A father from Litherland has died weeks after complaining of a toothache. Craig Bayliss, 41, visited the dentist on June 22 and July 17 for fillings. After the second filling, he began to feel unwell and suffered from toothache.
Mystery illness
Concerned about his resting heart rate of 100 to 110 beats per minute (bpm), Craig saw a doctor. A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100bpm, but a heart scan came back clear. He continued to struggle with the mystery illness during a family holiday to York on July 20 with his wife Anna, 37, and sons Nathan, 17, and Isaac, 13. Isaac was born with a rare heart condition called Incomplete Shone’s Complex and bilateral talipes (clubbed feet).
Doctors later diagnosed Craig with endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, usually caused by an infection. According to the NHS, it is rare but can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment. Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or fungus enters the blood through the mouth or skin, possibly during a dental procedure or through a cut or graze. Symptoms include feeling very tired and breathless.
Family tribute
Craig died from organ failure while undergoing surgery for endocarditis on August 7. Paying tribute, Anna told the ECHO: “He was the softest and kindest person ever. He would help anyone, like anyone at all. We had a spate of cars being smashed up in the street and he went out and made sure that people were all right. He always put others before himself. He was an amazing dad. He was just honestly one of the kindest men you could ever meet.”
On how Craig's illness started, Anna said: ”Craig went and had a whole new filling done. Then a few days later, he was like, ‘it still doesn't feel right’. He was getting toothache, which he never suffers with. He always looked after his teeth. It wasn't until we were in York that he was really unwell. We couldn't do anything. We were stuck because he couldn't walk far at all. He had to sleep on the sofa because he couldn't breathe if he lay down. The next day he felt a little bit better, so we managed to get home. But when we got home, he fell asleep on the sofa. It was as if he was in and out of consciousness.”
Hospital and surgery
Craig, who was also suffering from swollen feet, was taken to hospital and placed in intensive care for what doctors initially believed was pneumonia and a cold. He was sent home to recover but returned to hospital a few days later. At that point, doctors diagnosed endocarditis, and surgery was scheduled for August 7. Anna said: “Craig had a blood clot on the lungs and the infection on his heart was a lot more serious than doctors had realised. It damaged his aortic valve, his mitral valve and the surrounding tissue. Craig rang at about 10pm on the 6th to go up and speak to them about the operation. That's when they said, it's very high risk, but he should be all right. The next day he was going down to surgery. Later they rang me and said that I needed to get to the hospital. My brother-in-law got us up there. They put us in the family room and that's when they told us that he had passed away during surgery. His organs had just failed, which was caused by the endocarditis infection just being too much on his body.”
Fundraiser for Isaac
The family remain in shock. Anna said: ”It was very sudden. Isaac's been through two surgeries that are also really high risk, so we were thinking that Craig would come out fine as well. Isaac still struggles to walk for long periods. He often needs to stop and rest, but sometimes even resting isn't enough. A wheelchair is therefore something he relies on to help him get around. Craig promised Isaac before he died that he would get him an electric wheelchair. His family would love nothing more than to be able to fulfil this promise for him.”
They were advised by the hospital that the waiting list for an electric wheelchair could be very long, so the family decided to raise the money themselves. A fundraiser has been set up by a family friend. Anna said: “We've got a wheelchair but it's rusty at the bottom from going out and about. I have issues with my hips. Pushing Isaac becomes painful, so there's only so many places we can go. We were planning on getting one before Isaac went back to school starts but then Craig passed away. At the moment, funds are extremely tight. We're having to try and fix everything. With me being a carer, I can't work because of Isaac's condition. His condition can deteriorate at any point. Isaac is doing well in terms of his heart. One of his wires on his pacemaker broke, but they're keeping an eye on it because obviously he's high risk, so going in and changing that could cause issues. They're waiting until it's absolutely necessary, so it'll be in the next year to two years he'll have that done. But obviously I'll be going through that without my husband.”
