A routine morning turned into every parent's worst nightmare when Lucy Kendall found her eight-month-old daughter, Orla, unresponsive and refusing to wake up. Her quick thinking and knowledge of a critical medical test ultimately saved her baby's life from a vicious sepsis infection.
The Kendall family's ordinary day in Surrey began with a chilling discovery. "I went in to wake her up and she just wasn't waking up," Lucy recounted. Despite attempts to rouse her, Orla remained limp and lethargic, her eyes rolling back into her head.
Recognising the severity of the situation, Lucy and her partner, Dan, rushed Orla to A&E. Initially, doctors suspected a common childhood virus. But Lucy's maternal instinct told her something was gravely wrong. "I just knew it was something more serious," she said.
The Tell-Tale Rash That Changed Everything
The situation took a critical turn when Lucy spotted a single, ominous mark on Orla's leg. Remembering the crucial 'glass test' used to identify meningitis, she pressed a clear glass against the rash. The mark did not fade under pressure—a classic and deadly sign of sepsis.
"I immediately showed the doctors and everything changed," Lucy explained. This single action triggered an immediate emergency response. Orla was swiftly transferred to St George's Hospital in London and admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit.
A Fight for Life and a Vital Recovery
Little Orla was diagnosed with meningococcal sepsis, a life-threatening bacterial infection. She spent five agonising days in intensive care fighting the disease before showing signs of recovery. Her parents were warned she might lose her toes or fingers to the infection, but thankfully, little Orla made a full recovery.
Lucy has since bravely shared her story to raise awareness of the key symptoms all parents must know:
- Unresponsiveness or difficulty waking
- Cold hands and feet
- Pale, blotchy skin
- A rash that does not fade under the glass test
Her message to other parents is simple: "Trust your instincts. You know your child best. If you suspect sepsis, say the word and act quickly—it saved Orla's life."
