A family's ordinary day turned into every parent's worst nightmare when their 19-month-old daughter was sent home from hospital with suspected tonsillitis, only to stop breathing hours later in a life-threatening sepsis crisis.
The Terrifying Turn
Little Orla's condition deteriorated rapidly after being discharged from Royal Bolton Hospital. What doctors initially diagnosed as tonsillitis quickly escalated into a medical emergency that nearly claimed the toddler's life.
"She stopped breathing in the car," recalled her mother, Chloe, the panic still fresh in her voice. "We were rushing her back to hospital when she went limp and blue. I genuinely thought we were losing her."
Race Against Time
The frantic parents performed CPR on their unresponsive daughter during the desperate dash back to hospital. Medical staff immediately recognised the severity of Orla's condition - she was suffering from sepsis, and her organs were beginning to shut down.
"They told us she might not make it through the night," Chloe revealed, describing the agonising wait as doctors fought to save their daughter.
Recovery and Raising Awareness
Miraculously, Orla survived the ordeal after spending five critical days in hospital. She's now making a good recovery, though the trauma remains fresh for her family.
The family is now speaking out to raise awareness about sepsis symptoms in young children, urging other parents to trust their instincts when they feel something isn't right with their child's health.
Recognising Sepsis in Children
- Breathing difficulties or rapid breathing
- Blotchy or blueish skin
- Extreme lethargy or difficulty waking
- Feeling abnormally cold to touch
- Not passing urine for extended periods
"If we can prevent just one family from going through what we experienced, sharing our story will be worth it," Chloe added, her voice filled with emotion.
