Heartbroken mother, 33, releases the final picture of her dying 14-month-old son hooked up to life support machines to raise awareness of the devastating effects of meningitis

A heartbroken mom has launched the ultimate image of her dying 14-month-old son to boost consciousness of meningitis.

Gaynor McConnell, 33, from Manchester, desires to point out different mother and father the illness would not all the time begin with a mottled rash after she misplaced her son, Cayden, to it.

Regardless of her ordeal, she has determined to publicise the surprising picture which reveals him lifeless and hooked as much as a number of life assist machines. 

Now, 4 years on, Cambridge College Hospitals NHS Basis Belief have admitted care was under commonplace after they missed essential warning indicators early on.

Gaynor McConnell, 33, has launched the ultimate image of her dying 14 month previous son Cayden to boost consciousness for meningitis

The total-time mom, mentioned: 'I used to be watching him on the mattress and he was lifeless, I knew immediately that one thing was improper.

'Since delivery Cayden had battled viral infections and flu like signs, he'd even battled meningitis as soon as earlier than at 4 months previous.

'He was an actual little fighter so when he began to develop into torpid in February 2012, I by no means imagined he was going to die.

'Only a few weeks earlier than he was completely satisfied and smiling on the trampoline with me as we took pictures collectively.

'It was extremely laborious to share his ultimate image however I wish to guarantee different mother and father are conscious of the signs and by no means take no for a solution.'

Cayden was identified with spina bifida - a fault within the improvement of the spinal twine which leaves a niche or cut up within the backbone - at delivery.

He had an undiagnosed dermoid tumour in his backbone, which his household have been instructed was more likely to have prompted his two bouts of meningitis.   

Now, Cambridge College Hospitals NHS Basis Belief, which runs Addenbrooke's, has admitted legal responsibility for Cayden's loss of life.

She desires to point out different mother and father that meningitis would not all the time begin with a mottled rash after shedding her son, Cayden, to the lethal illness

Ms McConnell added: 'I trusted the docs and the specialists taking care of Cayden as I believed they knew greatest, however every part in my intestine intuition instructed me one thing was critically improper.

'He was all the time unwell, having colds and infections, however docs mentioned this was completely regular and simply gave him anti-biotics. 

It was extremely laborious to share his ultimate image however I wish to guarantee different mother and father are conscious of the signs and by no means take no for a solution.

Gaynor McConnell, 33, from Manchester

'I used to be made to really feel like he was simply a kind of infants that's typically poorly and will get each bug and sickness going round.

'I would already had two boys so knew that infants quickly picked up sicknesses, however I all the time felt one thing was improper. 

'I used to be even instructed there was nothing to fret about with the lump on the backside of his again, however I used to be by no means completely satisfied. A mum is aware of greatest.'

Cayden was first taken critically unwell and admitted to hospital at four-months-old after affected by a fever and never feeding effectively.

Docs recognised that an exterior lump on the base of his again had elevated in dimension and meningitis was suspected and identified.

Cayden remained in hospital for 3 months earlier than being discharged dwelling and dying on February 15, 2012 (pictured earlier than analysis)

Cayden fought the illness, however an MRI scan taken on the time confirmed an open passage operating from the bottom of his backbone to the realm of his lump.

That is one thing that ought to have led docs to take motion on the earliest doable alternative to stop an extra episode of meningitis, specialists say. 

As a part of a authorized declare towards Cambridge College Hospitals NHS Basis Belief, it was alleged this could have led docs to analyze and uncover that Cayden had a dermoid tumour which wanted eradicating.

He failed to enhance and regardless of the tumour ultimately being eliminated by surgical procedure and extra fluid being drained from his mind, he suffered a number of matches over the next weeks.

Cayden remained in hospital for 3 months earlier than being discharged dwelling and dying on February 15, 2012.

Ms McConnell, a full-time mother-of-three, mentioned: 'I can by no means forgive the docs for the way badly they let Cayden down. It's disgusting'

Cayden was first taken critically unwell and admitted to hospital at four-months-old after affected by a fever and never feeding effectively - this was found to be meningitis

Ms McConnell mentioned: 'I can by no means forgive the docs for the way badly they let Cayden down. It's disgusting.

'Shedding him was utterly heart-breaking and it destroyed and adjusted two households for the remainder of their lives.

'I am a special individual now. It modifications you as you possibly can by no means be the identical once more. I do not belief individuals in the identical manner I used to do.'

Renu Daly, specialist medical negligence solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, mentioned: 'There have been clear, primary failings within the care and remedy Cayden obtained at Addenbrook's Hospital and this in the end led to him contracting meningitis for a second time in his quick life, which killed him.

'The MRI scan taken in April 2011 after Cayden's first episode of meningitis, on the age of 4 months, clearly confirmed him to have open tract.

'They need to have been conscious there after which that there would have additionally been a dermoid tumour which wanted to be eliminated to stop additional an infection.

However after beating meningitis as soon as, an MRI scan confirmed an open passage operating from the bottom of his backbone to the realm of his lump. This in the end led to him catching the illness for a second time - which proved deadly, specialists say

The total-time mom, mentioned: 'I used to be watching him on the mattress and he was lifeless, I knew immediately that one thing was improper'

'By the point Cayden attended hospital after contracting meningitis a second time, his possibilities of survival have been nearly out of date.

'Had docs carried out as they need to and brought steps that are primary when it comes to dealing with this form of scenario, Cayden would nonetheless be along with his household. He would have just lately loved his sixth birthday and Christmas along with his mom and brothers.'

Ms McConnell and Cayden's brothers Kye, 16, Tyler, 13, and Lacey, three, have since began a brand new life within the Manchester space, however there'll all the time be an enormous hole of their lives which might by no means be stuffed.

She added: 'Shedding Cayden has made me really feel captivated with the necessity to higher educate mother and father about meningitis and the various completely different strains of it, how one can look out for them and the way harmful they are often.

'Cayden had the warning indicators which sadly the docs ignored, the rash is usually the ultimate symptom and never the primary like most mother and father assume.

'It is why I've determined to share footage of Cayden. He regarded like some other boy however he was dying inside.

' Hopefully these footage will make all different mother and father take into consideration what occurred and never settle for docs dismissing their issues.'

Regardless of the tumour ultimately being eliminated and extra fluid (the darkish ring operating across the mind) being drained, he failed to enhance

Cambridge College Hospitals NHS Basis Belief - which runs Addenbrooke's - has admitted the usual of care supplied was under that anticipated

Ms McConnell and Cayden's brothers Kye, 16 (left), Tyler, 13 (proper), and sister Lacey, three, have since began a brand new life within the Manchester space, however there'll all the time be an enormous hole of their lives which might by no means be stuffed

Cambridge College Hospitals NHS Basis Belief has admitted the usual of care supplied was under that anticipated.

They additional admitted the second episode of meningitis, which in the end proved deadly for Cayden, would have been prevented with higher care.

A spokesperson for Cambridge College Hospitals mentioned: 'A proper apology has been made by the Belief to Cayden's household and we're working carefully with the household's solicitor to succeed in a settlement.

'An investigation was carried out and the care given to Cayden fell under the usual he was entitled to count on and led to a second episode of meningitis that sadly proved deadly in 2012.

'We provide our honest condolences to the household for his or her horrible loss.' 

BE WISE TO THE DEADLY SYMPTOMS OF MENINGITIS

Meningitis Analysis Basis estimates that there are round three,400 circumstances of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia yearly within the UK and Eire.

Which means that day by day 9 individuals develop into unwell with the illnesses. With one in ten individuals dying, a loss of life will happen nearly day by day.

An additional two individuals might be left with life-altering after results as extreme as mind harm, deafness and a number of amputations.

Meningitis vaccines supply wonderful safety, however they aren't but out there for all kinds.

So it is vital to know meningitis signs and what to do should you suspect somebody has meningitis or septicemia.

Signs of meningitis and septicaemia:

• Fever and/or vomiting
• Extreme headache
• Limb, joint or muscle ache
• Chilly fingers and toes and or shivering
• Pale or mottled pores and skin
• Respiratory quick or feeling breathless
• A rash wherever on the physique
• A stiff neck - much less widespread in younger kids
• A dislike of brilliant lights - much less widespread in younger kids
• Very sleepy, vacant, or troublesome to wake
• Confused or delirious
• Seizures or matches could also be seen

Different indicators in infants:

• Tense or bulging tender spot on their head
• Refusing to feed Irritable when picked up, with a excessive pitched or moaning cry
• A stiff physique with jerky actions, or else floppy and lifeless
• Fever is usually absent in infants lower than three months of age

Septicaemia can happen with or with out meningitis. Not everybody will get all of the signs they usually can seem in any order.

Supply: Meningitis Analysis Basis 

Tweet