The devastated family of a seemingly fit and healthy 40-year-old father have issued an urgent warning to the public after his life was brutally cut short by sepsis, originating from a routine dental issue.
Ian Green, a beloved dad from St Helens, Merseyside, began experiencing a severe toothache just days after Christmas. What seemed like a minor dental problem rapidly spiralled into a life-threatening medical emergency, shocking his family and friends.
A Rapid and Devastating Decline
Ian's partner, Leanne Sanders, recounted the horrifying speed of his illness. After complaining of tooth pain, Ian developed a swelling in his cheek. He was prescribed antibiotics, but his condition deteriorated alarmingly fast.
"He was being sick, he had a temperature, he was being sick, he was shivering," Leanne told the Echo. Within a day, he was rushed to Whiston Hospital. Doctors discovered the infection from his tooth had spread, causing meningitis and ultimately, sepsis.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Ian suffered two cardiac arrests. His family made the agonising decision to turn off his life support machine on January 11th, leaving behind his young daughter.
A Family's Plea for Awareness
Now, Ian's grieving family is channelling their pain into a vital campaign for public awareness. They want everyone to know the critical signs of sepsis, a condition that can overwhelm the body in hours.
"We are broken," Leanne said. "But if we can make just one person aware of the signs of sepsis then we have done something. We don't want anyone to go through what we are going through."
They emphasise that sepsis can begin from something as seemingly innocuous as a dental abscess or a small cut. Key symptoms to watch for include:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- Mottled or discoloured skin
- A feeling that you're going to die
Ian's story is a tragic reminder that sepsis does not discriminate by age or fitness. His family's brave warning serves as a crucial public health message that could save lives.
