Linda's Story: A Mother's Fight for Better Vaccines and Sepsis Awareness
2 years ago, our 19-month-old daughter Linda died from a pneumococcal meningitis infection followed by sepsis. Linda had been vaccinated against pneumococcus, but the C15 strain she was infected with is not included in the vaccines currently available for small children. She was perfectly healthy and fully vaccinated, but according to the expert, despite antibiotics and intensive care treatment, she had no chance of survival without immunization. While we were in the hospital, before the septic shock and resuscitation, I noticed a few marks on Linda's left shoulder and immediately called for a doctor. She looked at them and said they were probably because they had gripped Linda too tightly when taking the lumbar puncture. I think the doctors recognized the sepsis far too late, Unfortunately, we can't prove it; it was only in the morning that the doctor came with the documents that said Linda needed a blood transfusion, which I signed immediately.
At first, there was no response; it was only when septic shock set in that the doctors began to act. She was resuscitated, intubated, and transferred to another hospital, but despite all the efforts, there was no hope. 72 hours later, she was declared brain dead, and we had to discontinue the life support. Had she survived, her legs would have been amputated because her arms and legs had turned black due to the blood poisoning and the aftermath of the resuscitation.
We want to spare other parents and especially children from such a fate. It is unacceptable that children in the 21st century still die from meningitis or perhaps undiagnosed sepsis.
We are contacting the media to try to share Linda’s story. If nothing changes regarding vaccines, we hope that parents will at least become more aware and recognize the signs earlier. Almost every infection in young children can quickly develop into sepsis. Often, doctors fail to diagnose sepsis quickly enough before the worst happens. One often thinks it only happens to others, and suddenly, you find yourself affected.
My thanks go to the Sepsis Stiftung, the Global Sepsis Alliance, World Sepsis Day, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, for sharing our story and for their efforts in raising awareness.
The article above was written by Irina Schneider and is shared here with her explicit consent. The views in the article do not necessarily represent those of the Global Sepsis Alliance. They are not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The whole team here at the Global Sepsis Alliance and World Sepsis Day wishes to thank her for sharing her daughter’s story and for fighting to raise awareness for sepsis.