Stella Hall

Stella Kay Hall was born on 7/8/17 at 2:02 am in the morning. She was 6 lbs and 8 ounces of pure joy. Stella was twin B. She was welcomed into this world with her twin brother, Nash. They were the perfect addition to our family. Stella loved to be held. She was the sweetest girl.

After a trip to Colorado for spring break, Stella spiked a fever. We took her in to our pediatrician immediately the next morning, Monday 3/19/18. She was diagnosed with a viral infection.  They performed a deep suction on her and told us she had a lot of drainage. The pediatrician advised us to give it until Thursday and bring her back if she wasn’t better.

She was not better the next day so on Wednesday morning, we scheduled another appointment at her pediatrician’s office. Howie (Stella’s Daddy) took her to the doctor that morning with a list of symptoms from me. She was vomiting, lethargic, had a fever, not eating, not drinking, and was having trouble breathing. They listened to her lungs and took all of her vitals. The nurse did another deep suction to clear “drainage”. We were so thankful, she finally received an antibiotic as she tested positive for strep throat (Group A Strep). (Sepsis and Group A Streptococcus, Sepsis and Strep Throat) We gave her two doses of her antibiotic that day as instructed. Her pediatrician assured us that she would be better in two days. Her appointment was at 10 am on 3/21. Howie got home at about 1 pm that day after a long wait at the pediatrician’s office and retrieving her prescription. I took Stella to bed with me that night. I was afraid she would aspirate as she was still vomiting. I fell asleep around 12:30 am and woke up to her lifeless body at 4:30 am. Our baby girl was welcomed into the arms of Jesus early in the morning on 3/22/18. She was 8.5 months old.

Over the next weeks, we would find out that our princess had Group A Strep in her blood and lungs (pneumonia with empyema), a middle ear infection, and she had sepsis. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) We did not know about sepsis or that Group A Strep was so dangerous and could be invasive. We wish our doctor would have told us the signs. Her resting heart rate was 202 that day in the doctor’s office, her fever was 102.8, she was lethargic, vomiting, and she was having trouble breathing. All signs of sepsis and septic shock. Her chart says she had strep throat and an upper respiratory infection.

We never want another family to suffer such a great loss. We have created Stella Saves Lives to honor our girl by bringing awareness and funding for research to childhood illnesses such as Strep A, helping other grieving families, and educating individuals on sepsis, particularly pediatric sepsis. Our organization proudly supports Sepsis Alliance and their efforts.

We are huge advocates of being your child’s voice and demanding more from your caregiver. Ask for more tests, x-rays, and blood work. All of these could have saved our precious girl.

We love you and miss you every day! We will make you proud, our beautiful Stella girl.

Source: Laura Hall - Stella's mama