Western Daily Press (Saturday)
‘We blame tick bite for Carly’s death’
A39-YEAR-OLD who loved to travel died from a series of “debilitating” illnesses thought to have stemmed from a tick bite in Australia – more than ten years ago.
Carly Ellis, 39, was found dead in bed having spent eight years in and out of hospital with meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia, as well as ear and chest infections.
Her parents Ian Ellis, 63, and Cheryl Ellis, 62, fear Carly’s years of illnesses link back to her Lyme disease diagnosis in 2011 following a ten-month trip to Australia.
The heartbroken parents, from Gloucester, believe ‘’bubbly and outgoing’’ Carly was bitten by a tick in Rottnest Island near Perth in Western Australia in 2008.
Ian and Cheryl are now trying to raise awareness of the infectious Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia, which is spread by ticks.
Ian said: “If it is caught straight away then a two-week course of antibiotics should treat it. When Carly was bitten she did not really think anything of it.
“What she described was a classic sign of Lyme disease when a red ring came up around the bite.
“From the time she contracted Lyme disease, her life was difficult. I am sure that all her health problems were linked to Lyme disease.
“It debilitates people very quickly. It had a massive impact on Carly’s life – God knows how many ear infections, chest infections, even a foot infection.”
Carly, who wanted to travel the world, worked at Cheltenham Racecourse to fund her trip to Australia, her parents said.
But in 2011, a couple of years after her return, Carly had to visit the A&E unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where she was diagnosed with meningitis.
Mum Cheryl said: “Carly was given two weeks worth of antibiotics. They said that it would clear her.”
But Carly went on to spend the following four months in Bristol Fren
chay Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for treatment.
At hospital the family were told that they would be testing Carly for Lyme disease. Weeks later they were told that she did in fact have the illness.
Cheryl added: “We took her to a private clinic as things were not resolved. She was still getting infections. They tested her and they confirmed that she had Lyme disease.
“She was treated with two types of antibiotics for around six months. She was given oral antibiotics and needed to have injections as well.
“We went to the clinic with Carly around six times over a year. We think that she was bitten in Rottnest Island in Australia.”
Carly was ill for the last eight years of her life, during which time she was in and out of hospital with sepsis, pneumonia, and recently having her gallbladder out.
And her parents feel that their daughter’s health would have been much better if the need for treatment of the tick bite had been identified sooner.
Ian said: “Carly wanted to travel the world. She was outgoing, bubbly and infectious. Before she became unwell and had the illnesses she was non-stop.
“She was also a hard worker and grafted. Carly worked at the race course and saved hard so she could go travelling.
“We are now wanting to get awareness of Lyme disease out there.”
There are an estimated 3,000 cases of Lyme disease in the UK each year, and when someone is bitten by a tick it can be months before they realise that they have been affected.
Caudwell Lyme Charity is an organisation raising awareness of the illness.
Fundraising manager Rosie Milsom said: “We were deeply sorry to hear of Carly’s passing, and of the way she suffered in her later years.
“Awareness and prevention is absolutely key when it comes to Lyme disease.
“If spotted early, it can be treated with a simple course of antibiotics, but can become very debilitating if not spotted sooner.”
Carly died on June 29.
Carly wanted to travel
the world. She was outgoing and bubbly.
Before she became unwell she was non-stop
CHERYL ELLIS