NEED TO KNOW
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A teenager in England was first thought to be suffering from a stomach bug when she was sent home from the hospital.
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However, she collapsed in pain about a month later and was subsequently placed in an induced coma.
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The teen experienced septic shock, caused by congenital scarring in her bowel that went undiagnosed, leading to serious complications.
In England, a 13-year-old girl was initially diagnosed with a stomach bug, but things took a darker turn. About a month later, she was in an induced coma as she fought for her life.
Natalie-Anne Rowlett is raising awareness about sepsis after her daughter, Felicity-Jo, spent two weeks in a coma due to complications from congenital bowel scarring, as reported recently.
Rowlett recounted that Felicity-Jo, from Nelson in Lancashire, U.K., was taken to the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital in February after complaining of severe abdominal cramps and vomiting. Doctors discharged her the next day, believing she had gastroenteritis.
As described by the Cleveland Clinic, gastroenteritis leads to inflammation in the stomach and intestines, often resolving itself without intervention.
Rowlett remembered that the doctors provided fluids for dehydration and said Felicity-Jo seemed to recover, with some improvement noted in her condition. Doctors initially suggested it was just a stomach bug, and while they mentioned a scan, it didn’t happen due to her improvement.
In a message, Rowlett expressed her concern, saying, “It’s shocking how fast things escalated from what seemed like a simple stomach issue to a life-threatening problem.”
About a month later, on March 15, Felicity-Jo collapsed in agony and was rushed back to the ICU. The night prior, she had eaten well but woke up screaming in pain. Rowlett described the scene as “really, really painful.”
Upon arrival at Burnley General Teaching Hospital, doctors revealed that Felicity-Jo had congenital scar tissue in her bowel, termed adhesions.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, these adhesions create bands of scar tissue that can cause organs to stick together, complicating health issues.
The adhesions caused a bowel obstruction, leading to an infection and septic shock, as Rowlett explained.
After emergency surgery at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Felicity-Jo was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
In a GoFundMe update, Rowlett noted the distress of seeing her lively daughter in such a critical condition while also setting up the fundraiser to help with medical costs.
Rowlett shared her fears, stating, “I was terrified. My first thought was, ‘Is she going to die?’ I had never seen anything like this.”
Felicity-Jo had two major surgeries and some of her bowel was removed. After spending two weeks in an induced coma on life support, she eventually was fitted with a stoma bag and diagnosed with two blood clots.
After a month, Felicity-Jo took her first steps. Rowlett shared that seeing her daughter smile again was incredibly heartwarming and a sign of progress.
Rowlett emphasized that leaving intensive care was a significant milestone for Felicity-Jo, indicating she was getting stronger and closer to returning home.
“She still has a long recovery ahead,” Rowlett noted. “But being in a standard ward is a giant leap forward.” She added that it was an emotional moment to see her daughter take her first steps since the coma.
Rowlett encouraged others to be vigilant about sepsis symptoms and trust their instincts. “I’m not a doctor,” she said, “but I knew something felt off. You understand your child best.” She highlighted how sepsis can develop rapidly and expressed her faith that her daughter would pull through.
The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has not yet commented regarding the incident.
