Tragedy of nurse with rare brain disease
THE family of a young mum ‘who had everything to live for’ say they are heartbroken after she died from a rare brain condition.
Rachel McKinney, 35, leaves her husband Kevin, a stepson and two sons aged 8 and 12, after her tragic death on April 3.
The care home nurse from Stockport began developing symptoms of confusion and slurred speech in February this year.
Her family became increasingly concerned as she displayed signs of a stroke, and Rachel was advised by 111 to attend Stepping Hill Hospital.
Due to Covid restrictions, her family were not allowed to accompany Rachel, and received a text to say she’d had an MRI scan which showed she had inflammation of the brain.
The mum-of-two was transferred to Salford Royal eight days later when a bed became available.
Her condition deteriorated, her Gemma said.
“In the first few days she was mobile and able to quickly sister leave the ward and go and sit in the car with her husband and sons,” she said. “Then she lost her mobility and couldn’t leave the hospital and so wasn’t able to see anyone.
“She couldn’t speak and lost all movement in her body. She was on Facetime to her family, crying.”
After arriving at Salford Royal Hospital, Rachel started suffering from seizures, and a decision was made to place her into a coma.
Gemma claims the information her family received from the hospital about her condition ‘wasn’t great.’
“Nobody was able to see her before she went into the coma - she was on her own with no family there,” Gemma said.
“The hospital told her husband and her mum that her condition was terminal over the phone and my mum couldn’t even hear.”
Sadly, Rachel passed away on April 3 - a few days after doctors made the decision to turn off her life support machine.
Gemma claims that once her life machine was switched off, Rachel’s family were allowed to visit the hospital as much as they wanted.
“It’s upsetting because we couldn’t be there when she really needed us,” she said. “There is a lot of anger and upset.”
Gemma says the family have since found that out that Rachel died from a very rare form of multiple sclerosis.
The condition is terminal but usually patients have several years of living with the condition before they become as ill as Rachel did.
Her family have requested her medical records and instructed a consultant in London to look at her case.
“What we don’t understand is how she seemingly developed this so quickly,” Gemma said.
“Until December she had been absolutely fine. She was a fit and healthy woman.”
Throughout the pandemic, Salford Royal Hospital say they have followed national policy to restrict visits to wards to minimise the risk of spread of Covid19.
Current inpatient visiting at the hospital remains suspended except in the ‘most exceptional circumstances’ and authorised by the senior nursing or midwifery team.
Gemma set up a gofundme page which she had originally planned to use to help support Rachel’s recovery. Since her death, Gemma is now raising money for Rachel’s husband, who is at risk of losing their family home.
Northern Care Alliance NHS Group Chief Nurse Libby McManus said: “Our thoughts are with Rachel’s family at this very sad time and we are sorry they could not spend more time with her before she sadly died.
“We have the utmost sympathy for her family and the many other families that have found themselves unable to visit their loved ones in hospital during the pandemic.
“We have worked really hard to offer alternative ways for families to communicate.
“We will be making contact with Rachel’s family to ensure they have the opportunity to tell us about their experience, share their concerns and ask us any questions.
“We also want to make sure we offer them all the support they need at this devastating time.”