A 13-year-old girl who began vomiting after complaining of a stomach ache ended up in a coma on life support. Felicity-Jo Rowlett initially experienced nausea and pain, which her mother, Natalie-Anne, believed was a simple stomach bug. However, the pain escalated, prompting a hospital visit where she spent the night. One month later, the teenager went into septic shock and was admitted to intensive care.
She fell into a coma and was placed on life support. Natalie-Anne, a counselling student from Lancashire, described it as the most difficult time of their lives. Everything changed in an instant. Felicity-Jo is normally a loud, gregarious girl who makes her presence known when entering a room. The silence of her being intubated in intensive care is deafening. Seeing her go from such a vibrant girl to total silence has been soul-shattering, leaving the family feeling stuck in a never-ending nightmare. Her greatest fear is losing her daughter's light before she can fulfil her potential.
Initial Diagnosis and Collapse
Felicity-Jo was initially diagnosed with gastroenteritis and advised to stay hydrated. As she perked up a few hours later, a further scan was deemed unnecessary. However, on March 15, the teen collapsed in pain. Natalie-Anne recalled that Felicity-Jo had eaten her dinner quickly the night before, then woke up rolling on the floor and screaming. It was a blur of shock and disbelief.
Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors discovered that Felicity-Jo had been born with congenital scar tissue in her bowel. According to Guts UK charity, these adhesions are usually symptomless or cause mild discomfort, but in some cases, like Felicity-Jo's, they can be life-threatening. The tissue had developed into a bowel obstruction, leading to an infection that progressed to sepsis. She was resuscitated, placed into an induced coma, and remained on life support for two weeks. After waking, she underwent two emergency surgeries to remove the tissue and part of her bowel.
Ongoing Treatment and Recovery
A stoma bag was fitted, and blood thinners were prescribed after two blood clots were found. Natalie-Anne expressed the terror of thinking this was the end, describing the critical environment as a parent's worst nightmare. The family is taking each minute as it comes, as Felicity-Jo's condition continually changes. The impact has been devastating for the entire family, especially for her older sister, who struggles to understand why her sibling is so ill and why they are far from home.
Natalie-Anne refuses to leave Felicity-Jo's bedside. Due to being away from home and unable to work, the family is facing financial strain. They have started a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised £1,422 out of a £1,600 goal, to provide stability and alleviate the crushing weight of bills when they return home.
Last week, Felicity-Jo underwent another emergency operation. Her bowel, now only 85 cm long, was found to be matted with three knots. The lead surgeon, with 27 years of experience, said he had never seen anything like this before. She is currently back in intensive care, ventilated and sedated, while battling another fungal infection. It is hoped that after removing the knots, her bowel can be closed up. Despite the challenges, Natalie-Anne believes her feisty little girl will not give up without a fight.
