Teddy Bennett

My story of Strep A, toxic shock and sepsis.

My 11-month-old son Teddy became ill in October 2018 around Halloween. I took him to the GP twice, then to a walk-in centre. He was admitted to hospital via ambulance for observation and then discharged a few hours later. I took him back to the hospital the following morning as I knew something was not right. He was observed again and then discharged with a district nurse attending our home the following morning. Teddy was then rushed in via ambulance, he had become severely unwell.

The team struggled access veins, after a lung X-ray it was determined Teddy had a complete collapsed lung. He was admitted to the high dependancy unit and monitored. Over the next 12 hours Teddy’s condition declined, he had breathing difficulties, a rash, he was very restless and was put on oxygen. He had sepsis. They told us Teddy would have to be intubated (life support) and transferred via a special ambulance to Manchester Royal Children’s Hospital. At this point he was very unstable and dying. He had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance and received chest compressions and drugs, his heart stopped for over 2 minutes.. Teddy was admitted to intensive care. He was critical.

They determined Teddy had toxic shock syndrome caused by Strep A – a very rare condition with a 50% mortality rate. (Sepsis and Group A Streptococcus, Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome) Most doctors never see a case in their career. He had multiple organ failure and kept having massive blood pressure drops. Two nurses stood by his bed at all times. His body swelled up to three times the size. We had various doctors visit him as he was such a rare case. He stayed on the life support for around a week, he was gradually weaned off, his kidneys began to function and he began to look more like himself.

Teddy remained in hospital for a month. He has a roller coaster recovery but Teddy made a complete and full recovery, with no known long term affects. His is a bouncy three year old boy. We are so incredibly lucky.

Source: Victoria Bennett - Mother