Gracelynn Hope L.

My daughter, Gracelynn Hope, passed away at 7 months old from sepsis. She was born at 33 weeks September 22, 2017, and she passed May 5, 2018. (Sepsis and Children)

Gracelynn had Noonan syndrome which was a rare genetic mutation, and malrotation of the intestines. She was thriving after her surgery and we were going to bring her home. (Sepsis and Surgery)

December 15th, 2017, she went into respiratory failure and had to be placed on the vent for the first time ever. They could not get her off so the hospital suggested a trach. She got her trach April 25, 2018. (Sepsis and Invasive Devices) Two days later I noticed a change in her. She was extremely swollen. They did blood work and said it was just from her retaining water. May 3, 2018, I knew something was wrong and noticed what looked to be a bruise on her side. I brought it up to the nurse and she said it was just swelling from the fluid. The next day it had spread and was not a bruise. It was blue and purple with red spots. She had mottled. The doctors and nurses fought with me. They started her on antibiotics and on May 5, 2018 my baby girl gained her wings.

Monday morning, May 7, 2018, I went and got her records. I flipped through the 1,400 pages and found that she had tested positive for sepsis on April 27, 2018, and the hospital waited 7 days to start antibiotics! My daughter was in the neonatal intensive care unit – where she never left.

In January, I am meeting with senators and the health department to ask for change and better education for doctors and nurses.

Source: Andrea L. - mother