A heartbroken mother shares her devastating experience after her young daughter’s sudden death, initially believed to be a minor illness, in an effort to raise awareness about the life-threatening condition.
A distraught mother is sharing her heart-wrenching experience after her 13-year-old daughter died from sepsis, initially believing her child was suffering from a minor illness like the flu. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of sepsis, often referred to as a “hidden killer,” she recounts the tragic story of her beautiful daughter, who succumbed to a life-threatening bacterial infection after a brief hospital stay.
Hailing from Chorley, Lancashire, United Kingdom, 13-year-old Lauren Menzies became ill, leading her mother to believe she was merely dealing with the common flu. However, when her condition rapidly deteriorated, her mother rushed her to the hospital. Within just twelve hours of falling ill, Lauren was fighting for her life, only to lose the battle a few days later.
Her mother, Sarah, expressed the devastating reality of her daughter’s untimely death, saying, “A fight that, unfortunately, she was to lose less than six days later.” Since losing Lauren to sepsis in 2019, her parents have been dedicated to raising awareness to prevent other families from suffering a similar tragedy. They have established a fundraising page for Sepsis Research FEAT and are participating in various challenges to support the cause.
Describing her daughter’s final moments, Sarah wrote on the fundraising page:
“Our daughter, Lauren, was a typical cheeky, beautiful, and healthy thirteen-year-old girl. Then she caught the flu, which then turned to sepsis. One minute she was on the settee at home, watching Modern Family and complaining about the flavor of Lucozade she had bought. Less than 12 hours later, she was fighting for her life at Alder Hey.”
Speaking with the Lancashire Telegraph previously, Sarah mentioned that she initially took her daughter to the hospital, assuming she had a regular stomach bug.
She said, “When I took her in, I was worried I was overreacting a bit. There was so much (illness) going around. I didn’t think it was anything out of the ordinary. She’d been at her dance class on Monday and a drama production on Tuesday, so there was no indication it was anything more serious than a tummy bug. Then she went downhill so quickly.”
The grieving mother emphasized that while flu viruses can typically be managed, it’s crucial not to dismiss the possibility of sepsis if symptoms worsen. She urged, “Don’t write it off, it could be sepsis,” and recommended seeking immediate medical attention from a hospital or doctor in such cases.
Source: AWM