Sepsis tragedy parents warning of ‘hidden killer’
THE parents of an ‘energetic and boisterous’ toddler who died from sepsis triggered by chickenpox have told how their ‘lives changed forever within a matter of moments.’
Stuart and Liz Tagg say the loss of their two-year-old Thomas had a devastating effect on their family.
Thomas first fell ill with chickenpox. He deteriorated rapidly, eventually going into cardiac arrest as the sepsis, otherwise known as blood poisoning, took hold of his body.
Dad Stuart, from Ashton-in-Makerfield has shared the heartbreaking story of what happened to his precious boy in the hope that it might prevent other families suffering the same fate.
Today is World Sepsis Day. People across the globe will hold events to raise awareness of the condition.
One morning in June 2015, Thomas was sent home from nursery after staff noticed a spots on his arm and back.
Stuart and Liz, a teacher at Tyldesley Primary School, kept a close eye on Thomas and a few days later, thought he was on the mend.
He became unresponsive and was rushed to hospital after going into cardiac arrest. Medics battled to save the toddler, but he sadly died. Stuart said: “Having already gone through chickenpox with our other son when he had just turned one, we didn’t worry because thomas displayed all of the same symptoms – high temperature, loss of appetite and tiredness.
Speaking about the moment he realised something was ‘dreadfully wrong,’ Stuart added: “I put his milk bottle into his hands and he just let go as if he couldn’t grip. I sat him up and he just flopped to the side. I phoned for an ambulance. The operator told me to lay Thomas on the floor and check his airways and that he was breathing.
“The thoughts of those moments still haunt me now. Medical help arrived, but Thomas had gone into cardiac arrest. My wife and son arrived back and had to witness what was happening. I went from running around the front room panicking to just sitting on the road outside in utter shock at what was happening.”
Following Thomas’ death, toxicology reports revealed he had been suffering from an invasive strep A infection, which led to ‘hidden killer’ sepsis.
The underlying cause was chickenpox, which masked the symptoms of the infection. Stuart added: “Sepsis deaths related to chickenpox are extremely rare, but we still feel passionately about spreading awareness of the symptoms of sepsis, as we hadn’t even heard of it. The loss of Thomas has had a devastating effect on our family. Thomas was a typical two-year-old boy. He was energetic, boisterous and extremely cheeky. He lit up our lives with his smile and his fun nature. Our lives changed forever within a matter of moments and it gets harder as the months go by, not easier.”