A "healthy" teenage girl died just two weeks after being diagnosed with an acid reflux problem.
Nikki Ramsay, 16, was suddenly struck down with a rare type of sepsis, which was originally diagnosed as a tummy problem or acid reflux.
She died at a Hull Royal Infirmary and her mum Angi is now speaking out to help raise awareness.
Nikki, from East Yorkshire, has been remembered as a fit and healthy girl who loved animals and was a keen member of the Twirlers in her home town of Withernsea.
On March 20, 2020, she started to feel poorly and her mum says she was twice told by the local GP surgery by phone that it was likely Nikki had gastroenteritis and acid reflux and to "wait and let it work its way out of her system", HullLive reports.
Four days later, Nikki's condition worsened and she developed a rapidly spreading rash.
Angi feared it was meningitis and when the rash continued to spread and she called 999. Nikki was then rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary.
Angi recalls: "Her behaviour was erratic and she seemed to be acting strangely so they decided to take her to the hospital. She was blue-lighted, with the sirens going, which she loved."
After initially also suspecting meningitis, the paramedic told Angi he believed that Nikki may have sepsis.
Angi said: "He asked me for permission to treat her, which I gave. Nikki was unaware that she had sepsis as she was going downhill so quickly.
"I had also never heard of it before so at the time it was very hard to digest what was going on. "
Angi said within the ten minutes it took to take a scan at Hull Royal, Nikki's condition had deteriorated so drastically that she was placed in an induced coma on a ventilator.
Doctors warned Angi that as a result of a tear in her oesophagus and two small holes in her lungs putting Nikki into the coma could be fatal but was her best chance to survive.
As the country has plunged into its Covid lockdown, Angi wasn't able to stay with her in the hospital.
Angi said her daughter continued to fight though and on April 4, just two weeks after she first became ill, Nikki opened her eyes and was able to follow simple instructions from her nurse.
She said: "We were all so excited. We suddenly had hope that she was on the road to recovery."
However, two days later, Angi received another call saying Nikki's condition had deteriorated again.
Angi said: "They said that I should get to the hospital as quickly as possible. For 13 days Nikki had fought hard for her life, but it had eventually all become too much for her."
Nikki had died from a rare type of sepsis known as Fusobacterium Necrophorum Sepsis.
Angi has now decided to speak out about the family tragedy in the hope it raises awareness for Sepsis Research Feat, the UK's leading charity supporting families affected by the condition.
Angi said: “When she died we found out that Nikki had always gone above and beyond to help people. By sharing her story I know she would approve and be so proud.”
Sepsis Research FEAT has launched a new Christmas campaign featuring the stories of families, including Nikki’s family, impacted by sepsis in order to raise awareness of the deadly condition.
Sepsis is a potentially deadly condition and the primary cause of preventable deaths in the world. It is triggered by an anomaly in the body’s reaction to an infection when the immune system overreacts and starts attacking the body’s own tissues and organs. Any infection can lead to sepsis. Sepsis is sometimes confused with Septicaemia or Blood Poisoning.
The Sepsis Research FEAT charity helps raise awareness of sepsis, fund research and support families affected by the condition. They say the five main warning signs of sepsis are:
- Confusion
- Not passing as much urine as normal
- Very high or low temperature
- Uncontrolled shivering
- Cold or blotchy arms
If sepsis is suspected contact NHS 111 or 999 in an emergency.
Colin Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Sepsis Research Feat, said: “Too many lives are tragically taken by sepsis every year. We want our Christmas campaign to pay tribute to those people and also their families who are living with the devastating impact of sepsis.
“Our charity and supporters fight on in their name by continuing to raise awareness and fund vital research. We are incredibly grateful to those supporters who are sharing their stories this Christmas to help others learn about sepsis and how to spot it.”
Find more information about the charity and its Christmas campaign here.
