In what we think must be one of the most heartbreaking stories we have ever come across, a mum who previously had 16 miscarriages lost her beloved ‘miracle child’ to meningitis.
UK mum Lizzie Allen lost her daughter Fleur-Rose in April, when she was just 15-months old. Just days before, she had taken her first steps.
Now she wants to share her tragic story with other parents to educate them on how quickly this disease can kill.
On the day before she died, according to her mum, Fleur-Rose seemed happy and healthy, and was toddling and giggling as normal. However the next day she woke with a temperature, so thinking it was a simple tummy bug, her mum gave her some Calpol.
However, by 6pm she was in the hospital resuscitation room, and devastatingly, by 11.45pm she was gone.
“Fleur-Rose was drifting in and out of consciousness, while on the way to the hospital although she had stopped fitting,” Lizzie said. “But, on arriving, she seemed to perk up.
“She started playing with toys.”
The doctors monitored her oxygen and carried out a chest X-Ray, and all seemed fine.
“She appeared healthy and was still drinking,” says her mum. “I remember saying at teatime, ‘Shall we try her with some food. She had one mouthful of mashed potato.”
At this point there was no mention of meningitis, until Fleur-Rose’s parents noticed pink prick rash on her neck, which quickly disappeared.
It’s this crucial time that Lizzie wants other parents to know about – the time when she thought her daughter was improving.
Doctors checked Fleur-Rose’s waters and told her mum they were outing her on antibiotics to treat meningitis. Naturally she was terrified.
“She deteriorated before our eyes,” Lizzie said. “My darling daughter died. [She was] a cheeky thing. Friendly, giggly and so well-behaved. She was a beautiful, strong little girl.”
Since Fleur-Rose’s death, Lizzie has raised £12,000 for Meningitis Now. “I don’t want other children to die like she did,” she says. “I don’t want other parents to suffer like we did.”
Just heartbreaking. Rest in peace angel.
All photos copyright Collect/PA Life.
