WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
An Aussie mum began living a nightmare when her youngest son Ryan developed a common Strep A infection that quickly turned into sepsis and resulted in the amputation of both of his legs.
Mum-of-two and beauty therapist owner, Jessica, 31, and her husband Sam, also 31, from Broken Hill in NSW, have two sons, Rory, 5 and Ryan, 2.
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“Ryan was a happy, cheeky and healthy little boy before he became sick,” Jessica tells 7Life.
But in December 2022, Ryan, aged just one, became sick with a cold and a runny nose, and his mum was worried when his health started to decline rapidly.
Ryan began to have “very high temperatures, he felt lethargic and was not wanting to talk nor was acting like himself,” Jessica explains.
Despite several trips to the hospital to find out what was wrong, Ryan’s health went from bad to worse.
“He started to get a rash, his heart rate increased, and he needed oxygen,” Jessica says.
Jessica and Ryan were then flown to their closest major city, Adelaide, whereupon arrival Ryan went into cardiac arrest for 10 minutes.
“We were told Ryan wasn’t going to make it. But after ten minutes of CPR, thankfully he came back to us,” Jessica explains.
“It was then we discovered Ryan was in severe septic shock and we were in for a massive journey ahead.”
According to Healthline, sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency, and the body’s overwhelming response to an infection.
Sepsis occurs when your body’s immune system response gets out of control, triggering extensive inflammation.
Sepsis isn’t contagious.
But bacterial, viral, and fungal infections that can trigger sepsis can be spread from person to person.
Fortunately, doctors were able to save Ryan’s life but in devastasting news, he had to have his legs, feet and fingers amputated.
Ryan is now a bilateral amputee.
He has had both of his legs below the knees amputated and all of his fingertips and some fingers amputated too.
Four months after Ryan’s surgeries, the family could finally return home.
“We came home and received so much love and support from our hometown and everyone around the world,” Jessica says.
A year down the track from Ryan’s devastating sepsis, Jessica says he is doing much better and they are working tirelessly to raise awareness about the illness.
“Sepsis can happen to anyone, and any infection can lead to sepsis,” Jessica explains.
“I’ve been working closely with Sepsis Australia to help raise awareness and further research. One message we really want people to take on board is to just ask, ‘could it be sepsis?’ when they notice that something is wrong.”
Jessica’s best advice to others is to “always trust your gut instincts when it comes to you or your children. The quicker you receive treatment for sepsis, the better”.
Most common signs and symptoms of sepsis include fever or low temperature and shivering, confusion, difficulty breathing, clammy and sweaty skin, extreme body pain or discomfort, high heart rate, weak pulse or low blood pressure and/or low urine output.
Symptoms in children can include fast breathing, convulsions, pale skin, lethargy, difficulty waking up and feeling cold to the touch.
Jessica explains that Ryan’s journey “is still ongoing since we have been home, we have been back to Adelaide every one to two months for doctors’ appointments, prosthetics, physiotherapy and surgeries”.
“We have had some special moments where Ryan has started to learn to walk with his prosthetics and his walker, we can’t wait to see all the amazing things he continues to do,” she added.
While Ryan’s life and his family’s life is forever changed, Jessica says they are “so thankful for all the love and support we have around us that’s what helps get us by.”
World Sepsis Day is September 13 and you can find out more here.