Within hours of baby Ezrah appearing 'restless and grouchy' his parents were told the devastating news that their 19-day-old son had meningitis. He then suffered a severe brain injury and died at Bristol Children's Hospital.
His heartbroken parents have now decided to share their story to raise awareness in the hope that no other families endure the same anguish. Craig Pollard, 37, and Sarah Doolin, 34, from Cornwall, suffered every parent's worst nightmare last month when baby Ezrah suddenly became unwell without warning.
Initially restless and grouchy and missing a feed, he started grunting and his temperature rose quickly. The couple contacted 111 and were told to wait for an ambulance. But, an hour later, they called 999 only to learn one was not coming. They drove Ezrah to A&E themselves, reports Cornwall Live.
Read more: MP writes to Sajid Javid over young woman's treatment at Southmead Hospital
Craig, from St Martin near Helston, said: "Once we got to Treliske his colour had gone and he had become mottled. They told us if we waited half an hour he would’ve died at home.
"Most stories we’ve read, parents have a long period of time as their child declines, but sadly Ezrah went downhill in hours."
Ezrah was first treated at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, before being transferred by ambulance to Bristol Children's Hospital. Diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis as a result of Group B Streptococcus (GBS or Strep B), medical teams worked tirelessly to treat Ezrah.
But he had suffered a severe brain injury and could not be saved, passing away on March 25 - just 19 days after he was born. Now his parents hope that, despite his short life, little Ezrah's story will help other families avoid the same pain they have suffered.
Craig said: "It’s our thought that we want to raise as much awareness as we can. We wouldn’t want anyone else going through the hell we’ve been through."
GBS, or Strep B, is the most common cause of severe infection in newborns, causing sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis. On average two babies will develop the infection in the UK every day and, of those, one will die every week, while another will survive but be left with long-term disability.
The parents have now set up a memorial fundraising page which has so far raised more than £5,500 in support of two charities. One is The Grand Appeal, which funds Bristol Children’s Hospital – including the Watch ambulance service that transferred Ezrah to hospital that fateful day. The second is Group B Strep Support, a charity working to eradicate the infection in babies.
The couple said: "We’ve chosen Group B Strep Support in addition to The Grand Appeal because we want more to be done to protect babies and parents from such devastating infection.
"Routine screening and wider information on Group B Strep could prevent other parents facing the painful loss that we have sadly experienced. We are heartbroken that we have lost our little boy and our future with him.
"We miss him beyond belief. Ezrah remains a bright shining light in our memories; he was so loved and will forever be missed."
Donations can be made to the fundraising page.
