Dion Hodder - Story by Dion's Mum, Todd

Dion Hodder, affectionately known as D to his mates and Dion Ty when he was in trouble with his mother, was taken from us far too soon on October 20, 2018, by meningococcal septicaemia due to having meningitis at the tender age of 16.

Dion had been experiencing a bit of a cough, and I suggested we see the doctor. “They’re just gonna say it’s a virus and I need to rest,” he said. I trusted my son, he was very body-aware, being a St John cadet.

Dion was preparing for a cadet camp on Motutapu Island, busy organising his gear and messaging his girlfriend. I drove him and two others down to Wellsford to catch the bus. I kissed and cuddled my son, told him I loved him, and sent him on his way. As always, D signed “I love you” through the window as the bus pulled away. He was keen as mustard about camp—lots of awesome activities and time with his girlfriend awaited.

I drove back to Kerikeri and settled in for a weekend of gardening and housework with my husband. We went hard all-day Saturday. Dion had been messaging, letting me know what he was up to. That evening, we settled in with ham and salad for dinner along with a cold drink.

Around 5pm my mobile rang, and it was one of the leaders at camp. “What has D and his girlfriend been caught doing?” I jokingly asked. Laughter followed, and then I was told that the Westpac Chopper was on its way because Dion had been vomiting throughout the day.

All his vital signs were good, but one of the leaders wasn’t happy with his condition and insisted on him being airlifted to the hospital. The initial diagnosis was some form of gastro. As we were a 4½-hour drive away I asked the leader who Dion wanted sent to the hospital to be with him until we arrived. We organised for a friend of ours to head to the hospital to meet him and we quickly cleaned up, changed and were on our way.

When we were about halfway to Auckland, our friend rang with the news that the medical team suspected meningitis. Dion was becoming agitated, and the decision was made to sedate and intubate him to continue his care effectively. I was too scared to say anything to my husband as we needed to get there safely to support Dion. We arrived at the hospital around 10:45pm. We got to the ward where Dion was and our friends told us that he was being prepped for a CT scan. As they wheeled him through, the nurse explained that he was sedated, intubated, and on his way to CT, but we could see him briefly.

Nothing prepared me for the sight that met me

My darling boy was covered in wires and tubes, machines breathing for him, and blotching appeared on his skin. I grabbed his hand as he went past and told him that he could fight this and that I loved him.

We were taken to the family room to wait. Sometime passed until a nurse came in told us that Dion’s heart had stopped, and they were performing CPR. She asked if we wanted to go and be with him. I declined, not wanting the image of CPR being performed on my son. We continued to wait....

After what felt like an eternity, the nurse returned with someone else by her side. Our darling boy hadn’t survived, and he was waiting for us to go and say our goodbyes. There was a horrendous noise that I now know was me. My husband and I went through to the room where Dion had been laid out for us. I walked in, looked at him, I could not believe what I was seeing and I struggled to be in that room. My husband stayed standing by his side and spoke to him for a while.

From the time the helicopter landed until his passing, Dion had been in the hospital for around six hours.

He showed no signs of blotching or a rash when the helicopter arrived on Motutapu Island.  Initially, the crew didn't want to take him as they deemed him not sick enough. It was only on the insistence of one of the leaders, who happened to be a paediatric intensivist, that he was flown off the island. By the time they landed on the hospital roof seven minutes later, he was starting to show signs of blotching. The helicopter was then ordered back to the island to extract his girlfriend, who had also started to feel unwell during the day to be given appropriate medication.

After we left our boy and returned to the waiting room, I called our friends who had been with him to let them know. I asked if they could please ring the camp and inform them. A nurse found us an empty room in a ward that was being renovated, as she wanted us to rest before heading home. She came again in the morning with coffee and muffins before we started the drive back.

Dion left a huge hole not only in our lives but also in the lives of everyone he met. A caring, hug-loving human, he was a friend to many. His passing was felt around the country, and the kind words spoken at his funeral will remain with us forever.

Dion can never be replaced, but his huge, kind heart and smile that lit up the room will never be forgotten.

Forever in our hearts,  Lots of love,  Mum and Dad xxxxx

And in support of World Meningitis Day 2024 and in memory of Dion, Dion’s mum Todd is running a fundraiser - Parading in Purple To Raise Awareness of Meningitis. If you would like to find out more or give a donation to support Todd, you can do so here