A little boy was left with life-changing injuries after waking up with a horrible rash that spread across his body for hours – causing him to lose his fingers and toes.
At Easter, Zoe Walen, 37 she noticed a “strange” red spot on the head of Teddy, her 17-month-old son, whom she described as a “normal, energetic and naughty” child.
The mother of four had planned to meet her mother for a walk that day and left Teddy with her 39-year-old partner, Duncan Stewart.
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By the time she arrived at her mother’s home, the stains had spread across his abdomen. The family called 111 and were told to watch him and wait for a follow-up call two hours later, but minutes later the spots began to turn purple and look like bruises.
Zoe claims doctors told her she saved her son’s life by bringing him when she did
Zoe told The Mirror: “When he woke up, there was a bit of an unusual rash, but from there he quickly went down. As I put it on, I noticed at least a small pink spot on his forehead and thought it was weird.
I thought, “I’m going to ask my mother what she thinks she is,” but by the time I got to my mother’s, he had the same little note on her stomach. I said, “I’m just going to call 111 because I am.” I’m not sure what they are.
“The woman on the phone told me to keep an eye on them and said she would make a doctor call me in two hours.
Teddy’s rash had begun as a mysterious stain on his forehead, but soon spread life in a wildfire.
“But after about 45 minutes, the one near his neck looked like a bruise, so I thought, ‘I’m not waiting.’ I called and described it again, and she said I would call you in an ambulance. “
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Minutes later, paramedics arrived and told Zoe that they suspected Teddy was “afraid” of meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and can cause life-threatening blood poisoning known as septicemia.
Paramedics gave him antibiotics and rushed Teddy to Blackburn Hospital, making Teddy’s rash darker.
Zoe said, “It was blurry. When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor said it was a textbook meningitis rash. Everyone was running around him doing different things and telling me to call Duncan and I got scared.
“They said it would be really unpleasant because they don’t have time to wait for the pain to go away and they have to break into the bones of his shin. He was starting to bleed from his mouth and nose, it was just awful. “
Teddy’s rash suddenly worsened
Teddy was sent to Manchester Children’s Hospital by emergency transfer, where he was rushed to the intensive care unit and placed in an induced coma.
He survived and was given paralysis medication while doctors put him in a freezer jacket to try to cool his jumping temperature.
After seven days, Teddy began to show signs that he could breathe on his own and continued to get stronger with anti-infection drugs.
But now doctors are conducting tests to see if some brain functions have been affected, while parts of his body have been starving for proper oxygen and blood supply.
Little Teddy was overwhelmed by doctors who were forced to go to work before receiving any pain relief.
Teddy is also being cared for by a plastic surgery team that is trying to cure the huge blisters that have appeared at the site of the rash.
Doctors have already confirmed that the septicemia infection has taken five fingertips and five toes, which means he will need more surgery for his life-changing injuries.
Zoe’s brother, Nathan, has launched a GoFundMe page to support a family that relies on Duncan’s income as a self-employed gardener but is now unable to leave his youngest son’s bed.
Teddy will lose the tips of his fingers and toes on his right side after contracting meningitis and septicemia
For now, however, the couple says they are simply grateful to be alive and have called on other parents to listen to their nature. Zoe said: “I don’t think I’ve ever prayed so much in my life to be honest.
“It’s the most horrible thing I think I’ve ever experienced. He was such a fighter in all this. I keep thanking my lucky stars for being here.
“The doctors told me you had to realize you saved his life, because if he had waited for the doctor to call you, Teddy wouldn’t be here now.”
“They said it could have been caused by someone kissing him, coughing near him, it could be absolutely anything.
“They just can’t tell you, and that’s the worst thing. He ran the same naughty boy who eats chocolate on Fridays and Saturdays.
“You wouldn’t know something was wrong if you waited, because that’s the advice you got from 111, but you have to follow your insides, you know your child, and if you don’t think you can wait, don’t wait. It was a matter of life and death for Teddy. “
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