”

“It has been a traumatic year because everyone’s way of life was disrupted. But we are slowly starting to lead a normal life as each one of us is adapting to our new role,” she said.

Friends of Amy are organising an Amy Zahra Charity Gala Dinner on Friday 21 July at the Dolmen Hotel.

It is being held to raise funds to buy prostheses for Amy.

Tickets are Lm15 each and includes a half bottle of wine. Various prizes will be given during the evening including weekend breaks at Hilton, MP3 players and vouchers.

Local personalities such as Ira Losco and Keith Camilleri will participate and paintings will be auctioned during the event with John Bundy as auctioneer.

The paintings to be auctioned can be viewed from 7pm on 20 July at the Dolmen Hotel. Closed biddings will be accepted then.

Those wishing to attend the gala dinner can call Roberta on 9948 6679, Gill on 9986 7678 or Anton on 9968 5180.

Those who wish to donate to Amy’s cause can send an SMS on 5061 7353 for Lm1 and 5061 8067 for Lm2.