A DEVASTATED family said they will ‘never get over’ the sudden death of their seven-year-old after she went into septic shock.
John Boyd, 67, said his granddaughter Ruby Walker was a “fighter” and a “joyful” child and is urging others to check for the symptoms.
After Ruby underwent a double-lung transplant, she contracted an infection and tragically died from septic shock.
Her grandfather, who served in the Royal Marines for 24 years, has since strived to spread awareness of infection and how to be aware of symptoms.
He said: “Sepsis is more common than people think, but so many don’t know the symptoms.
“It can take hold in hours, it took my granddaughter from us, and I want to help make people aware of it.
John has managed to raise £19,000 for the UK Sepsis Trust in Ruby’s memory.
On January 22 he handed over the check to the CEO of the charity, Sarah Hamilton-Fairley.
He said: “This charity is so important.
“Ruby had been through so much in her short life, and to lose her like that is something we’ll never get over.”
Seven-year-old Ruby, who was born with cystic fibrosis, has had to endure constant visits to the hospital and required oxygen from just six months old.
The youngster however was described “determined” and “joyful” by her family despite her condition.
“Ruby had a terrible start to life but she never gave up,” John added.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Louise Thompson in septic shock after being rushed into emergency surgery ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6364640573112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“By the time she was seven, her lungs were so damaged she was placed on the transplant list.
“She was running out of time, but Ruby being Ruby, she kept fighting.”
In March 2019, after her lungs collapsed the year before, Ruby received a lung transplant from a girl who had died from meningitis.
She fully recovered and could attend school without an oxygen tank and was described as “full of life and hope.”
However, during the following summer she was rushed back to hospital with sepsis.
Some of the symptoms include body swelling, fast heart rate, fever, confusion and hyperventilation.
John urges anyone who spots these symptoms to get to the hospital as Ruby went into septic shock “so quickly” they couldn’t save her.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition which is caused by the body’s severe response to infection which can progress extremely quickly.
Ruby tragically died on August 31 2019 and her family have strived to raise money for the UK Sepsis Trust since she passed.