Meningococcal Baby Recovery and Alternative Therapies

One of two high-profile babies battling the deadly meningococcal disease is on the mend and her parents are using alternative therapies to speed her recovery.

Eight-month-old Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman has not needed more amputations since losing her lower arms and legs last week. She returns to surgery tomorrow - the day New Zealand's biggest vaccination programme is launched to try to beat the disease - only to have her dressings changed.

The Waiheke Island girl's father, Perry Bisman, said while the family was sceptical about alternative therapies - and anxious not to be seen as "whackos" - it was willing to try anything.

The therapies being used include supplements such as colostrum being fed through a hospital drip, Bioptron Colour Therapy and spiritual healing.

The Bioptron Colour therapy uses coloured filters to radiate the body with a colour matched to a particular disease in a bid to stimulate cell growth to fight the disease.

18 July 2004
By TARA ROSS