Dad notices his baby’s unusual cry, and it ultimately saves her life
When this UK dad-of-three heard his newborn daughter “crying in a different way”, he quickly resolved to get her checked out by doctors. Thank goodness he did. He saved her life.
Not quite right
Baby Megan was just four weeks old when the slightly-off crying began. Stu’s gut told him that something was just not right – and his instincts were totally spot on.
“I wanted a doctor to check her over,” Stu, who lives in Lancashire, explained, mildly concerned that he’d be shooed out of the hospital for over-reacting, but determined to make sure all was well, regardless.
“I would rather look an idiot and know my daughter is okay,” Stu said. He and wife Tracy promptly headed off to their local hospital with their bub.
Stu needn’t have worried about being sent home, because doctors took their worries very seriously. They examined little Megan – and sprung into action – straight away.
“We were told she was seriously ill and she was being put in an induced coma. It was terrifying. Then, doctors said she was being taken to the bigger Manchester Children’s Hospital (MCU).”
Deadly infection
The worried parents soon found themselves caught up in a race to save their daughter’s life.
“We were to travel behind her ambulance by car. We were told, even if the ambulance pulled over on the way, not to stop. It made me think she was going to die before she got there,” Stu said, Metro reports.
At MCU Megan went straight to intensive care, where they diagnosed sepsis. She began urgent treatment immediately.
Left unchecked for much longer, Megan could have died. Luckily her dad’s spidey-senses were activated in this life-saving way.
Sepsis occurs when chemicals released in the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This can cause a cascade of changes that damage multiple organ systems, leading them to fail, sometimes even resulting in death. Symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, fast heart rate and mental confusion. Treatment includes antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
Rapid recovery
A traumatised, but ultimately happy Stu said the days that followed were frightening. His daughter’s body swelled to twice its size, as she responded to drugs and tried to fight off the infection.
Three days later, things had turned around completely. Doctors woke baby Megan up and within a week she was well enough to go home with her clever and relieved family.
Stu’s experience confirmed to him the importance of vigilance when it comes to kids’ health – and the power of listening to your gut.
He urged other parents to trust their instincts – and to push for treatment if they think something is amiss.
“I’d tell all parents to go to the doctor if they are worried. I could so easily have done nothing – fearing I’d be told I was over-reacting. But my actions saved Megan’s life.”
What an ace, life-saving dad. #Hero
