Doctors at Wishaw General Hospital in Lanarkshire believed six-month-old Jaime was suffering from a common viral condition and discharged him. He suffered fatal heart damage and died from undetected Kawasaki disease, leaving his mother, Heather Hinshelwood, and her two other sons devastated.
Heather, from Hamilton, has told how she struggles to visit her son's grave because she believes his spirit is around her in nature. The 46-year-old nurse and campaigner said: "I struggle to go to Jaime's grave. I don't like the cemetery and don't like the thought of it. I don't think he's there."
Missed diagnosis
Jaime died in 2017 at six months old after a ruptured coronary artery aneurysm. Heather explained how she had asked hospital staff whether the illness could be Kawasaki disease after researching symptoms online.
"He was born healthy, absolutely healthy. He contracted what they said was a viral infection," she said. "I asked at the hospital if it was Kawasaki because I'd been Googling everything and I was told no, it was viral."
"He came home and seemed to be getting better but then he suffered a ruptured coronary artery aneurysm, which killed him. After the post-mortem it was confirmed to be Kawasaki disease."
Raising awareness
Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that causes blood vessels throughout a child's body to swell, potentially damaging the coronary arteries if left untreated. In the UK, it is estimated to affect eight to nine out of every 100,000 children under five each year, but early treatment can be successful.
Heather has worked with the charity Societi to raise awareness among parents and doctors. She said: "One of Societi's slogans is, 'When you hear hooves, think zebras not horses.' Instead of putting everything down to a viral condition, Kawasaki should be checked for."
She added: "A couple years ago I handed out information packs to local GPs which Societi provided. I decided the positive thing I could do from Jaime dying was to raise awareness so that other people don't need to suffer the great loss of losing a child."
"I'm hoping I might have helped save a life. That's what it's all about, in Jaime's memory."
Fundraising for charity
Heather has already completed a skydive, bungee jump and a laser tag event to raise funds for Societi. She also raised money for the children's bereavement charity Brightest Star and helped provide a cuddle cot in Jaime's memory for Wishaw General Hospital, allowing parents to spend time with stillborn babies.
She continues to talk about Jaime with his older brothers Jack, 24, and Josh, 18. "How can you no? He was very much loved," she said. "Jack is in the band Lacuna, who played at TRNSMT, and Josh just got loads of As in his exams."
West Highland Way challenge
On August 16, the NHS worker will take on the gruelling West Highland Way with her partner Scott Darroch, 48, who never met Jaime but has supported her. She described the hike as another personal fitness challenge and a way to feel close to Jaime through nature.
"We get on so well and we both love the outdoors. We've got matching boots," she said. "Scott has been nothing but supportive. He bought a wee lantern for Jaime's tree, he's just always so thoughtful."
Donations can be made through a JustGiving page set up for Heather's West Highland Way challenge.
What is Kawasaki disease?
Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that predominantly affects young children, causing inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body, particularly the coronary arteries. This can lead to blood clots and other serious complications. Left untreated, it can result in severe heart problems, with two to three per cent of untreated cases proving fatal.
Around 15 to 28 per cent of affected children develop cardiac complications, including coronary artery aneurysms, and the condition is more common in boys than girls. Common symptoms include a rash, swollen glands in the neck, red eyes, cracked lips, and a swollen, red, bumpy tongue.
In January, two-year-old Hudson from Knowle, Bristol, was weeks away from celebrating his third birthday when he collapsed and died on January 8. His parents believe he died from a coronary artery rupture after Kawasaki disease, which he developed at seven months old, damaged his heart's blood vessels.
In May, 11-month-old Rue Airlie from Dundee was taken to hospital after developing a temperature, a rash and swollen glands. After several days, the tot was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, and his life was saved after he received a plasma transfusion.
