The family of a toddler who developed an unusual rash after joining an Easter egg hunt has been appealing for help after the doctors said that the 17-month-old boy might have to be amputated.
Young Teddie was happily playing with his usual energy at one pre-Easter party in England. However, that Easter Sunday, Teddie woke up with a fever and an unusual rash.
Mom Zoe Stewart told Daily Mirror that the baby had pink marks on his forehead. After a short drive to her mother's house, Teddie developed red blotches on his stomach.
Zoe called the emergency services for help, but she was told that a doctor would be checking back with the family after a couple of hours. However, the mother noticed that Teddie's condition was getting worse. After describing what was going on, the emergency services decided to send in an ambulance to fetch the toddler.
What are Bacterial Meningitis and Septicaemia?
At the hospital, doctors checked and tested Teddie. His family was told they might have to perform emergency procedures on the toddler without pain relief because they have to act quickly. The 17-month-old was bleeding out from his nose and mouth.
Within hours, the toddler was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and Septicemia and had to be transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for further monitoring and treatment.
According to Meningitis.Org, these illnesses are serious and life-threatening. Meningitis may lead to the swelling of the brain and spinal cord as the bacteria enter the body. On the other hand, Septicemia happens when the blood becomes poisoned due to the germs that have caused meningitis.
Death due to bacterial meningitis and Septicemia can happen within hours, but the infection may be treated with antibiotics if intervention is fast. This was what the paramedics initially gave to the toddler to save his life. However, Teddie's parents had to agree to put their son in an induced coma at the Intensive Care Unit because his condition was turning bad.
While under life support, doctors had to give Teddie a paralysis medicine and tried to keep his body temperature under control. Teddie's signs improved seven days later, but his septicemia infection affected five fingers and toes. As a result, he will likely need more life-changing operations to amputate his limbs on the right side to stop the poor blood flow.
Could Happen to Any Family
Zoe said doctors had to focus on Teddie's vital organs to keep him alive. However, the blood supply to his limbs was restricted in the process.
The mother said doctors could still not explain how Teddie contracted bacterial meningitis. Zoe warned parents that her son's case could be just one of those "unfortunate events" that could happen to any other family.
Meanwhile, Teddie's uncle, Nathan Walne, has opened a GoFundMe to help with Teddie's medical needs as his parents do not have stable and regular jobs. Walne said that he hopes to alleviate the financial pressure from Zoe and her husband, Duncan Stewart, as they have too much to deal with their son's long road to recovery.
