13/09/2020
World sepsis day. 2020❤️
August 2019.
Bella isn't well.
I think she's teething.
She's been crying all day.
Her temperature is 39... I'll give her some calpol.
Is she shaking? Oh she's shivering.
Her nappies aren't very wet are they.
111: Hi, yes, I feel a bit silly phoning. But it's my 7 month old daughter...she's got a temperature and I can't bring it down.
She's probably teething or something, but I'm not sure. She's quite distressed. She's...screaming. She doesn't really have any other symptoms...she hasn't had many wet nappies...yes. She is hot to touch..but her feet are freezing cold....
111: you need to take her to hospital immediately.
This is going to be a waste of time Sam. Hospital? I can't take her to hospital just because she's crying and probably teething. It's a bit over the top really.
But...I suppose I'll go.. Or shall I just see how she is overnight? Actually I'll go. Because her nappies are still dry. She's hot.. But why are her feet so cold?
1 hour later. Basildon hospital.
Bella is rushed through to the doctors straight after seeing the triage nurse.
'We think she's got sepsis.'
What actually is that? She doesn't have a rash?
5 days later. Bella is discharged. 5 days in hospital. Fluids, blood tests, antibiotics...
SEPSIS- she had a urinary tract infection. We did not know, how could we? It had led to sepsis.
111 heard 'freezing cold feet.'
Go to hospital.... It will be a waste of time....
But it was not a waste of time.
Sepsis caught early. Mild. But any further delay....if I had left it until the morning, she might not be here...
FEBRUARY 2020
6pm.
What's wrong Theo? Don't you want your dinner?
Wow, he must be ill if he doesn't want to eat.
He looks pale... I think he's coming down with something...
10pm.
He's been sick. It's not much. But he looks unwell doesn't he. Must be coming down with a sickness bug. I wish he could tell us how he feels...
Let's keep him downstairs tonight. Keep an eye on him.
Midnight.
He's been sick again. Not much. Tummy bug. Oh no.
Drink some water Theo.
1am.
He's been sick again. He's looking dehydrated isn't he.
Drink some water Theo.
3.30am.
I think he might need to go to hospital. He's been sick again....he's got diarrhoea...it's really bad... Help me bath him quickly and I'll call 111, see what they say..
3.35am.
He can't stand. He looks a bit....yellow.
He's....grunting. His eyes are rolling back....
999.
It's my 11 year old son. He's been sick, he looks a bit yellow. He's dehydrated I think. He can't speak. He's non verbal. He has a rare syndrome and is mentally like a toddler...he's got epilepsy but he hasn't had a serious seizure since he was 3....he's grunting, he's struggling.... Oh god. He's got a rash coming up on his thigh...
Please. Hurry.
3.50am
Ambulance.
Low blood pressure. He needs some oxygen.
3 minutes.... Phone ahead to resus..yes, blue light him now...
4am. Basildon hospital.
This is Theo and his mum...Theo was sick...Mum thinks he has a tummy bug..
4.05am.
Resus. 2 doctors.
4.10am.
15 doctors.
Shouting.
Panic.
Fear.
Is he going to be...ok?
Mum...your son is very very sick.
We need to stabilise him...we need to put him to sleep. So we can help him.
Sam? Can you come please....now. They're putting him to sleep...
His abdomen is swelling...we need to rush him for a CT scan...we will need to operate...we don't know what it is...but we believe it's his bowel...
4.30am.
Oh Sam...no. Don't cuddle me. No. I need some air. How...it was just a sickness bug... I don't understand...
4.45am.
Dad. It's me. Sorry it's early. It's Theo. He's really really sick...can you come...
4.50am.
The CT scan shows only his bowel...it's enlarged so much. It's crushing his lungs. He is too sick to be treated here, we need to get him to London....
4.55am.
We need to operate here. Now. He won't make it to London... He is very very sick... Sign this form please... We will do our best...but he is very sick. Yes he might die.
No.
No.
Can I say goodbye....
Theo. I just want you to know... I love you. I always have. I always will. Please don't go. Please.
Theo... I love you.
5am.
Resus. Empty room. Theo's blanket on the floor. Smelling his blanket. My heart is breaking.
Please God. Please. I won't ever ask you for anything else. Please.
Let's get you to the relatives room...
3 hours later.
Theo survived the surgery...but he's very sick.
The doctor is crying.
We've done all we can. Theo's bowel died inside of him...we removed it.
We couldn't begin operating for half an hour...he was just too sick.
He had sepsis...it led to septic shock....refractory shock... His organs began shutting down... He is alive. But he lost so much blood. He had a blood transfusion.
He had blood clots in his liver.
He is not stable. He is needing a lot of fluid...a lot of drugs...the ventilator...he needs to be blue lighted to London..
We don't think he will make it. We did all we could...
Thankyou....
45 minutes....blue lights. Intensive care ambulance.
Holding Theo's hand.
Please.
Don't go.
I love you Theo.
St Mary's hospital London.
Intensive care.
7 days... He is turning a corner.
We will wake him.
Day 11.... He is sick. We need to operate.
3 hours later...his Stoma twisted and became blocked. He is stable.
Day 13.... We will wake him.
Day 17.... His left lung has collapsed.
2 weeks of c-pap.
Week 3- high dependency ward.
Theo has to learn to sit up again, hold his head up, walk....
Week 4...back to Basildon.
Doctor crying... My shift ended 3 hours ago... But I had to see him... Oh Theo. We didn't think you would live...
How can I ever thank you enough... You gave our boy a chance to live....
Week 6, 2 weeks in a hospice....NG tube fed.... 19kg....
Theo came home.
Against all the odds....
Theo survived septic shock.
In the space of just 6 months, sepsis touched our lives....twice.
We lived through a nightmare.
But our nightmare had an ending.
For too many, it doesn't.
My heart was breaking...
For too many though, hearts will be forever broken.
Learn the signs.
Think... sepsis.
Just ask.....could it be sepsis?
It might just save a life.❤️
Basildon hospital.... Thankyou.❤️
